Council Considers Stricter Safety Measures for Convenience Stores

In an effort to combat the crime that takes place outside of 24-hour convenience stores, Mayor Scott Jackson is proposing requiring store owners to take additional safety measures and limit the hours they can operate.

The Legislative Council's Planning and Development Committee Monday held a public hearing on an amendment to the town's ordinance on Business Regulations that would require any convenience store that open after the amendment is approved to install security cameras and lighting in the parking lot, as well as height markers at doorways and signs stating that there is no more than $50 in the cash register.

It's not clear whether the requirements could be enforced retroactively to existing convenience stores.

"Hamden has experienced a lot of inappropriate activity in an around overnight businesses," said Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng. "We believe this is a very serious issue."

The proposal is similar to the requirements the city of New Haven puts on its stores, Leng said, though not as stringent.

"I've seen a number of convenience stores spring up along Dixwell Avenue and there have been several shootings and several have been killed, so I am glad to see something of this nature," said Councilwoman-at-Large Berita Rowe-Lewis. 

But Councilman Austin Cesare said he's afraid it will put undue stress on an already difficult business.

"I am leery of adding regulations to businesses that decided to open up shop here," he said. "I'd like to see the date of the number of police calls, and I hope the administration will look very carefully at this."

"This has nothing to do with punishing the individual [business owner]," Rowe-Lewis said. "If they're here they have to help us uphold the law."

"This doesn't give a cost for licensing and you have to have certain security devices, and that's a burden on the businessman," said Councilwoman Betty Wetmore. "I don't know how [the business owner] is going to control people — I don't understand that point, and I think this is a burden on the business owner."

"This is a proactive thing," said council president Judi Kozak. "I think we should look carefully before thinking unfavorably about this."

Councilman Harry Gagliardi said he would like to see the town offer a program to help the business owners afford the cost of the required safety upgrades. 

"What if the owner can't afford it?" he asked "Some are barely making a living, and if they can't afford it they'll close up, and there goes another business out of Hamden."

The committee approved sending the proposed amendment to the full council, which meets Monday at 7 p.m. in the Thornton Wilder Auditorium at Miller Memorial Library. Cesare was the only committee member to vote against it.