Stricter Rules For Door-To-Door Solicitors Considered In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Door-to-door salespeople may soon be restricted to a new time schedule for canvassing Chatham Borough neighborhoods.

The council decided to change an ordinance that would have initially prohibited solicitors from approaching borough residents after 9 p.m., a time that residents and council members agreed was too late.

Initially introduced on March 13, the ordinance called for allowing peddlers, solicitors, or canvassers to go around local neighborhoods between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Chatham resident Joyce Martinsen spoke out at the March 27 council workshop meeting, citing her concerns with the late time frame.

"I just think that it's really late in the evening. I know the township has passed that ordinance, but I think it's pretty much an accident waiting to happen one way or another. It's dark, and we've been reminded to keep our property watched and lit in case there are stolen cars, and I just think these are strangers coming on your property at 9 p.m.," Martinsen said.

On April 10, the members of the borough council all agreed that an amendment should be made for the safety and comfort of the residents.

Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz proposed changing the ordinance to allow salespeople to go to residences until 5 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31, with the exception of people engaged in political canvassing, who would be allowed an extra hour.

"That's my concern with doing it beyond 5 p.m. from October to March is that it gets dark. When one of these peddlers or solicitors is coming to your door and they slip and fall, it's your liability insurance that's on the hook," Council Member Leonard Resto said.

Resto argued that the cut-off should stay at 5 p.m. for all commercial solicitors.

The council eventually agreed to change the ordinance to allow solicitors to go door-to-door until 7 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30, and then to 5 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31 to account for daylight saving time.

The ordinance's time limits would not apply to political canvassers, individuals or groups advocating or soliciting on behalf of a charitable or nonprofit organization, any veteran or exempt firefighter of a volunteer fire department holding a special license, any public utility or its employees, or any person engaged in the delivery of merchandise or other articles.

A final vote on the ordinance will be heard at the Monday, April 24 meeting.