The Springfield City Council rejected a longer holding period on stolen jewelry in pawn shops and stores Monday night, leading to a mixed reaction from police, councilors and shops.
SPRINGFIELD – Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet said Tuesday that the department will continue its “best efforts” to solve cases involving stolen jewelry in the aftermath of a City Council vote rejecting a longer holding period for secondhand jewelry in pawn shops.
The City Council on Monday, as urged by some owners of pawn shops and jewelry stores, voted to reject a proposal by the Police Department for a longer holding period on secondhand gold and jewelry. The current 10-day hold was approved by the council in 2011, on the urging of some business owners, replacing a 30-day hold in effect for many years.
The Police Department was proposing to return to the 30-day hold on the jewelry, aimed at giving more time for investigations before jewelry is sold.
Some business owners strongly objected, saying that the longer hold would hurt business in a fluctuating market, and could result in some businesses closing and jobs being lost.
Many owners and advocates applauded when a compromise — a 23-day hold on jewelry, was rejected by a vote of three councilors in favor and 10 opposed.
“We presented what we considered to be a comprehensive plan to address stolen property,” Fitchet said. “The City Council chose not to approve that plan. That is their right as elected officials to do so.”
“The Police Department will continue to do our best efforts and conduct investigations regarding breaking and enterings, stolen property in an efficient and professional manner like always,” Fitchet said.
Council President James J. Ferrera III, who gave up the gavel in order to urge the 10-day hold stay in effect, said it was a difficult issue. It was also an issue that “obviously hit a nerve in the community” with strong opposition from the shop owners.
He said businesses pay taxes and the longer hold would have been a hardship in the fluctuating market.
Euclide Desrouches, a principal of the Gold and Coin Exchange store, said that calling for more stringent requirements is an added financial hardship in a tough economy. He suggested that police could provide shops with lists of stolen goods, for help in investigations.
Councilor Thomas Ashe, chairman of the Public Health and Safety Committee, said he was very disappointed by the council vote. He was joined by Councilors Timothy Allen and Michael Fenton in voting for the longer hold on jewelry.
The council heard from many residents and neighborhood councils that supported the longer holding period, Ashe said.
“I think it’s a twisted, backwards response when the residents of the city and the police of the city are seeking help from the very council that is supposed to be helping them, on an issue like this, and the council opts to side with the pawn shop owners,” Ashe said. “That’s distressing to me.”
In related action, Ferrera temporarily blocked a vote on a proposal aimed at strengthening regulations over pawn brokers and junk dealers, by invoking Rule 20 of council rules. The rule automatically halts discussion pending a financial analysis of what it will cost to implement the regulations.
Ferrera also said he would like to determine if pawn shops could be considered separately from used merchandise stores.
Christopher Caputo, president of the East Forest Park Neighborhood Council, said after the meeting that it is “just disappointing that the council would ignore letters from the neighborhood groups, and not increase the time to 30 days, what it used to be.”
Kateri Walsh said she can sympathize with victims of stolen jewelry, but asked if the council should “be in the business of putting small businesses out of business.” Ashe said other larger communities have the longer 30-day hold, and said the requirement is not putting businesses out of business.