Summit County Council is drafting a proposed ordinance to regulate panhandling.

County Council President Jerry Feeman tells AkronNewsNow, " Since Fairlawn did pass theirs I've had quite a bit of interest from Bath Township because they're (panhandlers) are walking from one side of the street to the other. So yes we are working on something right now."

Feeman says the County's law department is examining the legalities of a proposed ordinance which would regulate panhandling in townships and other unincorporated areas of Summit County.

" We've looked at anybody who has had the pandhandling ordinances out there, to try and look at what they have and make any changes that we feel that would benefit the townships and the unincorproated areas,"says Feeman. 

Feeman says he's examining Fairlawn's month-old panhandling ordinance and also talking to Akron and other communities that are considering their own panhandling ordinances. "We've inquired of the city of Akron to find out what they're working on, you know not to re-invent the wheel, but to at least accomplish the same goal that everyone else wants to accomplish concerning the panhandlers. I know Akron has part of that taken care of. I know they make those folks register and things like that, and I think they're going to expand on it."  

 Akron's ordinance has been tabled in committee after the American Civil Liberties Union complained that certain new restrictions on panhandlers would violate their first amendment rights.

Jerry Feeman says the drafting of such an ordinance is now in the final stages and could be introduced for debate and a vote soon.