Village Board Proposes Sex Offender Law

The Farmingdale Village Board of Trustees proposed a new local law they say will protect residents from registered sex offenders.

During a Nov. 5 public meeting, the proposed law would restrict any sex offender registered with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services from holding a permanent or mobile residence near locations were children congregate. 

The law was proposed in connection with the Sex Offender Registration Act in an effort to safeguard the health and safety of minors. 

Under the proposed law, all registered sex offenders would be prohibited from any park, playground, athletic field, swimming pool operated by any municipality as well as any school building, property or instructional facilities.

The law would also disallow offenders from loitering or living one half mile radius from any school, park, playground of daycare as well as within 500 feet from a school bus stop. 

It would also be made unlawful to lease or sublease property to any registered offender.

Violators of the proposed law will be given 30 days to relocate or a maximum daily fine of $2,500. The new law has exemptions including allowing registered sex offender currently in an established residence before the law is voted into effect to be exempt from relocating.

Other Village News:

• The board proposed LL6-2012 to restrict massage parlors in the village in an effort to combat unlicensed, illegal activity. Those convicted could face up to $2,500, 15 days of imprisonment or both.
• The continued public hearing of LL4-2012 which would prohibit the use of skateboarding on Fairview Road and Yoakum Street was pushed to Dec. 3 due to research that could not be completed due to the hurricane.
• The board passed two code revisions, LL2-2012 to allow the business "D" zoning district on Route-109 to include the building of rental apartment, condos and co-ops as well as LL3-2012 to create a 55 and over housing category for senior citizens residences in the village.
• The annual lighting of the Bi-Centennial tree at the Village Green will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 27.
• Girl Scout Troop 3178 will be collecting donations for the Toys for Tots foundation during the holiday parade at the Village Green on Nov. 17.