-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Tim Minter addresses Rome City Commissioners on Monday.
Members of the Rome Shrine Club were in attendance at Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting following an incident at this past Saturday’s concert in Downtown Rome.
Tim Minter was at the event with his donation bucket when police approached him and asked him to stop.
“I will be very clear, the officers were very professional,” Minter said. “I was a police officer for 15 years, and I am friends with most of them. They were courteous and respectful, and I was just as courteous and respectful back. I’m not going to stand there and argue with an officer on the street. He is just doing his job. I understand that, I really do…..And I looked kind of confused there because I was literally watching the band up on the stage. I was holding my bucket, and my son was standing beside me. He told me to stop what I was doing, but I was not doing anything; I was just standing there. I understood that he told me I had to quit because I was raising money. I understood, and I asked him who made the complaint because I had not done anything wrong. I was advised it was the DDA.”
According to a social media post from the Rome Downtown Development Authority, solicitation is not permitted without prior authorization under existing City ordinances and event policies.
The DDA has always welcomed nonprofit participation at our two signature festivals, RoFlo Fest in the spring and Fiddlin’ Fest in the fall,” the statement read. “If your organization would like to participate, sign-ups open each season on the DDA website or by contacting the DDA office.”
Section 11-311 of the City of Rome, GA Code of Ordinances prohibits solicitation on city streets without proper authorization and permitting.
“I was not standing anywhere I wasn’t supposed to be,” Minter added. “I was not blocking the sidewalks. I was not using a megaphone. I was not harassing anyone, and I was not aggressively soliciting. In fact, I never directly ask anyone for money. I simply walk through the event, wearing my Shriner, and carrying this bucket. I’m not here to attack anybody, I’m not here to seek any kind of punishment, and I am not here to create any kind of conflict. I am here because of an incident that occurred during the First Friday concert on Saturday night, because I believe it highlights the need for cleaner policies, better training, and better understanding of the Constitutional rights of the citizens engaged in charitable activities.”
Rome Mayor Jim Bojo invited Minter to stay after the meeting to meet with him and Kelley Toles, Director of Strategic Initiatives.
“Kelley knows how we can work this thing so that you can be out there,” Bojo said. “You guys are doing a great job.”
The mayor’s comment was applauded by those in attendance at the meeting.
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