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Glens Falls board tables decision on overnight access to police‑station restroom, will consult transit operator
Summary
After testimony from a resident and the police department social worker, the Board of Public Safety agreed to table final action on overnight access to the police‑lobby restroom for 30 days and to ask CDTA about accommodations for bus drivers.
The Glens Falls Board of Public Safety on May 13 discussed whether to keep the restroom in the police‑station lobby unlocked after City Hall closes and decided to table a final decision for 30 days while staff consults the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA).
The discussion opened with resident Mary, who said repeated unsanitary behavior near the downtown bus stop and inside City Hall’s lobby led her to request that the restroom be locked when City Hall is closed. “If the building’s not open, they should not be here,” Mary said, adding that she felt unsafe cleaning the facility overnight.
Darlene, the police department’s social worker, reviewed footage from 11 randomly selected days and said most after‑hours restroom uses were by transit drivers or by people already in the building for other business. “Mostly, I found, like, 22 uses by CDTA drivers,” Darlene said, but she cautioned that some people may have medical needs and that public restrooms are scarce near the park.
Steve Thurston read legal guidance from City Attorney Taylor Bassford into the record, noting that building and plumbing codes require restrooms when a public facility is open, but there is no general legal requirement to keep restrooms unlocked 24/7. Thurston said authorities may lawfully limit access to staffed hours, though determining who is in the building for a “legitimate purpose” can be legally risky.
Police staff described incidents that occurred when the restroom was locked, including people urinating in the lobby and related arrests, and said locking sometimes increased calls on patrol time. Board members weighed the tradeoffs — safety for staff and building cleanliness versus access for bus drivers, seniors and people with urgent needs.
The board agreed to table the question for 30 days, keep the restroom locked during that interim while City Hall remains closed, and ask staff to consult CDTA and other stakeholders and return with recommendations. The board said the common council will make the ultimate policy decision if changes to city practice or code are needed.
