As early as this summer, children under 18 years old may be able to hang out on Westbrook’s streets an hour and a half longer than they can now.

The City Council gave preliminary approval Monday to a proposal to extend the curfew from 9 p.m. to 10:30.

The proposal was originally brought about by Councilor Suzanne Joyce, who believed teenagers should be allowed to stay out past 9 p.m. without being hassled by police.

The current ordinance stipulates that it is against the law “for any minor to loiter or to gather in a group of three or more minors upon any street, park, school or other public property…between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.”

The exceptions include a child who is accompanied by an adult, on the sidewalk of his or her house, returning from school, working or involved in a religious or volunteer activity.

Joyce garnered support for the change from all but one of the councilors, who voted 5-1, with Mike Foley opposed and Drew Gattine absent, to push the curfew back to 10:30 p.m.

Police Chief Bill Baker said he still feels 9 p.m. is the appropriate time, but, at this point, he said, he’d just like to see the matter put to rest.

“We’ll take whatever tool you give us,” he said at the meeting Monday. “I’m frankly sick of debating this issue.”

Councilor John O’Hara said he believed 9 p.m. was an appropriate time for some areas of the community, but not for others. He supported the change, but said he might want to revisit it later.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said this week the final vote on the ordinance change had not yet been scheduled.