CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Barnstable Town Hall.
HYANNIS – The Barnstable Town Council has decided to keep a town ordinance in place that requires businesses to close between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
Councilors were unanimous in their vote against repealing the measure, stating that they did not want the issues from years past to come up again.
They also agreed that they had received no pushback about the idea to keep the ordinance from any local businesses.
Councilor James Tinsley agreed with keeping the law in place.
“With the opioid problem and drugs and crime, this is a tool that I think we need to leave in the hands of our police department,” said Tinsley. “Keep our community safe.”
The regulation was adopted in 2006 to prevent rowdy crowds from gathering in parking lots after closing time at bars and nightclubs.
At the time, there had been an increase in violent behavior in the early morning hours, especially in the North St. area.
Councilor Jennifer Cullum favored keeping the ordinance in place.
“I just think between 1 and 3 in the morning there’s a different crowd that your dealing with and I don’t really feel like Barnstable should be burdened with the cost of that again,” said Cullum.
Currently only CVS on North Street is allowed to be open all night for medications.
Businesses interested in opening during the curfew hours can do so after requesting a public hearing through the town manager.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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