The Lexington Council is exploring new regulations regarding distribution of unsolicited materials to residents. Much of the focus this week at city hall centered on the Lexington Herald Leader’s Community News publication. Richard Morgan is with operations at the Herald. “Our home delivery subscribers do not get this publication," said Morgan. "It’s just designed for people who are not subscribers to the Herald Leader and to give them the opportunity to receive those advertising supplements, but also see some of the news content that we can provide to them."
The council’s Planning and Public Safety Committee approved a regulation requiring such materials to be placed near the front door or in a mail slot. The new ordinance would prohibit items from being tossed into driveways or front yards.
Council member Jake Gibbs says he’s gotten many calls about it. “People who deliver those pizza delivery flyers put them on my door, on the door knob, or they stick it to the door," said Gibbs. "If they pitched it in my front yard, I would consider that litter.”
Morgan says the news content featured in the ‘Community News’ makes it a freedom of the press matter. “It would be a first amendment issue," said Morgan. "I mean, we don’t want to go that direction with it, because it is a news publication."
Morgan says the paper last year moved to the carrier delivery method to better meet advertisers' needs of timely distribution. The new law would pertain to any unsolicited materials, and not strictly those from the Lexington paper. The matter now goes to the full council.
