The town will have the opportunity to vote on a new bylaw governing pawn shops and buyers of precious metals next month.
Police Chief Mark Krynicki discussed the articles for the May 15 Town Meeting with the Select Board this week and said while there are no pawn shops in town right now, there are two precious metals dealers and no laws to regulate them.
“We have to fall back on state regulations, and I don’t think they go far enough,” said Krynicki. “I want to do a complete bylaw.”
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Sections 70 through 85 deal with pawn brokers. Regulations include those on record keeping, fees and interest, penalties and more.
Krynicki modeled the proposed Southwick bylaw after almost identical laws in Westfield, Agawam and Springfield.
Krynicki said the language referring to precious metals buyers is a much smaller section of the bylaw than that for pawn shops.
“Pawn brokers are a different animal,” said Krynicki. “It’s very specific about how to keep records, how to identify a person who brings in their property, how long to keep items – this bylaw is aligned with Westfield, Agawam and Springfield.”
Both pawn shops and precious metals dealers would be required to keep items for 20 days under the bylaws.
“Right now, they can buy it today and sell it tomorrow,” said Krynicki, who added that town counsel has seen the bylaw.
The reason for the 20 day requirement, and stringent inventory of pawn shops, is so police can make sure the items are not stolen. Because of that aspect of the bylaws, Krynicki said Sgt. Robert Landis, the department’s detective, would be in charge of the pawn and precious metals dealers.
