[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Lehighton as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted as Ch. 113 of the 1975 Code]
A.
PEDDLER
PEDDLING
PERSON
Terms defined. As used in this article, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person who shall engage in peddling, as hereinbelow defined.
Engaging in peddling, canvassing, soliciting or taking of
orders, either by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares or merchandise
within the Borough of Lehighton; provided, however, that the word
"peddling" shall not apply to farmers selling their own produce; the
sale of goods, wares and merchandise donated by the owners thereof,
the proceeds whereof are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic
purpose; any manufacturer or producer in the sale of bread and bakery
products, meat and meat products or milk or milk products; or sales
by schools or nonprofit organizations.
[Amended 8-26-1991 by Ord. No. 413]
Any natural person, association, partnership, firm or corporation.
B.
Word usage. In this article the singular shall include
the plural, and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter.
No person shall engage in peddling within the
Borough of Lehighton unless he shall first have taken out and have
in his possession a valid license from the Borough, as herein provided.
A.
Every person desiring to engage in peddling in the
Borough of Lehighton shall first make application to the Mayor for
a license. If such person shall also be required to obtain a license
from any county officer, he shall, when making such application, exhibit
a valid county license.
B.
Upon such application, such person shall give:
(1)
His name and address.
(2)
His previous criminal record, if any.
(3)
The name and address of the person for whom he works,
if any.
(4)
The type of goods, wares and merchandise he wishes
to peddle.
(5)
The length of time for which he wishes to be licensed.
(6)
The place where he was peddling immediately prior
to his coming to Lehighton, if any, and the place where he intends
to engage in peddling after leaving Lehighton, if any.
C.
At his discretion, the Mayor may require that any
applicant for a license be fingerprinted.
D.
Where a person makes application for himself and one
or more helpers, all applicable personal information specified above
shall be given for each helper, and an individual license shall be
required for each helper. No license issued under this article shall
be transferable from one person to another.
A.
No license shall be issued under this article until
the proper fee, as follows, shall be paid to the Mayor for each individual
desiring to be licensed. The fee may be amended from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council:
[Amended 8-26-1991 by Ord. No. 413; 6-23-2008 by Ord. No.
557-2008]
B.
Such fee shall be for the use of the Borough.
In any instance, the Mayor may require that
a waiting period of 24 hours elapse between the making of an application
for a license and the issuing of such license by the Mayor. During
such waiting period, the Mayor may make such investigation as he may
deem necessary into the accuracy of the information given in the application
for a license, and he may deny a license in any case where he finds
that any of the information contained in any application is false
or misleading.
A.
Every peddler shall, at all times while engaged in
peddling within the Borough, carry the license issued to him under
this article upon his person and shall exhibit such license, upon
request, to any police officer, Borough official or citizen.
B.
No peddler shall engage in selling any product not
mentioned in his application for license.
No person licensed under the provisions of this
article shall peddle on Sundays or holidays, and on other days of
the week, he shall peddle only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. unless specifically having been invited to a house by the
occupant or having made an appointment with such person previously.
[Amended 8-26-1991 by Ord. No. 413]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before any District
Justice, be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $600
and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and
costs, to imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days.
[Adopted 6-26-2017 by Ord. No. 638-2017]
The Council, desiring to promote and facilitate the continued
revitalization of Lehighton Borough by fostering a program which would
positively contribute to the aesthetic appearance, vitality and excitement
of the Borough, increase the pleasurable experience of both shoppers
and Borough residents and enhance the success of the existing merchant
base, finds and declares that the establishment of a strictly regulated
sidewalk cart vendor and truck vendor program, limited as to location
and type of vendor so as not to impede or be disruptive to orderly
and efficient pedestrian use of the sidewalks or Borough areas such
as parks and streets, nor unduly interfere with established business
upon whose success the continued vitality of the Borough depends,
would significantly and substantially contribute to the Borough's
revitalization and be, therefore, in the public interest.
For the purposes of this article, certain terms shall be defined
as follows:
The public sidewalks encompassed within and limited to the
downtown area of Lehighton Borough including First Street, Second
Street and Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and specifically including the
Trailhead located along Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and such other public
areas within the Borough as may be designated by resolution of Borough
Council.
