UPDATE: School Appeal Prompts Policy Discussion at Deming Way

Updated at 1:45 p.m.: Wilmington Police Lt. Brian Pupa said that as it is written in the general town bylaws, solicitation rules only apply to parties who are going to door to door to sell a product or service.

According to Section 40 of the bylaws, anyone interested in speaking with residents door to door with religious or political materials do not need to check in with the Police Department in advance.

However, Pupa said that if an area like Deming Way has its own set of rules that specify no solicitors of any kind, those instructions must be followed.

Original Story: The filing of has prompted discussion on Deming Way after four elderly residents were approached to sign one of the that have .

According to a Lowell Sun report, Wilmington Housing Authority executive director Maureen Hickey said board members will discuss if any changes need to be made in its solicitation policy to prevent future issues. 

"It's a policy we have, but it doesn't seem like it has a lot of teeth," Hickey said. "It doesn't necessarily stop people from knocking at your door."

When MacDonald was asked about the subject by Wilmington Patch last week, he said the Deming Way residents knew what they were signing when he went to their homes.

“Everybody that signed the appeal was in their right mind and had the entire thing explained to them,” said MacDonald. “Sometimes people try to say, ‘Oh well there are only 10 people who want to appeal,’ but I could have gotten hundreds of signatures if I put the time in."

According to The Sun article, 93-year-old Grace Block said increasing taxes were her motivation for signing the appeal, but she later backed off of her stance.

"I said, 'What the heck?' and I signed it," Block told The Sun. "But if they want to build another school, let them build another school. Good luck to them."