WILMINGTON, MA — “It was disgusting.”
That’s how Selectman Mike McCoy characterized the panhandling situation at the Wilmington Plaza this summer. And, at Monday’s Selectmen Meeting, McCoy encouraged the Board of Selectmen to do something about it.
“I know, over a year ago, we gave the police the teeth they needed to really take care of the Silver Lake situation because a lot of outsiders were coming in and doing horrible things at that lake,” McCoy prefaced.
“For our next Special Town Meeting or Annual Town Meeting, maybe Town Counsel could give us some some information on how we would come up with a town ordinance to eliminate the panhandling?” suggested McCoy.
“It bothered me to see panhandling at the end of CVS, day in and day out, that I don’t believe was legitimate,” continued McCoy. “From what I understand — I read stories in the Town Crier and heard from members of law enforcement — a lot of those panhandlers are using the opportunity to make money for drugs.”
“Being this is the town of Wilmington, and I know we care about our community, I think we need to give the Police Department teeth to actually go after these individuals when they’re out there at the Plaza or any street corner in town,” concluded McCoy.
“There’s a lot of meat on that bone to discuss and maybe in the future we can take that up as a board item,” replied Selectman Chair Mike Champoux.
After the meeting, Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis, who happened to be in the audience, was asked for his reaction to McCoy’s recommendation.
“It’s a very complicated legal matter that is still in flux in the courts,” said Begonis. “I’d be interested to hear what Town Counsel has to say.”
Watch the Wilmington Board of Selectmen Meeting from September 28, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below:
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