Village of Freeville provides reminder of solicitation law

Village of Freeville officials have provided a reminder of its recent update to the local solicitation law.

Julia Wallace, the village clerk, sent out a note following reports of solicitors coming through Freeville.

“It’s come to my attention that some unpermitted solicitors have been knocking on doors throughout the village,” Wallace said. “I want to remind everyone that Freeville has a solicitation law in place to protect residents and ensure proper procedures are followed.”

In May 2024, the Freeville Board of Trustees greenlit an update to its solicitation law, known as  “Peddling, Vending, Soliciting, Hawking,” which had been in effect since 2011.

According to village board member David Fogel in 2024, 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 old law, Fogel said at the time, lacked a permitting process, fee schedule or registration requirements for solicitation options.

“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.

Wallace mentioned what is included in the updated law.

“[Now,] all solicitors must submit an application and receive approval before conducting any door-to-door activity,” Wallace said. “I will always send out a notification when permitted solicitors are scheduled to be in the village. So, if someone comes knocking and you haven’t heard from me, they are most likely not authorized to solicit.”

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

“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 in the past.

Wallace noted details on what to do if approached by an unpermitted solicitor and how to protect your home.

“Please refer them to Village Hall and let them know that soliciting without prior approval is a violation of our local law,” she said.

Specific 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.

Nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, the Dryden Central School District or incorporated religious groups offering solicitation services will not have to register for a permit or pay a fee.

“However, they will be required to submit personnel identification and vehicle information to the village office prior to canvassing,” the law notes. “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.”

For more information, contact Wallace at 607-844-8301 or clerk@freevilleny.org.

“Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and orderly community,” Wallace said.

In brief:

Book club to meet on Oct. 21

Jennie’s Book Club is set to meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 21 for a discussion at the Southworth Library at 24 W. Main St. in the village of Dryden.

The book this month is “James” by Everett Percival.

“This is a retelling of the story of Huck Finn from the perspective of the enslaved man who accompanied him on his journey down the Mississippi River,” according to a description.

For more information, go to southworthlibrary.org.

Book club meets Oct. 16

Books & Brew, a genre-based book club, will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Hopshire Farm & Brewery at 1771 Dryden Rd. in the village of Freeville.

The theme for the month of October is “Dystopian Science Fiction.” Book suggestions are on display at Southworth Library in the village of Dryden.

For more information, go to southworthlibrary.org.

‘Paws to Read’ event at the library on Oct. 11

The Southworth Library in the village will hold a “Paws to Read” event on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The library invites the public to read with dogs from Cornell Canine Companions. 

Registration for the event is recommended. For more information, go to southworthlibrary.org.