For the purposes of this chapter only, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
SOLICITATION OR SOLICIT
The request, directly or indirectly, for money, credit, property,
financial assistance, or other thing of any kind or value. Solicitation
shall include but not be limited to the use or employment of canisters,
cards, receptacles or similar devices for the collection of money
or other thing of value. A solicitation shall take place whether or
not the person making the solicitation receives any contribution.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
no person shall place, use, or employ a donation clothing bin within
the Township of Hillsborough, for solicitation purposes, without obtaining
a permit from the Township Clerk. Permits are renewable on an annual
basis during the month of January.
The annual permit fee is $25 per bin and will be used to offset
the costs involved in enforcing this chapter.
The application for obtaining a permit shall include:
A. The location where the bin would be situated, as precisely as possible.
B. The manner in which the person anticipates any clothing or other
donations collected via the bin would be used, sold, or dispersed
and the method by which the proceeds of collected donations would
be allocated or spent.
C. The name and telephone number of the bona fide office of any person
or entity which may share or profit from any clothing or other donations
collected via the bin, at which such person can be reached during
normal business hours. For the purposes of this subsection, an answering
machine or service unrelated to the person does not constitute a bona
fide office.
D. Written consent from the property owner to place the bin on his property.
In addition to the above application requirements, renewal applications
must include:
A. A statement on the manner in which the person has used, sold, or
dispersed any clothing or other donation collected via the bin, the
method by which the proceeds of collected donations have been allocated
or spent, and any changes the person anticipates it may make in these
processes during the period covered by the renewal.
B. The name and telephone number of the bona fide office of any entity
which shared or profited from any clothing or other donations collected
via the bin and of any entities which may do so during the period
covered by the renewal.
C. If the location of the bin is to be moved, the new location where
the bin is to be situated, as precisely as possible, and written consent
from the property owner of the new location.
The Township of Hillsborough shall not grant an application
for a permit to place, use, or employ a donation clothing bin if it
determines that the placement of the bin could constitute a safety
hazard. Such hazards shall include but not be limited to the placement
of a donation clothing bin within 100 yards of any place which stores
large amounts of, or sells, fuel or other flammable liquids or gases
or the placement of a bin where it interferes with vehicular or pedestrian
circulation. The person placing, using or employing a donation clothing
bin shall maintain the bin and the area surrounding the bin such that
there shall be no accumulation of clothing or other donations outside
the bin.
The following information shall be clearly and conspicuously
displayed on the exterior of the donation clothing bin:
A. The permit number and its date of expiration.
B. The name and address of the registered person who owns the bin and
of any other entity which may share or profit from any clothing or
other donations collected via the bin.
C. The telephone number of the owner's bona fide office and, if
applicable, the telephone number of the bona fide office of any other
entity which may share or profit from any clothing or other donations
collected via the bin. For the purposes of this subsection, an answering
machine or service unrelated to the person does not constitute a bona
fide office.
D. In cases when any entity other than the person who owns the bin may
share or profit from any clothing or other donations collected via
the bin, a notice, written in a clear and easily understandable manner,
indicating that clothing or other donations collected via the bin,
their proceeds, or both, may be shared, or given entirely to, an entity
other than the person who owns the bin and identifying all such entities
which may share or profit from such donations.
E. A statement, consistent with the information provided to the Township
of Hillsborough in the most recent permit or renewal application,
indicating the manner in which the owner anticipates any clothing
or other donations collected via the bin would be used, sold, or dispersed
and the method by which the proceeds of collected donations would
be allocated or spent.
It shall be the duty of the person placing, using, employing
or owning a clothing donation bin to properly maintain and service
each clothing donation bin placed within the Township so as to prevent
such clothing bin from creating any nuisance or hazardous or unsafe
condition.
The Zoning Officer or other person designated by the Township
Committee as a person authorized to enforce the provisions of this
chapter shall, upon receipt of a complaint by a local resident or
any other person that a clothing donation bin is causing a nuisance
or hazardous or unsafe condition, investigate such complaint and take
such enforcement action as is permitted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.62
and 40:48-2.63.
In addition to any other penalties or remedies authorized by
the laws of this state, any person who violates any provision of this
chapter or the provisions of P.L. 2007, c. 209 (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.60
et seq.) which results in seizure of the donation clothing bin shall
be:
A. Subject to a penalty of up to $20,000 for each violation. The Township
of Hillsborough may bring this action in the Township of Hillsborough
Municipal Court or the Superior Court of New Jersey as a summary proceeding
under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999, P.L.1999, c. 274 (N.J.S.A.
2A:58-10 et seq.), and any penalty monies collected shall be paid
to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township; and
B. Deemed ineligible to place, use, or employ a donation clothing bin
for solicitation purposes pursuant to this chapter and P.L. 2007,
c. 209 (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.61). A person disqualified from placing,
using, or employing a donation clothing bin by violating the provisions
of P.L. 2007, c. 209 (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.60 et seq.) may apply to the
Township Committee of the Township of Hillsborough to have that person's
eligibility restored. The Township of Hillsborough Committee may restore
the eligibility of a person who:
(1) Acts within the public interest; and
(2) Demonstrates that he made a good-faith effort to comply with the
provisions of this chapter and P.L. 2007, c. 209 (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.60
et seq.), and all other applicable laws and regulations, or had no
fraudulent intentions.