A fixed location within a cart and truck vending area as
has been designated by the Borough Manager to be available for placement
of a vending cart or vending truck licensed under this article.
A person selling or offering for sale food products or natural
products from a vending cart or vending truck.
The Fire Chief of the Borough of Lehighton and his/her assistants.
Includes and shall be limited to such foods intended for
immediate consumption following sale as can, without threat or danger
to the public health, be maintained and sold from portable vending
carts and trucks which shall include, but not be limited to food and
non-alcoholic beverages such as, but not limited to biscuits or sandwiches
made from biscuits, hot dogs, sausages, bagels, pastries, candy, fresh
fruit, burritos, kabobs, sushi, chicken, beef or pork meat, prepackaged
sandwiches, chips, popcorn, nuts, pretzels, ice products, ice cream,
milk products, frozen yogurt, hot and cold beverages containing no
alcohol, and condiments related to permitted merchandise. Tobacco
products are not permitted merchandise.
Includes and shall be limited to whole fruits and vegetables
(uncut, unfrozen, unprocessed, raw fruits and vegetables), flowers
and such other nonmanufactured products suitable for sale from portable
vending carts or vending trucks where the vending cart or vending
truck occupies a designated location.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind, and when used in any clause prescribing
and imposing a penalty, "person" includes the individual members,
partners, officers and managers (or any of them) of partnerships,
associations and similar entities, and other officers, directors and
managers (or any of them) of corporations.
A.
License required. No person shall sell or offer for sale any food
products or natural products on any cart and/or truck vending area
in the Borough unless holding a cart vendor license or truck vendor
license, issued under this article or being a part of an activity
or program approved as a special event by the Office of the Borough
Manager.
B.
Location and type. A cart vending license or truck vending license
shall only be issued for and restricted to cart vendor sales or truck
vendor sales of natural products and/or food products from an approved
vending cart or vending truck, at a specific and fixed cart vending
or truck vending location in a cart vending or truck vending area,
which restrictions shall be specified on the license issued.
C.
License term and fees. A cart vending or truck vending license shall
be issued for a one-year term from the date of issuance, renewable
annually upon payment of an annual license fee, to be established
by resolution of Borough Council, and faithful adherence to the requirements
of this article and the regulations promulgated hereunder.
D.
A cart vending or truck vending license may also be issued for a
shorter period of time for community events upon payment of a licensed
fee to be established by resolution of Borough Council.
E.
License nontransferable. A cart vending or truck vending license
when issued shall not be transferable to another holder except upon
the death or disability of the holder, and any prohibited transfer
of the license shall work an automatic forfeiture thereof. If the
license holder is not a natural person, the transfer of any ownership
interest in the holder of the license shall be deemed a prohibited
transfer.
F.
Food employee certification. All cart and truck vendors who offer
natural products for sale shall comply with all applicable provisions
of the Food Employee Certification Act, 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 6501
et seq., and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto by the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture, 7 Pa. Code § 46.1 et seq., as
amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, employing
a supervisory employee who has successfully completed a food employee
certification approved training program or successor program. Vendors
must present proof of certification when applying for a license. Any
violation of the provisions of the Food Employee Certification Act
or the related regulations shall constitute a violation hereunder.
G.
Food Code. All cart and truck vendors who offer natural products
for sale shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Food Code
issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 7 Pa. Code § 46.1
et seq., as amended from time to time. Any violation of the provisions
of the Food Code shall constitute a violation hereunder.
A.
Maintenance. All vending carts and vending trucks shall at all times
be maintained in good condition and repair. Any repairs to or replacements
of vending carts or vending trucks shall comply fully with the existing
design criteria, standards and specifications. No replacement cart
or truck may be placed into operation until approved by the Health
Officer.
B.
Carts self-contained. All vending carts shall be so designed that
all sales activities, including trash disposal facilities, can be
conducted totally from the vending cart. Use of the sidewalk by a
cart vendor for product display, storage or trash receptacle location
shall be prohibited. Vending trucks are prohibited from using sidewalks
and streets as a location for trash receptacles or product display.
