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Council revisits swap shop proposal

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By Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writer 8:34 PM Monday, November 30, 2009

A contentious ordinance proposing regulations for swap shops and second-hand dealers will be up for debate when Middletown City Council meets tonight, Dec. 1.

Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan Jr. said the city needs to beef up regulations regarding swap shop operations.

“Who really needs to sell gold at 3 a.m.?” Mulligan asked. “I think we’re all recognizing that we certainly don’t want to jeopardize any person’s business, but a certain amount of law and order is necessary.”

If the plan is approved, stores face a litany of regulations, including a $200 license required to engage in the sale of second-hand items, mandatory background checks for all store employees and a requirement that all items be held for at least 72 hours — excluding weekends and holidays — before being sold. The ordinance also calls for banning transactions involving minors, people under the influence of a controlled substance or anyone known or suspected to have stolen the property.

True owners are also entitled to recover any stolen property sold to a store, but will be required by law to reimburse the store owner the cost paid for the item, according to the plan.

Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones moved to alter the ordinance when it came before council last month, voicing concern that innocent property owners would have to pay to recover stolen property.

“There’s something not right about that,” Scott Jones said. “I’m not trying to dismiss the innocence of the pawn shops either, but the truly innocent person is the one whose property was stolen in the first place.”

Also on the agenda is an agreement with Duncan Oil Company to trade properties on either side of Central Avenue in an effort to enhance the eastern entry into downtown. The city will give up 26 parcels it either owns or has options to purchase south of Central in exchange for eight parcels Duncan owns north of Central.

A supplemental staff report prepared by Economic Development Director Mike Robinette designates $500,000 from the city’s Downtown Improvements Fund to cover the costs associated with the agreement.

Mulligan said the overall goal is to gain city control over property for future rail development, while at the same time tearing down some eyesores on the eastern end of downtown.

Middletown City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the lower level of the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza.

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Now sure how the joke goes Mulligan, but it ends with "your mother's a whore"

SeanConnery
3:23 AM, 12/2/2009

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Keep it mayor and council. pretty soon, jimmy flint will be trading ****** for scrap gold in Monroe. Why does someone need a ***** a 2;00 am?

Big Slick
7:37 PM, 12/1/2009

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Keep up the good work Mayor,your bound and determined to run all the lil bussiness owner's out of town.
Keep on spending money for land that the city doesnt have. While your spending why not fix the **** roads? Why not do us all a favor Council and city manager,step down before you do any more harm.

LMAO
12:02 PM, 12/1/2009

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Yes we have a camera rolling and yes they come and go all night long in and out of those Gold places. We have had the camera rolling for some time now something needs to be done!

watching every move!
8:26 AM, 12/1/2009

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Another knee-jerk, ill-planned reaction from the city leaders on trading properties. Why not focus your efforts on decent paying jobs, business retention, decent roads and infrastructure and basic essentials rather then train station development, Bicentennial Commons/Governor Square/Arts in the downtown/ "gateways"/ etc. All that fluff can come later. Right now, we need decent jobs, roads, business choices, basic services. The city leaders are completely misfocused on priorities/citizen's needs.

Mercy!
7:22 AM, 12/1/2009

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