City councilors eyeball
nude entertainment ordinance
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A topic that raised public concern several years ago once again was up for debate by city councilors in November.
Under question was the wording of the city’s ordinance pertaining to nude entertainment. The issue first came up when the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center had submitted an application in October for license renewal. Councilor Dick Engels expressed concern and asked that the matter be tabled. The matter was brought up again during the November meeting, and again was tabled.
“If the Council decides you believe the license would be denied, I recommend the suggested motion (to deny the present application) so you can issue findings for a written decision on behalf of the Council,” said City Manager Jim Bennett.
Engels made the motion to reject the application and table the matter in order to acquire the correct wording from staff that should be used.
“Past approval was made without reading the ordinance. This establishment is open to children. The ordinance reads ‘no person under the age of 18 should be allowed access to commercial establishment,’ but kids are there in rooms,” said Engels, noting there’s nothing to keep a 15-year-old from going in the bar with parents.
Councilor Peter Hallowell, who seconded the motion, said he’d like to see the application fee refunded.
Bennett said councilors had the right to deny and refund the fee.
“The motion before you would deny the license. You can make a finding that this type of organization doesn’t meet the criteria of the license,” said Bennett.
Councilor Bruce Sargent questioned if this meant the ordinance needed to be re-written.
Council Chair Emily Smith said when the matter came before Council, “we had the understanding it was in the bar. We just assumed it was in a separate area” the event took place.
“The motion before you is to make a finding that (the PIICC) doesn’t meet criteria (of the ordinance) and to table your final decision,” said Bennett.
As the ordinance is written and the application was filled out, the license would apply to the entire building, not just the bar area known as The Connection. Councilors voted unanimously to reject the request as presented and agreed to table the matter of the ordinance/application process and pertinent wording, with plans to revisit at a future date.
Engels indicated that the establishment had done nothing wrong and that it was more a matter of correctly wording the ordinance/application to restrict such activity to an area not accessible by those under age. The last time PIICC actually used its license was for when male dancers performed in The Connection about four years ago. The interior of The Connection is not visible from the lobby or the outside of the structure. An admission fee is charged for such events and ID is required.
