The Eden Town Board hereby finds the adoption of Megan's
Law has increased public awareness of sexual offenders by requiring
them to become registered with authorities and making such information
available to the public. New York State has not adopted uniform, statewide
standards regulating the residency of registered sex offenders in
proximity to public places frequented by persons most vulnerable as
possible targets of sex offenders, thus leaving it to local governments
to adopt such regulations. The Town Board of the Town of Eden believes
this legislation, adopted under authority of Municipal Home Rule Law, §§ 10
and 22, is necessary to further protect the best interests of all
children, and to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents
in the Town of Eden.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DANCE HALL
Any place (whether inside or outside a building) where a
public dance, concert or related activity is permitted or conducted
as part of the business of such place.
PUBLIC DANCE
Any dance, concert or related activity to which persons under
the age of 18 are admitted for which an attendance charge or donation
is imposed as a condition of attendance.
TEEN/COMMUNITY CENTER
Any building/structure where persons under the age of 18
years of are invited and congregate for the purpose of social activity,
education, athletics and/or entertainment.
No person over the age of 18 years who has been convicted of
a violation of a sexual offense upon a child of the age of 16 years
or under, as defined by the New York State Penal Law, which would
require that individual to register as a sex offender under state
and/or federal laws, shall be permitted to reside or live within 1,500
feet, measured as the shortest distance from property line to property
line, of the real property of any school; park; playground; day-care
center; teen/community center; church which operates any child or
youth-centered program; dance hall; skating rink; public swimming
pools; group family providers; and family care providers in the Town
of Eden, unless such residence has been assigned by a supervised release
program, which provides close supervision of the sex offender's
daily activity, or the residency of said offender was established
prior to the enactment of this legislation.
Failure to comply with this chapter shall be considered a violation
punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,500 or imprisonment not to exceed
15 days, or both.