Town Council Tables Proposed Soliciting By-law Change

A vote on a proposed change to Braintree’s by-law for solicitors has been once again tabled by the Braintree Town Council.

The Braintree Forum reports that changes to the by-law includes mandatory criminal background checks for solicitors, salespeople to obtain a required credential from the police department and decreasing the permitting period from 90 days to 30 days.

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’s committee on ordinances and rules will look at the issue on Sept. 9.