Solicitation in UM Discussed at Committee Meeting

During the Finance and Administrative Committee meeting, the discussion of solicitation was introduced under new business in the form of a letter.

Recently a solicitor, who was handing out pamphlets for his business in Upper Moreland, was told by , and the solicitor, a township resident, responded with a letter of complaint to the township.

According to the township solicitor, Kate Harper, the letter made a point to take issue not with the township ordinance 236, which outlines policy on solicitation, but rather with the fee and duration of time the solicitation permit fee covers.

The ordinance requires a solicitor to file for a township-issued permit and undergo a police background check.

The ordinance does not apply to canvassers (i.e. pollsters or religious organizations seeking contributions) or with organizations similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The discussion focused on commercial solicitation and the amount a business must pay to attain a permit. Harper asked the committee to consider the time and resources the UMPD must spend to complete a background check on the solicitation applicant.

Ward 7 commissioner James McKenna, who sits on the Finance and Administration Committee, suggested that a policy should be made waiving a fee altogether if the solicitor owns a business within the township and applies for the solicitation permit.

“My point is protecting a business owner,” McKenna said, “considering how much money they spent, how much time it takes them to do their taxes and pay the bills.”

Ward 2 commissioner Kevin Spearing said during the meeting that the current permit calls for a fee of $100 a day.

Harper explained that the solicitation permit should be considered a user fee, and not considered as part of the taxes a business with a township mercantile license would pay.

“I am saying it is a little anti-business to the registered businesses in our community,” Ward 1 commissioner Lisa Romaniello commented from the audience. “I am glad he [the letter-writer] brought this to light, and I would have no problem waiving the fee.”

Harper also noted that as early as three months ago, the township received complaints from residents about receiving solicitations.

“I’m opposed to absolutely no fee ... if we had no fee at all, we’d be bombarded with applications,” Spearing said from the audience, adding that the influx of applications would create even more work for background checks. “I am very much in favor of a lesser fee for in-township business and a different fee for businesses outside the township.”

Identification was also an issue concerning solicitation. The idea of permit-seekers being asked to wear identification during solicitation was subsequently proposed.

During the meeting, committee chair and Ward 6 commissioner Sam Valenza said that UMPD has been proactive, asking residents to call police when they see people go door to door, and maybe displayed identification would help.

“I can tell you that in the past two years, the number of calls we’ve received for solicitors has increased dramatically,” said at the meeting. “I don’t think it’s because we have more solicitors. I think it’s because people are more aware of the potential that they are not.”

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More from the reporter’s notebook:

Police and Fire Civil Serivce Commission

Also during the Finance and Administrative Committee meeting last night, three individuals were moved forward for the consideration of the full board for the alternative position on the Police and Fire Civil Service Commission:

• Stacey Eskowitz
• Tanya Geisler
• William Oetinger

Of the three candidates, only Eskowitz, who was a former township commissioner, has held public office.

The alternative position is set to help fill in when a member of the commission is unable to perform his or her duties.

Upper Moreland Historical Commission

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Schnieder, who recently moved from Jenkintown to Willow Grove, is a member of the board at Settlement Music School, and an accomplished musician himself. Sayer writes in the letter that Schnieder has a vested interest in preserving historical structures and sites, as Schnieder’s current home is such a site, found on the .

SARS Report

During the Public Health and Safety Committee presentation, assistant chief Rich Garrett reported that 198 requests for service were asked in the month of February. Eleven were for vehicle crashes, 180 were for medical, and seven were for fire.

Wiffle Ball

During the Parks and Recreation Committee presentation, township parks ad recreation director Pat Stasio reminded the public that there is an open Wiffle Ball tournament taking place April 9.