The ordinance regulating pawnbrokers and precious metal dealers aimed at helping people recover goods stolen, often for drug money, has come full circle, and two others are one step closer to enactment.
On Tuesday, the Winchester Board of Commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance requiring pawnbrokers to hold items bought without a pawn agreement for 10 days before reselling them, and precious metal dealers to hold their bought goods for five days before recycling or reselling them. It also requires them to report goods received to law enforcement by 11 a.m. daily.
The ordinance, one of three of its kind to receive no apparent opposition, requires pawnbrokers and precious metal dealers to use a Web-based reporting system, Leadsonline.
The city passed first readings of the two ordinances dealing with ferrous and nonferrous metal recyclers and motor vehicle recyclers. At the last city meeting, commissioners deferred these readings after two local recyclers expressed concern over some of the language.
At last Wednesday’s Fiscal Court meeting, local recyclers and legislators had compromised on some of the areas of concern, and the county passed second readings of the two disputed ordinances along with the third.
Clark County Attorney Brian Thomas, who drafted the ordinances, reduced the five-day holding period on automobiles before recycling them to a three-day period. Another change was that vehicles older than 10 years do not need to be held. Recyclers also do not have to hold vehicles newer than 10 years if they are sold by the person whose name is on the title who can provide matching identification.
A¿change to section eight of the ferrous and nonferrous metal recyclers ordinance was made, as recyclers had expressed particular concern about it to commissioners. Now, where recyclers have to give a full description of the purchased metal, the word “type” was added to read: “Make, model, serial numbers and/or type shall be reported …” In the event that these are not available, the purchaser has to report a full, detailed description of the item purchased.
Winchester Chief of Police Kevin Palmer attended Tuesday’s meeting, and he reminded those who attended that these ordinances have been a joint effort by the city and county, and that the city has had it on its agenda since 2008.
“Some concessions were made, but it’s still going to aid us,” he said of the compromises.
Commissioner Kenny Book said he received a concern from a resident that stolen antique cars, because they’re more than 10 years old, would be in danger of being recycled immediately.
Palmer, however, said the process of coming up with these ordinances has sent a strong message to recyclers to scrutinize what they take in to recycle.
“I think a reasonable amount of common sense is going to be applied here,” he said.
Longevity salary increases approved
The city approved longevity salary increases of one percent to 15 city employees. These raises are granted to employees who have worked between four and nine years, and they are used as an incentive to make people stay in Winchester.
Commissioners stressed that these salary increases have been around for 30 years and are written into personnel code, adopted by ordinance.
Police officer hired
Commissioners also approved employment of Michael Keffer as a patrolman for the Winchester Police Department. He did an internship with the department in 2006 and will replace someone who resigned. Palmer said Keffer has remained involved with the department since his internship.
“It’s not going to be Greek to him, coming into law enforcement,” Palmer said. “We got high hopes for him.”
Palmer said the department is pushing to get him enrolled in a September academy, which will last 18 weeks. He said it costs almost $50,000 to get a police officer ready for the street.
Commissioner Rick Beach stressed that because of this, longevity is important.
“We invest a lot of resources to train these folks,” he said, adding that the city would not want to lose him to another agency.
In other business:
— The city deferred work orders for the Plantations Drive and Bon Haven drainage projects back to the Public Works Department for more discussion.
— Commissioners decided that Trick or Treat night would be 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31.
Contact Katie Perkowski at kperkowski@winchestersun.com or follow her on Twitter, @TheSunKatie.
