Council sends proposed door‑to‑door solicitation limits, ID display and higher fines to city solicitor

Councilor Lewandowski introduced a package of changes to Haverhill’s door‑to‑door solicitation ordinance on July 22, citing constituent complaints about aggressive and persistent solicitors. He referenced Chapter 101, Section 34 of the Massachusetts General Laws as the statutory authority that permits local regulation of solicitation hours and related rules.

Lewandowski proposed three motions that the council voted to send to the city solicitor to draft into ordinance language: (1) change permitted solicitation hours from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. to 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and prohibit solicitation on Sundays and holidays; (2) require solicitors to conspicuously display their city permit while soliciting; and (3) amend the fine schedule so that offenses mirror the Massachusetts statute and increase the local fine from $300 to $500.

Councilors asked for clarifications about exemptions for political and religious activity (the presenter and other councilors confirmed those exemptions remain), distribution of the do‑not‑knock registry (the police provide the current registry to licensed solicitors at the time of permit issuance), and whether the fee structure administered by other departments could create conflicts; multiple councilors requested the city solicitor verify fee references and cross‑references in the code when drafting the ordinance.

All three motions were passed on roll calls (each 11–0) to send to the solicitor; the council will return to vote on the finalized ordinance language once drafted.