Door-to-door peddlers and solicitors in Streetsboro must now submit to stricter guidelines, thanks to a new ordinance that city council approved June 8.
The ordinance prohibits peddlers, solicitors or canvassers from entering or attempting to enter a residence, house, apartment or other dwelling without express permission from an adult occupant of the home or dwelling.
It also prohibits peddlers or solicitors from selling or soliciting anything other than what is specified on their registration application. That application must include verification of the applicant’s criminal history, including if they face any pending or open criminal charges, are engaged in a “treatment in lieu of conviction” program, or are free due to deferred prosecution.
Anyone with a prior felony conviction, a misdemeanor involving a theft offense or misconduct with a minor, or has an open/pending criminal case in court will not receive a permit.
All peddlers and solicitors must prominently wear their ID badge so it easily can be read. And, upon demand, licensees must present their badge to people being solicited, police or other city officials.
Do not contact registry
The new law also authorizes Streetsboro police to establish a “Do Not Contact Registry” that city residents can add their name to anytime. Once on the list, the specified address will be off limits to solicitors.
Residents who wish to add their name to the list should contact city police with their complete street address, name and email contact information. People can request to be removed from the list, but they should expect the changeover to take 30 days.
Solicitors and peddlers will receive a list of addresses they are not to approach. Peddlers and solicitors are also not to approach residences where there is a sign “on or next to the entry door indicating ‘no soliciting’ or words of similar import,” the new law states.
“It’s going to give the residents a little bit more protection from these itinerant salesmen,” Mayor Glenn Broska said after the meeting. “If these people are not registered and they’ve not had a background check, they’re not going to be issued a license. When these folks walk up to somebody’s door, that’s the first thing the folks should be asking, and if they don’t have them, they need to turn them away.”
Broska also reminded city residents of a simple yet effective tactic: Close the door on itinerant salespeople.
“There is nothing that says that they have to sit there and listen to their spiel. I understand they’re just trying to make a living, but folks don’t want to be bothered,” he said.
Youth fundraisers
Exempt from the new strictures are youth fundraisers and youth fundraising, defined as raising money for a K-12 school or school-related activity or a youth organization such as an athletic club, Boy/Girl Scout troop and the like. Youths involved in these activities must be under the age of 18, reside in Streetsboro and/or attend Streetsboro schools.
The intent of the law is to allow such groups to sell items such as “but not limited to … popcorn, candy or plants,” the new law states.
Reasoning that those youths are likely to be recognized by their neighbors and present a lower risk of fraud, theft or other criminal conduct than that presented by other house-to-house activities, such youths are excused from obtaining permits before making their rounds.
Broska said he hoped that younger kids — those aged 8 to 11 — would have a parent with them, “just for that safeguard.”
Violating any provision of the new law will be prosecuted as a fourth-degree misdemeanor on first offense and a second-degree misdemeanor on subsequent offenses. Anyone filing a permit application containing false information or fraudulent misstatements will be punished for falsification.
Free smoke detectors
Also June 8, city council approved a partnership between the Streetsboro Fire Department and the American Red Cross, which are teaming up to make sure every resident who wants one can receive at least one free smoke detector.
The Red Cross will supply the detectors and related educational materials. Streetsboro Fire Department employees will install the devices, replace alarm batteries and help residents make home fire escape plans.
When available, and when requested and approved by the resident, the Red Cross will provide sufficient smoke alarms to be installed on every floor, including the basement and in every bedroom.
Streetsboro Fire Inspector Scott Wilson said the Red Cross will also provide bed-shaker units, which function like smoke detectors for people with hearing impairments. Streetsboro Fire Department employees will install these units, as well.
“The purpose is to make sure no one is going without for lack of means,” he said. “As long as there’s stock available, they’ll provide detectors for anyone who needs one.”
Ambulance rechassising
Council approved Fire Chief Rob Reinholz’s request to replace the chassis on one of the city’s ambulances. Currently eight years old, the vehicle has 71,683 miles on it and is scheduled for replacement. Reinholz told council the city’s ambulance fleet is “rechassised” every eight years “to maintain reliability, safety and operational readiness.”
The cost? $315,147 as quoted by Pfund Superior Sales, though the chief asked for $320,000. That should account for unforeseen repairs or additional costs, he said.
As part of the refit, the ambulance’s cot-loading system and cot will be replaced.
Wendy DiAlesandro
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.