Historic Moment: Old Local laws
From the original charter, April 19, 1833: Trustees shall have the power to restrain cattle, sheep, horses and swine from running at large in the village streets…suppress and restrain disorderly houses, houses of ill-fame, gaming houses…and to prevent the firing of guns, pistols, crackers, rockets and squibs, and to prevent immoderate riding and driving of horses and carriages…and to appoint persons to ascertain if they are in a dangerous state.
Also from the original charter: The Trustees may restrain within said Corporation under regulations as they deem fit, and exhibition of any show, caravan, circus, theatrical performance, or natural or artificial curiosities, upon receipt of not less than three not more than 25 dollars for every 48 hours.
After the formation of the village, various ordinances were adopted in 1885 and later to deal with other matters.
Some are:
Section 6-10 of 1885: It shall be the duty of the firemen to prevent the fire hose from being trodden and keep all idle and suspected persons from the vicinity of the fire.
Section 6-19 of Feb. 1939: No person shall ride on any fire truck or fire apparatus owned by the village at any time except a duly appointed fireman of the village.
Section 7-18 of Dec. 1933: A licensed huckster, peddler or solicitor shall not blow a horn, ring a bell or use any other device to attract public attention to his wares or shout or cry out his wares.
Section 8-2 of 1885: No person shall permit water, slops, or any other kind of filth to run from his lot…into any street, other lot, sidewalk or any public place in the4 village, except water which has accumulated on the lot from rain or snow.
Section 10-8 of April 1885: It is further ordained that no person shall sly or carry a kite in any street or public square in said village under the penalty of one dollar per offense, one dollar is equivalent to $30 today. Also further ordained that no person shall play ball, beat, knock or drive any ball…roll a hoop, slide on sleds, boards or otherwise throw stones or sticks in any public street or public grounds in said village under penalty of 2 dollars per offense, $60 today.
Section 9-8 of Dec. 1885: All persons shall be and hereby prohibited from throwing snowballs on streets of the village.
Section 9-13 of April 1885: All vulgar and profane or obscene language or conduct in any street or public place or on any of the bridges or banks of the lake or docks of the village is forbidden.
Section 10-7 of April 1885: No person shall swim or bathe in the water of Skaneateles Lake or any creek in the village within 60 rods, 990 feet, of any street or highway, or in the mill pond unless clothed in a proper bathing suit.
Here is something that the village partially took over — Section 12-13 of April 1885: Every owner, occupant of any house or possessing of any vacant lot…any person having charge or a church or public building…during winter season…within 12 hours after snowfall, shall keep the sidewalk in front of such house, building or lot free from obstruction by snow; and also keep suck sidewalks free from all dirt, filth and other obstructions or encumbrances.
Section 13-66 of Nov. 1967: A fee of one cent per each 12 minute period and a fee of five cents per hour is hereby established for parking in metered zones. And Section 13-70 says — No person shall deposit or attempt to deposit in any parking meter any slug, button, or any other device or substance as substitutes for coins of United States currency.
Addendum — The new code/ordinance books state that any local laws or ordinances not contained in the latest edition, 2014, shall be deemed repealed. The ordinances related to the firemen and riding fire trucks are still on the books, 110-1-13. The section on bathing suits is still there but modified, 140-5-6. The snowball law is still on the books, 145-7, as is the ordinance about playing ball, 145-12, and using vulgar language, 145-11. The keeping sidewalks clear of snow and dirt is still on the books as, 183-6A. The duty to inspect structures including outhouses — is now the responsibility of the Code Enforcement Officer. Fortunately there are no more outhouses in the village. The last one was a two-holer in Lakeview Cemetery. The parking meter fee has gone up to 25 cents for 30 minutes, last modified in 2005. the use of slugs is still on the books, 212-33.
