By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

Allenstown police and town officials are developing a new town license for vendors to ensure the safety of citizens and the accountability of traveling salespeople.

The licensing process was brought about largely by the arrest of Gary Brown, an ice cream vendor arrested by Allenstown police in May on a charge of felonious prostitution.

Brown, 34, sold ice cream in Pembroke, Allenstown and Hooksett, and was able to do so because he had a peddler's license from the state.

Allenstown Police Chief James McGonigle said vendors can obtain a license from the state, which does not perform a background check.

"The impetus (for the new license) came from when we dealt with the ice cream man," he said. "We realized that we didn't have a safeguard in place. The state doesn't run a background check if the vendor says he doesn't have a criminal record. The license is issued in good faith."

Had the state officials run a background check, they might have discovered that Brown had served prison time after he was convicted of stabbing a female acquaintance at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, nine times in 1989.

Brown was arrested on May 20 after he allegedly told a 14- year-old boy he would perform sexual acts for anyone wanting $50.

One day later, Brown reached his $25,000 bail and was witnessed with three children aged 12 to 13 in the parking lot of the Loudon Road Wal-Mart in Concord. A provision of his bail restricted him from contacting anyone younger than 18.

McGonigle is in favor of the new ordinance, and said Allenstown will be a safer place because of it.

"There should be accountability for people doing door-todoor sales," McGonigle said. "Mandating licenses for vendors will give the community a sense of well being."

The local ordinance is unprecedented, and will call on vendors to register with the police department before they can sell products.

McGonigle said a typical background check consists of a motor vehicle record and criminal record check. The current cost of a permit varies; some are available for $200 a year, and others cost $20 for a week.

Selectman Sandra McKenney is in favor of the ordinance, and said the town needs it to provide an extra level of safety to its residents. A public hearing is set for the end of the month.

"The vendors currently get the state license, but nothing from the town," she said. This is a good thing for the town. We need to protect our residents, and check on people."

McGonigle said that traveling sales groups have often abused the state license in the past, and that concerned citizens reported the activity to the police.

"A lot of these fly-by-night outfits will get one license and Xerox it," he said. "You ask one person for ID, and it doesn't match the name of the certificate, because they're all using the same license."

Under the new legislation, charitable groups like Scout troops are exempt from registering for a permit.

McGonigle said Allenstown police have arrested several groups for the offense, a misdemeanor that carries a minimum fine of $1,000, and a maximum penalty of one year in the house of corrections and a $1,000 fine.

"When we arrest these groups, they always get cash bail, and we never hear from them again," he said. "The last time that happened was maybe two years ago."