County residents will soon be able to stop delivery of unwanted leaflets and circulars advertising goods and services after the County Council unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Councilman John Olszewski Sr.

Olszewski’s bill, which takes effect at the end of August, creates a so-called do-not-deliver list for those who do not want advertisements left in doors and mailboxes.

Businesses and individuals would be required to print a toll-free number on their fliers that residents could call to have delivery service discontinued
.
The bill would makes it illegal to place leaflets and fliers on car windshields.

“This bill is a direct result of many complaints I’ve received in my office from constituents about unsolicited fliers that are littering their neighborhoods,” Olszewski said during the council’s Monday night meeting.

“Not only are they littering their neighborhoods, these fliers are finding their way into our waterway systems and clogging up creeks and rivers," he said.

Olszewski, a Democrat who represents the 7th District — including Dundalk, Essex and Rosedale — said he saw first-hand evidence of fliers collecting in waterways during a recent cleanup effort in Bread and Cheese Creek in Dundalk.

He amended the bill to specifically exclude newspapers and campaign and election materials.

County code enforcement officers will enforce the new law. Violators could be fined $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses.
 
In other council news, the council unanimously confirmed two appointments of County Executive Jim Smith.

• Joanne Williams was confirmed as the new director of the county Department of Aging. Williams has worked for the department for 26 years, including the last two years as deputy director. She succeeds Arnold Eppel, who left the position last month to take a job with a commercial retirement community.

• Merreen Kelly, who served as county administrative officer under two county executives, was confirmed to his first full term on the Baltimore County Revenue Authority Board. Kelly was appointed to the board in 2005 to fill out the remainder of the term of Stephen Burch. Kelly’s new term will last five years.

---

user comments (0)