Council Sets Hearing On ‘Pawnbroker Law,’ Fee

OSWEGO, NY – At its meeting Monday night, the Common Council authorized a public hearing regarding proposed Local Law No. 3 of the Year 2016 – A Local Law Amending Chapter 176, Pawnbrokers, of the Code of the City of Oswego.

The public hearing will be held at 7:10 p.m. May 9 in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 13 W. Oneida St.

The law would give the police department a tool to go to the local pawn shops and try to track down stolen items, according to the mayor.

It requires a store to hold an item for a certain period of time. And, it requires the store to document the item that they have.

The law would not affect people who have garage sales or participate in flea markets, the city attorney explained.

There is an annual permit fee of $250, to help defray some of the expenses that the city incurs in investigating charges of stolen property, he added.

In other action this week, the council approved use of public space:

•    Cub Scout Pack 888, in order to use the parking lot at 9 Burkle St. on May 3 from 5 until 8 p.m. for the delivery of Oliver Paine Greenhouse hanging plants for the Cub Scout unit.

•    Franklin Square Park by Theta Chi fraternity in order to host a fundraising event on April 30. Christopher Esposito on behalf of the Oswego Colony of the Theta Chi Fraternity plans to utilize the park for its national philanthropic event, bringing organizations together in an effort to raise money for the United Service Organizations. All funds raised will be donated to the USO. The events include tug-of-war, push up contest, obstacle course and relay races.

•    Breitbeck Park by the Oswego YMCA for fitness classes. Kerrie Ann Webb and Trish Levine of the Oswego YMCA want to hold three fitness classes on Tuesday and Thursday from 7 – 10 a.m. starting June 2 and ending August 6.

The council accepted the donation of two park benches. One in memory of Sally Spath and the other in memory of Louis Pelow.

Caroline Anderson, animal control officer, was authorized to participate in the “Shelter Animals Count” Grant Program, an online database and grant program.

It’s a national online public database that collects intake and adoption data from animal welfare organizations, and also makes Oswego eligible for small grants awarded by Maddie’s Fund, a private foundation that provides assistance to animal rescues and animal shelters.

The councilors OK’d a new fee schedule for blacktop millings.

The new fees will be $125/load in-city and $145/load outside city limits (within 5 mile radius).

They are effective starting May 1.

Police Chief Tory DeCaire’s request to send up to three Recruit Police Officers to the Basic Course for Police Officers at the Mohawk Valley Police Academy in Oneida, beginning May 16, was approved.

And, Fire Chief Jeff McCrobie’s request to send one personnel to the Fire Prevention Section Course at the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, May 9-10, was also approved.

The councilors expressed support of the Great Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary project.

And, they approved the mayor’s proposed five-year Capital Expenditure Plan for 2017-21.

It contains tentative work dates and costs of various projects around the city. Among them are street improvements, repairs to City Hall, maintenance and other repairs and increased security ventures.

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