Anyone who sells merchandise by going either from town to town or
from place to place in the same town, either on foot, or by means
of any animal or vehicle, is acting as a hawker or peddler. No hawker
or peddler has a right to a specific location.
Unless the hawker or peddler has obtained a state license, a Town
license from the Town Administrator's office must be obtained.
Such license expires annually on December 31. The fee for this license
is $50 for the principal holder. The fee for licenses for the employees
of the principal license holder is $25 each.
If hawkers and peddlers stop to do business on a public way, it must
be on a sidewalk and not on the part of the way travelled by motor
vehicles. If they stop to do business on land other than a public
way, they must have the permission of the owner of such land.
If the merchandise sold is likely to generate trash or litter, the
hawker or peddler shall provide a trash receptacle for use by customers.
Before he or she moves from one location to the next, a hawker or
peddler must properly dispose of any trash or debris left by the hawker
or peddler or his/her customers.
Hawkers and peddlers are prohibited in the Center Business District,
defined as follows: Main Street between Charles Street and Crescent
Street; Main Street between Forest Street and the Melrose city line;
North Avenue between Main Street and Church Street; Tuttle Street;
Albion Street between Main Street and Lake Street; Water Street between
Main Street and Preston Street.
Hawkers and peddlers are subject to periodic inspections for compliance
with these regulations. A violation of these regulations shall be
punishable by a fine of $20 or license revocation.
A state or local hawker's and peddler's license shall be
prominently displayed upon the person licensed at all times that such
person is engaged in his or her trade.
The Town Council reserves the right to waive or revise any or
all of these regulations in connection with any parade, celebration
or other special event.
Hawkers and peddlers are required to provide general liability
insurance in the amount of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000
in total, and property damage in the amount of at least $50,000 and
shall provide a certificate of such insurance to the Town Administrator's
office at the time of licensing hereunder.