City Unhappy with Fliers, Revokes Handbill License
(Crystal A. Proxmire, The Ferndale 115 News, March 1, 2012 ed)
Tired of Getting Happy’s Pizza and Glory Supermarket fliers? Ferndale City Council has voted to revoke the license of a handbill distribution company they say has repeatedly given fliers to homes with No Solicitation signs. Petros Distribution of Sterling Heights, owned by Wisam Petros, was approved to distribute fliers for Glory Markets and Happy’s Pizza in the City on January 31, 2012.
According to a motion before council on the consent agenda, “A letter of complaint and application for Handbill Permit were sent to Glory Supermarket on November 14, 2011 in response to a resident’s complaint of unwanted advertising materials being left at his home posted with “no handbills ” signage. Mr. Petros was supplied with a copy of the Handbill Ordinance and warned that there had been a previous com plaint for violating a “no handbills ” sign pursuant to Chapter 7, Article XII, Sec. 7- 287 of the Code of Ordinances.
“On February 3, 2012 the same resident notified our office that he had received more handbills from Glory Supermarket. A notice of violation was sent to Mr. Petros on February 6, 2012 warning him that further violations may result in revocation of his permit. Our office received two more complaints on February 7 and February 10 , and a staff member also received handbills from Petros Distribution in violation of “no solicitation” signage.
“A second notice of violation was sent to Mr. Petros on February 13, 2012 informing him that the Clerk’s Office is recommending revocation of his permit pursuant to Sec. 7 – 289 (d). This section designates that City Council may revoke permits issued under this section for violations of the article.
“As Petros Distribution, Inc. has repeatedly violated Sec. 7 – 287, we recommend that the permit be revoked. All fees will be forfeited pursuant to Sec. 7 – 289 (e). Mr. Petros has also been informed that the police department will be notified of the revocation and any further distribution will result in his agents being ticketed.”
Council approved the revocation as part of the consent agenda.
For more information about the City of Ferndale’s code of ordinances, check out the City’s official website http://www.ferndale-mi.com.