Some door-to-door sales could stop in Millstone
Officials introduce ordinance to create do-not-solicit list
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE — The township may create its own version of a do-not-call list.

The Township Committee introduced an ordinance on Sept. 14 that, if passed, would limit solicitation and/or canvassing within the boundaries of Millstone through the creation of a do-not-solicit list.

Although the list would not prevent phone solicitations, it would keep anyone who is selling something from knocking on the doors of those residents who have signed it.

“Can’t we just not have solicitation in Millstone at all?” Deputy Mayor Nancy Grbelja asked the township attorney.

Township Attorney Duane Davison said the township could not legally prevent all commercial solicitation.

Grbelja said she proposed creating such an ordinance when a commercial solicitor recently asked the Township Committee for the opportunity to canvass Millstone residences door to door.

“I wouldn’t mind if any Millstone resident came to my door,” Grbelja said, “but I don’t want someone I don’t know, from out of town, coming up and knocking on my door.”

Grbelja said she wanted to give residents the option of keeping solicitors off their premises.

Resident Gary Mangino said the ordinance does not clearly define to whom it pertains.

“Does that mean it pertains to, let’s say, people in the community going door to door to help the hurricane victims or to Girl Scouts selling cookies or politicians campaigning?” Mangino said.

Davison said the ordinance would apply to anyone soliciting something. He said it would not apply to politicians who were campaigning.

“So, if you go on the list,” Davison said, “charities and Girl Scouts selling cookies won’t be able to come to your door.”

If the committee adopts the ordinance to create a do-not-solicit list, the list would be maintained by the township clerk.

While the list would consist of property addresses, it would not contain any other identifying information concerning the ownership of the listed properties.

If a commercial solicitor receives a permit to canvass Millstone, that individual would also receive a copy of the do-not-solicit list in order to identify which properties to avoid.

Solicitation at any residence that appears on the do-not-solicit list could result in a penalty for the solicitor.

A solicitor could receive a maximum penalty of $250, 90 days in jail and 90 days of community service for soliciting at an address that appears on the list.

The Township Committee will hold a second reading and public hearing on the ordinance at 8 p.m. at its Oct. 5 meeting.