SALEM, Ore. — Small business owners in Salem are frustrated with the city’s expanded code enforcement for signage, saying they’re being harassed and hit with excessive violations that could cost thousands of dollars.
For auto shop Torque Automotive Industries and owner Hai Nguyen, the concerns started with a skeleton — a Halloween decoration that caught the attention of a City of Salem code enforcer.
Nguyen said he resolved the initial complaint by moving the holiday decorations to a different spot on the company’s property, but that only led to other violations…