CHAPEL HILL - A Town Council member has asked for a discussion on plans to fully enforce restrictions on future gatherings in public spaces such as Peace and Justice Plaza.

In a memo to the Town Council last week, Town Manager Roger Stancil noted that town officials chose not to enforce rules for permits and limits on how long groups can remain on public space during the three-month Occupy tent encampment outside the Franklin Street post office that ended Jan. 10.

The town also did not enforce its ban on smoking near public buildings.

The Occupy movement's departure presents "a timely opportunity for us to consider enforcement," Stancil wrote in the memo.

The town calls the space outside the post office Peace and Justice Plaza to honor activists who have protested there during the decades.

Police allowed the tents to remain as long as Occupy members did not block access to the building.

The decision was different from other cities, including Durham, which ordered tents on downtown's CCB Plaza down after one night because of a city ban on camping without a permit.

Although Stancil called Chapel Hill's relationship with its Occupy members positive, he told the council, "Moving forward, I plan to ensure that all adopted ordinances and established policies and procedures regulating the use of public spaces and facilities ... are enforced by Town staff to the extent possible."

In an email, Town Council member Laurin Easthom asked the manager to put the issue on the agenda for a future meeting so the council can discuss it.

"Absolutely," Stancil replied. "I think it is critical that the Council determine the rules for Peace and Justice Plaza in this new day. And consider the laws and policies that give us direction in the use of public spaces."

Occupy responds

In its own statement, Occupy Chapel Hill-Carrboro said Stancil is attempting to privatize a public space, prohibiting free speech and assembly.

"We reserve the right of citizens to assemble," the statement said. "We reflect the despair, dreams and sentiments of thousands of town residents angry with economic injustice and inequality at local and global levels."

Although the only tents that remained on the plaza last week housed homeless people, Occupy members continue to use the plaza for meetings.

At press time, group members planned to sit in the front row of Monday's Town Council meeting with tape over their mouths with words spelling out "We do not forget" to protest Stancil's memo.

Occupy also has called for a demonstration at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, to respond further to the memo.