HOULTON, Maine — The selling of gold and other precious metals will now face stricter guidelines after the Houlton Town Council approved two new ordinances Monday evening.
Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin, who was named interim town manager Monday (see additional story), spoke on the two ordinances. Asselin was a member of the committee that worked on the ordinances.
“We were approached by a business owner in town who requested the town consider it,” Asselin explained. “There is only one person interested in establishing a pawnbroker business in the town.”
A pawnbroker is one who offers secured loans to people with items of personal property used as collateral. The town does not currently have an ordinance to regulate pawnbrokers or the sale of second-hand precious metals.
“Basically, this ordinance follows state law,” Asselin said. “It does give the town an opportunity for a little bit of revenue from the licensing fee. It also gives us a bit of leverage for who operates this type of business.”
As stated in the ordinance, a pawnbroker would be prohibited from doing business with anyone under the age of 18.
“I think it will give us (the police department) a better handle on tracking items from burglaries,” Asselin said. “The ordinance requires a license or other government form of identification.”
Asselin said the ordinance would be an asset to the town and the individual who operates such a business.
On the first and 15th of each month, a pawnbroker will be required to submit to the police department a list of items, with photographs and descriptions, that they have pawned for the previous two weeks. That information will be shared with other law enforcement agencies in Aroostook County.
The second hand precious metals dealers ordinance covers the sale of gold, silver and other items.
“With the price of precious metals being quite valuable, more people are selling their jewelry,” Asselin said. “This enable us to require people that do this type of business to be permitted.”
The ordinance will require any business that purchases items of this nature to retain them for a period of at least 10 days, unless they contact the police department for approval to sell the item sooner. By making a business hold onto the item, it will afford police an opportunity to research if an item has been reported stolen.
He cited a recent example of a juvenile male who stole his mother’s gold ring and sold it. That ring was melted down and sold the next day.
“We realize the price of precious metals goes up and down every day,” Asselin said. “We want to work with these businesses. We certainly don’t want to hurt them.”
Gold bullion and coins are excluded from the ordinance.
Any individual applying for a license must not have a criminal background. A $50 annual fee is required and a fine of $250 may be imposed. Licensed may also be revoked. The ordinances go into effect on Monday, April 21. There were no public comments on either of the two ordinances Monday evening.
In other agenda items, the council:
• Renewed a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment for Marty Gervais for Shiretown Inn and Suites, 282 North St. The council also renewed a liquor license for Gervais.
• Appointed James Peters to the Airport Committee Advisory Board for a two-year term.
• Appointed the following individuals to the Parks and Recreation Advisory board — Monique Grant and Kent Bickford, each to three-year terms; Jennifer Collins and Charlotte MacArthur, each to two-year terms; and Kim Thompson and Kristin Watson, each to one-year terms.