C.
Signs. Signs to include an identification of the cart vendor or truck
vendor are permitted. Any merchandise listings must be professionally
painted or handwritten on an attractive removable chalk or marker
board or similar structure.
A.
Days and hours of operation. Cart vending and truck vending sales
may be conducted daily during such hours as may be prescribed in the
regulations promulgated hereunder or established by the owner of the
site where the vending sales are conducted.
B.
Daily removal. Vending carts and vending trucks shall be removed
from the cart vending and truck vending location daily no later than
8:00 p.m. and not returned thereto until the times as may be prescribed
for cart or truck breakdown or setup, as the case may be, in the regulations
promulgated hereunder or established by the owner of the site where
the vending sales occur.
C.
Safe and sanitary condition. Vending carts and vending trucks shall
be maintained in a safe, clean and sanitary condition at all times.
Vending carts and vending trucks licensed hereunder to sell food products
shall:
(1)
Be subject to inspection at any time by the Borough Manager and/or
his/her designated agent.
D.
Quiet operations. Cart vendors and truck vendors shall conduct business
in an orderly fashion and shall not make loud or raucous noises or
use sound-amplifying devices to attract attention nor verbally hawk
or solicit product sales to pedestrians or motorists.
E.
Use and maintenance of sidewalk. All sales and related activity shall
be conducted from the vending cart or vending truck, during which
times the vending cart or vending truck shall not be moved from the
assigned cart vending or truck vending location. No products shall
be stored or displayed, nor trash receptacles placed, on the sidewalk
or any adjacent area outside the approved vending area. The sidewalk
in the immediate vicinity of the vending cart or vending truck shall
be kept and maintained by the cart vendor or truck vendor free of
trash, litter, debris or spillage generated by the vendor's vending
cart or vending truck. Trash must be removed from the site on a daily
basis by the vendor. Tables or other pedestrian obstructions are prohibited.
A.
The application for a vendor's license shall include the following
information:
(1)
The name, home and business address of the applicant, and the name
and address of the owner, if other than the applicant, of the cart
to be used in the operation of the vending business.
(2)
A description of the type of food, beverage or merchandise to be
sold.
(3)
A list of the proposed location or locations of the vending cart
for which license is sought.
(4)
A description and photograph or drawing of the cart or truck proposed
to be used.
(5)
The location and description of off-street cart or truck storage
facilities.
(6)
The method and routes for transporting the cart and/or truck to and
from the sidewalk location or other location and storage facilities.
(7)
The names, addresses and percentage of stock owned by shareholders
in a corporate applicant and the percentage interest of each partner
in a partnership applicant.
(8)
Copy of insurance policy or binder.
(9)
Such information as the applicant may choose or may be requested
by the Borough.
B.
Review of applications. The Borough Manager or his/her designated
agent ("designated agent") shall complete the review of all applications
filed and notify the applicants of the results thereof, in writing,
within 60 days of receiving a complete application.
(1)
An application shall be denied and the applicant ineligible to receive
a cart vending or truck vending license if:
(a)
The application is incomplete in any material respect.
(b)
The proposed vending cart does not comply with the cart design
criteria, standards or specifications and/or applicable health codes,
or if the proposed vending truck does not comply with the standards
or specifications and/or applicable health codes.
(c)
The applicant, or any natural person having not less than a
33% interest in the entity making application, has:
[1]
An interest in another cart vending or truck vending license;
[2]
Within the past five years held or had an interest in a cart
vending or truck vending license that had been revoked;
[3]
Any tax liability being more than 10 days overdue; or
[4]
Within the past 10 years been convicted of selling, offering
to sell or possession with intent to sell a controlled substance.
(2)
If an application is denied, the applicant shall be notified, in
writing of the reason therefor.
A.
Grounds. A cart vending or truck vending license shall be subject
to suspension or revocation by the designated agent for any of the
following causes:
(1)
The violation of any provision of this article, the regulations promulgated
hereunder or the orders of the designated agent issued pursuant thereto;
(2)
Where the license holder has knowingly made a false, misleading or
fraudulent statement of material fact in the application for a license;
(3)
When the license holder fails to pay the license renewal fee within
10 days of the annual anniversary date of license issuance; or
(4)
When the cart or truck vendor violates the provisions of or fails
to maintain any license or permit required by any applicable state
health codes.
