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Martinsville council tables proposed peddler's license changes after debate on fees, exemptions and enforcement
Summary
Council members discussed exemptions, fees, display IDs, background checks and enforcement for a proposed peddler's license; they agreed to consult the police chief and tabled the item until April 13 for further work.
The Martinsville Common Council on March 9 debated proposed changes to the city's peddler's license, then voted to table the item until the council's April 13 meeting to allow additional review and consultation with the police department.
Councilman John Badger, presenting the committee's recommendations, asked members to identify who should be exempted from the license and flagged common candidates such as school fundraisers, nonprofits and political canvassing. He said the committee's draft includes a fine of $250 for unlicensed activity but left exemptions and exact fee levels open for discussion.
The committee and other council members pressed for concrete administrative details: a visible license or ID tag for peddlers so the city can track issued licenses, a fee set to cover processing costs and a police background check for applicants. Councilman Ben Mayan and others raised operational questions about duration and renewal of permits and whether the fee should reflect administrative costs for printing IDs and conducting checks.
Several members noted enforcement concerns. Council members and staff warned that the police department already prioritizes emergency calls and that officers may not be able to respond quickly to every solicitation complaint; the council asked staff to meet with Chief Lane to get the police department's recommendations on feasibility and record-keeping.
The council briefly discussed permitted hours of solicitation (the committee's draft used sunrise to sunset); one member suggested limiting activity to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. as an alternate approach. Members also raised the possibility of exemptions for churches, political activity and school-related fundraisers but asked for a clear list to be provided.
After discussion, Councilman John Badger moved to table consideration of fees, licenses, permits and franchises related to the peddler's license until the April 13 meeting. The motion was seconded and carried. Council members were asked to submit specific recommendations to staff by the Thursday following the meeting so staff can coordinate with the chief and prepare revisions.
