Curwensville Borough Votes to Advertise Peddling Ordinance

CURWENSVILLE – Amendments to a solicitation and peddling ordinance will now be advertised prior to final approval.

At Monday’s meeting, the Curwensville Borough Council voted to advertise proposed changes to the ordinance. The ordinance will be advertised twice before the council can vote to finalize the changes.

According to previously-published GANT News articles, the revisions to the ordinance are as follows:

• “Mayor” will be replaced by “borough secretary” because the permits will be issued in the borough office during regular hours.
• Applicants will be required to provide a valid driver’s license or photo identification.
• Applicants will be required to provide their immediate supervisor’s name, title and company name. Company and employment will be verified before a permit is issued.
• Cost of the license will be $25 per day, per person (changed from $10 per day for 1 day, $12 per month, $15 per year.)
• Soliciting will be permitted between the hours of 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and no soliciting will be allowed on weekends or holidays. (changed from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Sundays.)
• There will be a new, updated application form and applicants will receive a laminated permit with the issue date included.

The council had voted to table the changes, to allow the council members time to review the changes for a final time before approval at the May council meeting.

According to previously-published articles, under the present ordinance, “peddling” is defined as engaging in peddling, canvassing, soliciting or the taking of orders, either by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares or merchandise upon any of the streets or sidewalks, or from house to house, within the borough of Curwensville.

Peddling does not include farmers selling their own produce, the sale of goods, wares and merchandise where the proceeds are applied to any recognized charitable or philanthropic purpose; or any manufacturer of producer in the sale of bread and bakery products, meat and meat products or milk and milk products (except ice cream).

Any person wishing to engage in peddling must first make application to the mayor for a license. They must exhibit a valid county license, give their name and address, any criminal records, names of the person or persons for whom they work, the timeframe for which they wish to be licensed, vehicle type and license number of any vehicles which will be used and the number of people assisting with the peddling.

Once the license has been issued, peddling activities cannot begin before 9 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on any weekday or before 1 p.m. or after 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Peddlers are not allowed to “hawk” or “cry” their wares upon streets or sidewalks or use loudspeakers, “bull horns” or any device for announcing his presence by which the public is annoyed.

Peddlers are not authorized to occupy any “fixed” location upon any streets, alleys or sidewalks.

The mayor is authorized to suspend any license issued under the ordinance. The ordinance does not apply to any local branch of any state or national charitable organization. Violations of the ordinance can result in a fine of up to $300 plus court costs.