The rules governing fundraising roadblocks on West Jefferson streets came under study this month by town aldermen.

The mayor and aldermen Tuesday night delayed action on a suggested policy that came from the office of Town Manager Greg McGinnis.

McGinnis said at Tuesday’s meeting of the town’s governing body that the issue came to light recently when the Armed Forces Tribute organization requested authorization to collect donations along Jefferson Avenue the week prior to the event on Aug. 23.

Teams of volunteers manned the intersection of Jefferson and Ashe and Jefferson and Second Street.

McGinnis said his new proposal that developed in a discussion with Mayor Dale Hudler combined state regulations for roadblocks and an existing town policy.

The state regulations apply because Jefferson Avenue is a state maintained highway, McGinnis said.

“A town can have a policy that is more strict than the state rules but not less restrictive,” he said.

The proposal presented Tuesday included the following requirements for fund-raising organizations to follow.

*Notify the town two weeks prior to the event

*Use only two intersections along Jefferson Avenue

*Provide proof of $2million in liability insurance coverage and hold the town harless

*Volunteers must be 16 or older

*Identity donors so they are not asked for a donation twice

*Only one event per organization per year.

Town attorney Jim Reeves questioned how any local organization could provide $2million liability coverage. “Have we checked with any of these groups to know how expensive that is?’ he asked.

McGinnis replied that he had not.

He said he had been told by ACAFT coordinator Vicky Moody that her organization had $3 million coverage.

“If you’re going to raise $1,000 and pay $800 in insurance, I don’t see how you could do that. Reeves said.

“I don’t think we want to put the Shriners out of business.”

The local Shrine organization is one group that frequently holds fundraisers by collecting donations at town intersections.

“That is a state requirement,” McGinnis said.

He said many towns and cities are eliminating the ability to collect at roadblocks.

You can’t be restrictive about who you let do it,” McGinnis said.

The aldermen decided to study to proposal and discuss it again next month.