09/22/2011
By Chris Proctor
The Springville Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept Local Law 2011, Restrictions of Residency for Registered Sex Offenders, into the village penal code. The new law is designed to assist in protecting those children and adults considered most vulnerable as targets of registered sex offenders.
Although only two village residents attended the public hearing held prior to the monthly board meeting on Sept. 12, both spoke in favor of the bill and told the trustees that they would like to see the legislative wording expanded to offer the community greater protection from convicted sexual predators.
The first citizen to address the board asked the trustees to include not only an offender’s residence, but his or her places of work and recreation, as well. He also requested that the board “put some bite in lawbreaker penalties by increasing both jail time and the amount of fines.”
The other resident to speak asked the board “to be brave. Do more than is just politically correct.” She also pointed out that “children and their parents need to be protected from these individuals.”
Board members said they were reluctant to overstep their authority. Trustee James Bentley said, “We can’t just limit a person’s movements.” Village attorney Audrey Seeley agreed, “We could run into problems by detaining people.” Board Member Terry Skelton said, “This could be very difficult to enforce.”
Mayor William Krebs and Police Chief John Fox participated in further discussion on the law and ascertained that the existing New York state statutes were “vague and lacking in uniformity,” the reason the board had proposed Local Law B 2011 in the first place.
Fox said, “Having the law in effect may tell [sex offenders] not to come and live here in the first place.” Krebs asked the trustees, “Do we need to rework the law?” Skelton responded, “This residency law is a good first step.”
The board’s 5-0 vote to approve the bill as originally presented was followed by a 5-0 vote to have Seeley investigate the possibility of expanding the new ruling. Trustee Gerald Lohrey warned, “This law should not give people a false sense of security.” Nor, according to Building Inspector Mike Kaleta, “should we assume the threat is only to children.”
Krebs summed up the passage of the new village law by saying, “There are no guarantees [regarding public safety]. People need to remain vigilant.”
