The Lyman Town Council voted Monday to approve an amendment to the town's ordinance governing peddlers, or door-to-door solicitors.
Under the amended law, peddlers must obtain a peddler’s license from the Town of Lyman and prominently display a town-issued badge on their person while conducting business. Door-to-door soliciting is limited to between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“We don't want our residents, especially our seniors, to be taken advantage of by salespeople,” said Lyman Mayor David Petty. “We wanted to provide them with an easy way to identify salespeople, know that they’ve had a background check, and know that their business is licensed to operate in town.”
Council approved the amended law 6-1, with Councilmember Jack Bellaire voting in opposition. He cited concerns with the time constraint, stating that the 6 p.m. cutoff would still allow peddlers to conduct business after dark during the winter months.
Also in old business, Council appointed Ronald Carter Smith to the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Smith was selected from a pool of three applicants. He was approved to take the vacant seat following a vote of 5-1, with Councilmember Bellaire voting for another candidate, and Councilmember Adam Crisp recusing himself.
In new business, Council heard the first reading of Ordinance No. 09142026, which would restrict certain familial and household relationships among town employees, elected officials and appointed officials. Town officials say the purpose of the ordinance is to ensure fairness in hiring and appointment processes.
“A lot of towns have language regarding nepotism in their employee handbooks, and we have that as well. But we wanted to take it a step further with this ordinance,” said Petty. “We want [appointees] to come from a variety of neighborhoods across town, and be representative of the entire Lyman community.”
Council voted unanimously to move the ordinance forward. It will return for a second reading next month.
Also in new business was the first reading of an ordinance that would annex a small plot of land near Tyger Fox Drive into the town. The plot would be zoned as Residential-15. Council approved the ordinance unanimously and will consider the request for a second reading next month.
The next item before Council was a resolution authorizing a contract with Decker Builders to repair the gazebo at the Lyman Event Center. The total cost of repairs will be $19,250, to be distributed from the town’s Hospitality Tax Fund. Council approved the resolution unanimously. This item does not need a second reading.
The final two items before Council were focused on the appointment of council members to two town committees. Council approved all appointments unanimously. The appointments are effective as of Sept. 14.
The first committee is the Personnel Committee. Councilmembers Phil McIntyre, Cindy Behm, and Mayor David Petty were elected to the committee, with McIntyre as Chair. Rebecca Martin will serve as an alternate.
The second committee is the Public Safety Committee. Councilmembers Adam Crisp, Jack Bellaire and Greg Wood were elected to the committee, with Crisp as Chair. Mayor Petty will serve as an alternate.
For more information on the Lyman Town Council and its decisions, visit lymansc.gov/government/town_council.php.