(5)
The practice of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or furnishing false
information in the course of carrying on the licensed business.
(6)
Conviction of certain crimes: if any licensee is convicted of robbery,
burglary, theft, receiving stolen goods or any other crime involving
the unlawful obtaining of personal property.
B.
Procedure, notice and hearing.
(1)
Prior to the suspension or revocation of a cart vending or truck
vending license becoming effective, the designated agent shall notify
the licensee, in writing, of the suspension or revocation, the reasons
therefor, his right to a hearing before the designated agent if desired
and that unless a request for a hearing is filed in writing within
15 days of the date of the notice of suspension or revocation, the
suspension or revocation shall then become effective without further
action. Such notice shall be served upon the licensee by delivering
the same personally or by registered mail, postage fully prepaid,
addressed to the licensee at his or her place of business or residence
as shown on the license application.
(2)
If a hearing is requested before the designated agent, it shall be
conducted by the designated agent or his designee within 10 days of
the request and shall be conducted in accordance with the Local Agency
Law (2 Pa.C.S.A. § 105). If following the hearing the suspension
or revocation is upheld, the reasons therefor shall be set forth in
writing and delivered to the licensee by ordinary mail. A decision
upholding or sustaining the suspension or revocation shall result
in such suspension or revocation becoming effective and not subject
to further stay except upon order of court.
A.
Time and manner. Within five days after the date of denial of an
application for a vending or truck vending license by the designated
agent or within 30 days after action by the designated agent suspending
or revoking a cart vending or truck vending license being final, any
person so affected may appeal such act to the Borough Council by filing
a notice of appeal, in writing, with the Health Officer, setting forth
the specific grounds upon which the appeal is based, together with
an appeal fee of $100.
B.
Hearing and decision. Upon the filing of an appeal, the designated
agent shall set a time and place for hearing before the Borough Council
and shall notify the appellant thereof. The hearing shall be set within
the number of days of the filing of the appeal as follows: from a
denial of an application for a vending license, five days; from action
of designated agent suspending or revoking a license becoming final,
30 days. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements
of the Local Agency Law (2 Pa.C.S.A. § 105). The appellant
and any other interested party shall be given a reasonable opportunity
to be heard in order to show cause why the determination of the designated
agent should not be upheld. In all cases, the burden of proof shall
be upon the appellant to show that there was no substantial evidence
to support the decision of the designated agent. The decision of the
Borough Council shall be in writing and shall state the reasons therefor.
C.
Appeal not a stay. The filing of an appeal hereunder shall not operate
to stay the action or decision of the Health Officer which is the
subject of the appeal.
The Borough Manager and his/or designated agent may promulgate
such regulations as are necessary for the proper administration and
enforcement of this article. Before becoming effective, any such regulations
shall be approved by resolution of the Borough Council and thereafter
shall be available for public inspection.
A.
This article shall be enforced by the Borough Manager or Mayor or
the Borough Manager's designated agent.
B.
During officially sanctioned special events in the Borough, privileges
of sidewalk vendor licenses as well as cart and truck vendor licenses
issued by the Borough may be modified at the discretion of the Borough
Manager and/or designated agent when conflicts of location arise between
the vendor and the special event presentation.
C.
Cart vending and truck vending authorized under the provisions of
this article and located on property designated by resolution of Borough
Council shall be exempt from Borough of Lehighton Zoning Review and
approval.
A.
Any person violating any provisions of this article or of the regulations
promulgated hereunder shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary
proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more
than $600 for each and every offense, to be collected as other fines
and costs are by law collectible, or shall be imprisoned for not more
than 90 days, or both. Each day during which any person violates any
provisions of this article shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
Institution of a prosecution for the imposition of the foregoing
penalty shall not be construed to limit or deny the right of the Borough
to such equitable or other remedies as may be allowed by law.
