Lynn puts knock on door-to-door sales

LYNN – Complaints about over-aggressive salespeople and solicitors skirting city rules could prompt the city to beef up its policy on people who make a living going door-to-door.City Council members and City Clerk Mary Audley plan to discuss in greater detail a plan to require solicitors to wear city-issued badges once their employers are approved to do direct marketing in Lynn neighborhoods.If approved, the badges would mark a first step by the council to reverse its April 15 vote to halt the issuance of city door-to-door licenses pending a thorough review of state solicitation laws by city attorneys.?No one has permission right now in the city,” said Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr.Cyr said he has received complaints from seniors and other residents about solicitors and city Head Clerk Mary Gokas said complaints about door-to-door marketers have increased during the last several years. Some, Gokas said, involve solicitors “being very aggressive.”According to city records, as many as one in every two firms applying for local permission to solicit are denied by the city. Four firms out of a total of 10 were denied permission this year, according to city records, and a similar number were denied in 2014. No denials are listed on city records in 2013, but four out of the six 2012 applicants were denied by the city.Direct Sales Solutions of Quincy was denied permission to solicit this year, according to city records, and assistant regional manager Latoya Lewis said most communities confine denials to individual salespeople.?Normally, the whole company is not turned down,” she said.She said Direct Sales typically fields seven employees, and she said Lynn?s solicitation approval policies are stricter than some other cities and town regulations – including a city requirement for marketers to appear before the Council Licensing Committee.?I?ve never seen that before,” Lewis said.In addition to appearing before the committee for approval, solicitors must fill out a city application and anticipate a Police Department criminal history check.Solicitation rules include no sales after 7 p.m.; identification badges must be worn; and “no unrealistic promises to (the) consumer.”