City to consider more pawn shops?
Councilman questions why Woonsocket allows only two pawn shops to operate in city
WOONSOCKET – A member of the City Council is leading a move to lift the ceiling on the number of pawnbroker licenses available in the city, calling the existing cap “anticompetitive” and “monopolistic.”
Councilman James Cournoyer has introduced a measure that would strike all language about caps from the existing ordinance regulat- ing the availability of pawnbroker licenses.
Dan Baldelli currently holds the only two available pawnbroker licenses, doing business as Gold Loan Advance at 100 Bernon St. and 859 Diamond Hill Road. He is the brother of Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.
“The ordinance merely seeks to remove an indefensible anti-business provision within the city’s code of ordinances,” said Cournoyer. “If the city is truly going to be pro-business, there is simply no room for such anti-competitive, monopolistic provisions to our code of ordinances.”
The ordinance was up for a first vote by the City Council last night, but Cournoyer said beforehand he intended to ask that it be tabled – for the second time – because Baldelli asked to speak on the propopal. Cournoyer said Baldelli called him before the meeting to explain that he would not be able to attend.
“He has some other things going on, so I said, ‘Okay, fine,’” Cournoyer said. “I’m a big believer in giving people a chance to speak to the council, whether I agree with them or not. It’s healthy for people to be able to address the council.”
Cournoyer actually introduced the ordinance for the first time on April 17, but it was tabled then at the request of Councilman Christopher Beauchamp, who called for a discussion prior to consideration of the measure.
Cournoyer denies that the proposal to lift the ceiling is a backhand attempt to punish the mayor, with whom he and a group of council allies have repeatedly clashed in recent months. He acknowledged that some residents may see it that way, but Cournoyer insists he’s merely attempting to eliminate a
flaw in the city’s business-development policy.
“And to be clear,” he said, “this action has absolutely nothing to do with any individuals, including the holder of the current licenses.”
Efforts to reach Baldelli for comment about the proposal Monday were not successful. Mayor Baldelli-Hunt declined comment, saying it’s up to her brother to address the matter if he wishes.
In the past, Baldelli has hotly opposed efforts by other pawnbrokers to set up shop in the city, most recently in 2012 when Fall River-based Spindle City Pawnbrokers requested a license to operate at 117 Main St. Spindle City operates 15 locations in three states now, including one each in Pawtucket and Central Falls and three in Providence, according to Aaron Tetrault, the company president.
During public hearings prior to the vote on Spindle City, Baldelli highlighted his positive working relationship with the Woonsocket Police Department and also raised questions about whether Spindle City would operate to the same standards of integrity. After an investigation by the Woonsocket Police Department, former Police Chief Thomas Carey gave Spindle City a clean bill of health, however.
Despite Carey’s findings, the council voted to deny Spindle City a license to operate in February 2013.
Reached for comment about the potential opening for another location in the city, Tetrault was circumspect about whether he might seek a license if the cap is lifted.
“I’m not jumping out of my seat right now, but yes, there’s a possibility,” he said. “When there’s competition in the sector of any business it’s healthy toward consumers. That’s the moral of the story across the United States of America.”