The President's Corner

Although the weather is cold now, the warmth of spring will soon be upon us. With the warmer weather will also come the call of peddlers and solicitors in our Parma neighborhoods. In my several years on City Council I have received an untold number of complaints from residents about these two types of door-to-door “funds seekers.”  Therefore, I, like my Council colleagues, was pleased to support the “do-not-knock” ordinance crafted by the Parma Law Department and its director Timothy Dobeck.  Sponsored by Councilman Brian Day, the legislation was modeled after the “National Do-Not-Call Registry” and has been adopted by cities throughout Ohio. Further, it has become an effective deterrent for residents who do not wish to be interrupted by wraps on their door from solicitors and peddlers.    

A peddler is defined as an individual selling goods or services door to door for profit, like a door-to-door salesperson or someone seeking to do odd jobs, while a solicitor one who is selling goods or services or soliciting donations for charitable, religious, non-profit or other causes, such as someone seeking a pledge of money for a charitable organization or selling cookies or magazine subscriptions for a non-profit organization.  

Parma’s “do-not-knock” ordinance gives you, the resident, the ability to sign up for one or both registries – peddlers and/or solicitors. Once you sign up, your address will be placed on the City’s “do-not-knock” registry database. You will also be sent a “do-not-knock” decal to place on your door or window. Solicitors and peddlers are required by law to review the registry prior to knocking on a resident’s door. Peddlers are required to register with the city and carry their license with them, while solicitors are not required to do so. The decal also places peddlers and solicitors on notice. Your address remains on the database for five years. 

The City is not permitted to prohibit all who might wish to knock on your door. In fact, we are only able to prohibit those seeking funding, not those conducting surveys or polls, circulating petitions, engaging in political or religious speech or other such activities in which funds are not being sought. These activities are constitutionally protected due to various court decisions. However, like peddlers and solicitors, they are prohibited from going door-to-door between the hours of 9:00 pm and 8:00 am Monday through Saturday or before 12:00 pm or after 9:00 pm on Sunday. Cities are essentially prohibited from restricting the hours further. Further, the City may not prohibit canvassers who place flyers and other literature at doors.

Anyone not abiding by the ordinance faces a penalty of a fourth degree misdemeanor, while subsequent violations carry the penalty of a first degree misdemeanor. Residents are encouraged to call the Parma Police Department’s non-emergency number at (440) 885-1234 to report those not abiding by the ordinance. You are also encouraged to call the non-emergency number if you observe suspicious behavior or 9-1-1 in cases of emergency.

If you would like to find out more about or register for the “do-not-knock” registry, you may do so online at www.cityofparma-oh.gov or you may obtain a form by calling the Parma City Council office at (440) 885-8091. Your ward councilmember would be glad to forward you an application. Upon receipt of your application, a “do-not-knock” decal will be sent to you. Best wishes to you on St. Patrick’s Day and as we move into spring and the warmth and green it brings.

Sean Brennan

Parma City Council President Sean Brennan

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Volume 7, Issue 3, Posted 11:37 PM, 03.01.2015