Clayton's town council voted unanimously against a teen curfew proposal Tuesday night.

Under the proposal, anyone under 16 would not have been allowed in public places after 11 p.m. during the week and midnight on weekends.

Council members heard from hundreds of people in the community during the past months. They reached the conclusion that most people in Clayton don't want a curfew.

There have been several shootings in Clayton this summer, but none involved teens younger than 16 who were out late at night, police say.

One opponent even threatened to sue the town if it approved the proposal.

"I'm very disappointed because -- for me -- this is something that's been discussed for 13 years," Timothy Hodges, president of the Johnston County NAACP, said. "I mean, I don't know where these other people are living. I thought we were living in the same town."

The debate about the curfew has started a dialogue between the council and people in the North side of town, where many people say they have a problem with gangs.

"I think what needs to be done for the town of Clayton is to concentrate on doing something on the North side of town that will help not only the youth but the adults as well, everybody," Clayton resident Joseph Whitley said.

A group of local pastors proposed other goals Tuesday night, including starting a youth development advisory committee and increasing support for programs that keep kids off the streets.

Mayor Jody McLeod told the group he's concerned that many of the proposals cost money. But he said the town will work with them to find solutions.

"I hope to see that the community, the churches, the council, everybody comes together on one accord," Clayton resident Dianne Watson said.