Borough hears complaints about solicitors

RIDLEY PARK » Hoping to allay any fears of borough residents about door-to-door solicitors, councilwoman Michele Endriss-Dalessio explained at council’s September meeting that solicitors are throughly vetted before they are given a permit to go out into neighborhoods.

Endriss-Dalessio said applicants must register with the borough, provide a photo ID at the police station, wear the borough-issued ID while they are soliciting and work within the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The subject of door-todoor solicitors came up during the public comment portion of the meeting when resident Mike Dougherty said he was uncomfortable when solicitors approached him while he was sitting on his porch, talking to him about a new roof for his house. He said it was getting dark when the workers were still walking on the street, looking up at his neighbors’ roofs.

“Why do we need solicitors like that, especially today?” Dougherty said.

Council President Bob Berger advised residents to call police if someone comes to their door soliciting and they are not wearing the borough-issued permit.

Endriss-Dalession had another suggestion. She said residents can put a “no soliciting” sign in their front window.

In his report to council, planning and zoning committee chairman Mike Gale said the zoning hearing board granted an exception to allow front yard parking at the planned retail building on the site of the old Harper’s hardware store on the east side of Swarthmore

Avenue. The hardware store had been vacant for a number of years and was demolished this past summer to make way for a 7,700 square foot building to house three stores.

The borough fire department has scheduled activities for Fire Prevention Week Oct. 8-14 that will include an open house at the fire station from 1 to 3:30.m. Oct. 15, featuring fun activities, food and prizes. The theme for this year’s observation is “Every Second Counts: Two Ways Out.”