Regular Meeting of the City of Newburgh Council held July 21, 2008 at 7 p.m.
Opening
Public Hearing: Amendment to the parking regulations on Front Street
Public Hearing: Cable Franchise Agreement with Verizon New York, Inc.
Public Hearing: Safe Streets – Save Lives Ordinance
Comments from the public regarding the agenda
Comments from the Council regarding the agenda
City Manager’s Report
Old Business
General Comments from the Public
General Comments from the Council
At the City Council Work Session Thursday evening, May 22, Police Chief Eric Paolilli gave a presentation on comparative curfew statutes at various cities in New York State. He drew on the examples of Troy and Binghamton as comparable to the city of Newburgh in that they had a similar population size and size of enforcement agency.
Both of those agencies reported that they used it; they used it as a tool; and they used it to their opinion to great success…
However, when I asked them what kinds of problems they dealt with, neither of those jurisdictions deal with the kind of street-level population that we do, especially come the summer months… ‘They don’t see anything like what we see here.’
One statute of interest to the Chief was the City of Troy’s provision to hold parents responsible in addition to the children. “On second offense, [the City of Troy] subjects both the parent and the child to 25 hours of community service.”
He concluded that
the experience, by in large, with everyone that I spoke to, was that it [a curfew] was an effective tool, and they would recommend it.
The council continued discussion on the curfew; concerns included what would happen if the child was brought home by the police and no parent or caregiver was present.
City Manager JeanAnn McGrane concluded that they would conduct more research of how curfews worked in other places, even outside of New York State, in an effort to establish a best practice.
Councilwoman Christine Bello broaches the subject of a proposed curfew for the City of Newburgh at tonight’s City Council work session meeting.
Councilwoman MaryAnn Dickinson suggests that some of her students had expressed support of such a measure.
Councilwoman Regina Angelo expresses that a curfew had been discussed in the past but never been enacted for various reasons.
Councilwoman Marge Bell encourages having the community participate in the discussion and getting their input before taking any firm measures.
Further discussion with Councilwoman Angelo and Councilwoman Bello.
Mayor Valentine recalls the previous discussions and imagines scenarios in which the police would have a difficult time enforcing the curfew.
Corporation Counsel Geoffrey Chanin describes some of the legal necessities regarding such a measure; Constitutional rights must be protected.
In the closing discussion, City Manager McGrane summarizes that more information will be canvassed and the discussion will continue.
