Canvassing conduct questioned

By Jordan Cohen

Councilmen were told canvassing was going on as late as 9 p.m.

NILES — Council members, responding to what they described as complaints from residents, have asked Law Director J. Terrence Dull to look into ordinances governing the conduct of political door-to-door canvassing and fundraising.

Dull said council has to tread carefully because of potential constitutional issues.

“I’ve been researching Supreme Court cases, and some case law does limit the ability to stop these people,” Dull said.

Councilmen Edward Stredney and Stephen Papalas said they were told that some of the canvassing is taking place as late as 9 p.m., and residents don’t like it.

Papalas said one woman told him a canvasser, who sought political contributions, began arguing with her when she disagreed with him.

The identity of the group could not be immediately confirmed.

Dull discussed ordinances of two Cleveland area suburbs that cover all types of door-to-door activity including political.

Parma has a city registry for individuals who do not want “peddlers, solicitors and canvassers” knocking on their doors. The law requires individuals to check the registry before canvassing.

Dull said North Olmsted has a similar law in which residents are provided door stickers, prohibiting any of the three groups from knocking on doors that display them.

Dull and council’s safety committee plan to meet next Wednesday to develop an ordinance, and the law director said he will scrutinize any clauses that could violate the Constitution.

“We’ll have to tweak it and see what we can come up with,” Dull said.

Council also handled these matters:

UMoved a proposed moratorium on permits for animated signs to third reading, however the ordinance may be withdrawn. Council is reviewing recently received material from a manufacturer of the signs, particularly regarding color and brightness levels and how to keep those from being distracting to motorists.

UApproved a resolution authorizing Mayor Ralph Infante to file a Community Housing Improvement Program grant application to the Ohio Department of Development.

UApproved an ordinance authorizing the city to continue collecting its video service provider fee from Time-Warner Cable. Niles collects a fee of 5 percent on the cable company’s gross revenues within the city.