Montgomery officials have discussed changes to the village’s system for dealing with solicitors, but for now it looks like things will remain unchanged.
At the moment, solicitors can obtain a permit for $30 a month to operate in Montgomery. Village officials said it takes some 45 minutes of village time to deal with just one permit. As well, each application has to go to the Montgomery Police Department for review.
A proposal was made to change the cost of a permit to $100, but to make it valid for a full year.
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“There are pros and cons to both,” said Montgomery Village Executive Assistant Debbie Buchanan of the new proposal as well as the current system.
After each permit is issued, the village’s solicitor list is updated, and residents that don’t want to be contacted by a solicitor have their address published on the village website. That list is also given to each solicitor, and they sign a form stating they will not contact those residents.
Buchanan said if they do try to knock on any doors on the list, their permit can be revoked.
“I don’t want to change it. I don’t want to give them a year to solicit,” said Trustee Steve Jungermann. “I’d be for $100 a month.”
Trustee Theresa Sperling also likes the current system.
“I think the 30 days are OK,” she said. “It is a way to give people notice, and it’s good to know who is out there.”
Montgomery Village President Matt Brolley said the group seemed to be leaning against making a change.
“I’m not seeing overwhelming support for the calendar year (option),” he said.
Buchanan said some 200 addresses are currently on the no-solicitor list and residents can get their names added simply by logging onto the village website.
“It is a violation if they knock on your door,” she said about any solicitor who calls on a house on the village list.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.