Freeville officials update solicitation law from 2011

Freeville officials updated a solicitation-related law that had been in effect in the village since 2011.

Last Tuesday, May 7, the Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new law that will replace the old law.

According to village board member David Fogel, the law from 2011 “eased some of the restrictions on door-to-door solicitation that had been in place for many years in the village.”

“The new law eases those restrictions even further, in recognition of the fact that virtually all such activities — including those of a purely commercial, for-profit nature — are a constitutionally protected right under the First Amendment,” Fogel said.

The old law, Fogel said, lacked a permitting process, fee schedule or registration requirements for solicitation options. 

According to the new law, known as “Peddling, Vending, Soliciting, Hawking,” any individual representing a for-profit enterprise is required to apply for a permit through the village office at 5 Factory St. before selling goods or services.

The fee, which is based on the number of days the individual is selling in the village, is $200 for the first day of solicitation, $150 for two to four days in a week and $900 for a full week.

“The village board felt that it was necessary to put some of those regulations in place in order to protect our residents from potential fraud or violence and to support those who may wish to preserve their privacy by prohibiting all forms of solicitation, which itself is a protected right,” Fogel said.

The new law states that an individual who fails to apply for a permit will be subject to fines. Any solicitation activities will then be limited up to two weeks in “any given calendar quarter,” the law continued.

According to the new law, certain individuals or organizations will not be affected by permits or fees. The new law states that fees will not be charged to village residents “who wish to peddle goods or services produced or provided in the village.” Village residents will also not be required to obtain a permit or register at the village office.

Solicitation services — on behalf of nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, the Dryden Central School District or incorporated religious groups — also will not have to register for a permit or pay a fee.

Noted in the new law, “However, they will be required to submit personnel identification and vehicle information to the village office prior to canvassing. No door-to-door selling or canvassing of any kind will be allowed at residential or commercial addresses in the village that have “No Solicitation” notices posted on the premises. Village residents may pick up free no-solicitation stickers at the village (office) during regular business hours.”

A breakdown of the new solicitation-related law can be viewed at freevilleny.org.

Dryden school district reveals proposed budget

The Dryden Central School District (DCSD) recently revealed its proposed 2024-25 budget.

According to a summary, DCSD’s projected budget is at $47,049,383. It is 0.47% more (or $221,643) than the 2023-24 budget ($46,827,740).

The tax levy increase is projected at 3.27%. It goes from $20,397,856 in taxes for the 2023-24 school year to a proposed $21,057,870 in 2024-25.

DCSD’s proposed budget shows percentages for three categories. Expenditures from programming are down from 73.59% to 72.83%, capital went from 14.7% to 15.01% and administration is up from 11.71% to 12.16%.

Funding from state aid is down $476,579 from last school year’s budget, according to documents. DCSD officials are projecting $22,255,513 in state aid for the 2024-25 school year.

DCSD has three candidates vying for board of education (BOE) seats. Justin St. Juliana, DCSD BOE vice president, and Bridget Flanigan are seeking reelection. Tami Tabone is looking to be elected to the board for the first time.

The community will vote on the proposed budget and other propositions on May 21. Further information is provided in the budget section of the DCSD website at dryden.k12.ny.us.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

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Local pottery studio offering summer art camp

A summer art camp is being offered by Claybird Studio in the village of Dryden.

Located at 15 W. Main St., the pottery-based studio has camps July 29 to Aug. 2 and Aug. 26 to 30. Camp each day will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Each camp will include sewing, pottery making, weaving, embroidery, sculpting, painting and more. The cost for each camp session is $475 per week.

For more information, contact info@claybirdstudio.com or 201-264-2815. Further details on the summer art camp are at claybirdstudio.com.

Southworth House tours start in June

The Dryden Town Historical Society (DTHC) has announced that tours of Southworth House at 14 North St. in the village will start in June.

The guided tours will be held on the first Saturday of each month between June and October. The tours are scheduled for June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 7 and Oct. 5.

Each Saturday with scheduled tours will have three time slots: 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.

To make an appointment for a tour, call 607-844-4691. Further information is available in the DTHC’s April newsletter at drydennyhistory.org.