Source: Thanks to FAC for finding the article on lewistownsentinel.com
McCLURE — The Decatur Township Board of Supervisors were flooded with questions and concerns from dozens of residents regarding an alleged halfway house specifically for registered sex offenders that was said to be within the municipality during the board’s meeting Monday.
“I am going to start by what the township is aware of at this time,” shared Supervisor Mark Wolfgang. “We are brought into the loop at the same time most of you were because of Facebook.”
Supervisors said they were aware of the rumors – which originated on social media – and that they met with the owner of the property in question, who confirmed that sex offenders did live on the property, located on Hoffman Road, but that it was not a halfway house and there is no intention on making it a halfway house.
Supervisors also said the offenders are fully employed and paying rent to live on the property.
The Supervisors also spoke to state representatives and confirmed that at this point there is no halfway house in Decatur Township.
Wolfgang said that while the community could try to pass ordinances, it will be difficult due to the Supreme Court “throwing those ordinances out the window” as recently as November of 2022 due to the determination that it violated civil rights.
“The only way we can prevent any type of clinics, halfway houses, or rehabilitation houses is to go to zoning,” informed Wolfgang.
If the community were to decide to go to zoning for this issue, it would end up on the ballot to be voted on as it could potentially enforce higher taxes as well as a “lot of rules” on property, according to Wolfgang.
The Supervisors did inform the public that zoning could take years and would only keep halfway houses, clinics and rehabilitation houses out, which at this time isn’t what is happening; essentially saying zoning laws may not even help the situation as is.
Wolfgang shared that there is no “legal recourse” to prevent anyone, including registered sex offenders from living in the municipality. Aside from the Megan’s Laws restrictions that account for playgrounds, schools, daycares and churches, the township can not take legal action.
At this time, an unidentified man asked “why (they) couldn’t put a playground” near the house of the Megan’s Law offenders and that everyone could “pitch together, buy the property, and put playgrounds everywhere.”
The Supervisors said that they can not stop anyone from building playgrounds, but that their office can not get involved.
Supervisor Rod Goss said he spoke with the property owner, and he said …
Leave it up to people on social media platforms like fakebook to stir up panic, fear, and outrage from someone’s rumor that had no truth behind it about registrants living there.
Once again, the old saying is true;
‘The lie will go half-way around the world before the truth can get 10 feet.’
“An unidentified woman shared that her granddaughter had gone for a walk and was “approached by a stranger” who told her it was “too hot to walk (that day).”
The woman said her granddaughter was not able to confirm that it was one of the [people on the] Megan’s Law [list] but that she still feels as though they should have been notified.”
This is hilarious.
It’s important to stress: The registry is worse than useless! These people know there are PFRs living near them, and that isn’t good enough—they are begging the state to intervene, and the state can’t do anything. What’s the point? We were told the precious knowledge of the registry would save them, but it’s only made them angry and scared. This is why no other major country has a public registry, it’s just stupid. It’s like bringing a black light into a hotel room—who even wants to know what it reveals when there’s nothing you can do about it? The registry is a curse, it leaves people afraid and impotent, hating their neighbors. These people would be living in peace had they not been notified that undesirables had moved in.
Okay, so they are working and paying rent and haven’t had any issues otherwise it would be all over this story. So they don’t want half way houses, clinics, and any other rehabilitation for sex offenses, however they are fine with other criminals living in the township. Sounds like some people’s political careers need to be zoned out of existence.
Funny how that place is close to Salem Massachusetts