Braintree Town Council Tables Changes to Soliciting Regulations

A proposed change to the town’s peddling and soliciting regulations will have to wait a least another month before receiving a vote.

At Tuesday’s town council meeting, the council voted to table the draft, with no explanation why a delay was necessary.

Brought up after an issue with a solicitor hired by Comcast was reported by a resident earlier this year, the additions to the regulations would require anyone soliciting or canvassing to prominently display a florescent orange lanyard issued by the town around their neck. The lanyard will feature an identification number, start date and expiration date (not to exceed 30 days), current photo, name, company name, signature and phone number of company official responsible for the operation. The person must have in their possession a certificate of registration approved by the Braintree police.

Solicitors would also be unable to place, deposit or throw or cause to be placed, deposited or thrown upon or into a motor vehicle in a public area, any leaflet; pamphlet; poster, handbill, flyer or any paper containing printed or written matter, whether advertising or not, with the exception of any violation ticket or summons issued pursuant to lawful authority.

Each applicant would have to provide a CORI check that has been completed in the last 60 days, with applicants that are level 2 or 3 sex offenders or that were convicted of burglary, drug distribution, breaking and entering, larceny, robbery,receiving stolen property, assault, fraud, sexual misconduct, and unlawfully carrying weapons in the past seven years prohibited from soliciting.

Failure to comply will result in a $250 fine for the employee and $2,000 for the employer.

Registered religious organizations, political information drops, social groups and other non-commercial community groups would be exempted from the changes.

The council will look at the issue again at their next meeting on Aug. 11.