Pubdate: Tue, 18 Oct 2005
Source: Star-Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2005sStar-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.stargazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1005
Author: Brooke J. Sherman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

COUNCIL TO VOTE ON METH LAW REVISIONS

Property Owners Would No Longer Be Target Of Prosecution

The Elmira City Council will vote later this month on changes to the 
city's methamphetamine law that would take some of the heat off 
property owners.

Local Law No. 1, approved in 2004, called for prosecution of meth 
makers and property owners where meth was being produced. The 
changes, if approved, would no longer hold property owners 
accountable when they are not aware that meth production is happening 
on their property.

The city Council held a public hearing Monday night on the proposed 
changes to the current meth law, which has not been enforced, and no 
one in the audience of fewer than 10 people spoke.

The vote will be Oct. 31, City Manager Samuel F. Iraci Jr said.

The key provision in the city's meth law, which will not change, 
calls for properties with repeat offenses, from drug production to 
felony crimes or health-hazard code violations, to be closed for up 
to one year.

A group of city property owners pushed for the changes, Iraci said.

"Property owners thought the law, as configured, wasn't drafted 
properly," he said.

For example, Iraci said property owners felt uncomfortable with the 
law's provision that would have him name a panel to review the case 
that could lead to a property's closing. Under the amended version of 
the law, the cases would be turned over to the courts.

"The law was never used or abused," Iraci said.

In other action, the council also voted to hold a public hearing Oct. 
31 to hear comments on the proposed changes to the city's Empire Zone.

The changes would consolidate the city's two-square-mile zone into 
three areas in Chemung County, as required by a new state law.

The new Empire Zone areas would be:

Area No. 1: 162 acres surrounding Airport Corporate Park and Airport 
Corporate Park South in Big Flats.

Area No. 2: 1,070 acres in and around the city of Elmira.

Area No. 3: 47 acres in Southport at the former Remington Rand 
facility near Southside High School in Elmira.

The state Empire Zone program offers tax incentives in specific areas 
to encourage economic and community development and job creation.

Councilman Terry McLaughlin said he learned a lot about the proposed 
zone changes from Southern Tier Economic Growth Vice President Jamie 
Johnson, including details about the zones and businesses affected. 
Twelve city businesses that had been in the zone will be left out, 
but will continue to receive zone benefits for the remainder of their 
agreements, Iraci said.

McLaughlin said the changes create more of a "level playing field for 
the city" for economic development.

McLaughlin also commended Iraci's efforts with Chemung County 
Executive Tom Santulli's to find a way to share the benefits brought 
by the Empire Zone.

The city and the county have been working on a revenue-sharing plan 
regarding the Empire Zone benefits, Iraci said. The details of the 
plan should be finalized in the coming weeks, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman