PARIS — A resident who proposed implementing a sex-offender ordinance earlier this year asked Monday that work continue on it.

Greg Harris, who based his proposed ordinance largely on one passed at Norway’s annual town meeting in 2008, asked that a volunteer group be put together to redraft the ordinance to make it comply with state statutes. Members of the policy and procedures committee told the Board of Selectmen on Sept. 14 that there were significant barriers to establishing an ordinance.

“The way I read the law, there’s still room in the law for restrictions on sex offenders,” Harris said.

Harris’ original proposal would have prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 5,000 feet of a school or day care center. The Norway ordinance prohibited offenders from residing within 2,500 feet of a school or 1,000 feet of a day care center. Like the Norway ordinance, Harris’ proposal would require sex offenders to get permission from a school or day care center before entering the property.

On Sept. 14, policy and procedures committee member John Jenness Jr. said a new state statute focuses on offenders convicted of felony crimes against children 14 years old or younger. The statute also limits the distance of residency restrictions to 750 feet.

Harris said he believes the town can create an ordinance that will comply with the new law.

“I sat down with my 16-year-old daughter, and read the new law,” he said. “And then we sat down with my proposal, and with a stopwatch, and in about six minutes and 19 seconds were able to cross out everything in my proposal that didn’t apply that could have still been used as an ordinance for the town to protect our children.”

Harris said he has spoken with Detective Gary Hill of the Norway Police Department, and that the Norway ordinance has led some sex offenders to move to another community due to the restrictions.

Selectman Troy Ripley said he supported creating a volunteer group, but the concerns raised by the policy and procedures committee also need to be addressed. He also said that Chief David Verrier of the Paris Police Department needs to be involved in the discussions.

Harris said he would be willing to work with the policy and procedures committee on any further work with an ordinance.

The matter was tabled until the next selectmen’s meeting.

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