Jamestown residents press council over drug activity and police response; council adopts animal-control, noise rules and approves $309,980 police grant

Jamestown City Council on July 28 heard several residents describe ongoing drug activity and delayed police follow-up in neighborhoods, then moved quickly through multiple routine and new resolutions, including adoption of an amended animal-control ordinance, an amendment to a proposed noise ordinance to allow seizure of vehicles or operators on a third offense, and authorization to participate in the state-funded GIVE program with $309,980 for 2025–26.

Residents at the meeting said they face frequent street-level drug use and slow police response. "I've got it on video cams…I've got it on phone," said Larry, a resident of 215 Fulton Street, who asked for police activity records for his block and said recent collisions and vandalism had not been adequately addressed. Richard Powell, owner of property at 133 Fulton Street, told the council he has "video of him shooting up" across from his garage and said repeated calls to police have not stopped the activity. "There's needles all over the place," Powell said, adding that the drug activity has left neighbors afraid to let children outside.

Doug Chan, a resident of 225 Golden Street, raised concerns during public comment about the city's noise-abatement language and whether it covers vehicles that are stationary but operating stereos. "Is that moving violation within the resolution appropriately aligned with vehicles that are on, in other words, engaged in the motor?" Chan asked. He urged clearer language so officers and residents understand whether idling vehicles with loud stereos are subject to the ordinance's…