Selectmen hope to question Muse owner tonight
Board holds off on renewal of license because of problems at Surfside Road nightclub
BY MARY LANCASTER
For the second consecutive week, the selectmen last Wednesday withheld approval for renewal of the liquor and entertainment licenses for The Muse. After receiving a letter requested from Police Chief William Pittman describing problems that have occurred at the Surfside Road nightclub and letters and testimony from neighbors of the establishment, the board unanimously voted to continue the renewal request until tonight when they hope Muse proprietor Mike O’Reilly will attend to answer questions.

Selectman Michael Kopko said last Wednesday that he was “exasperated and stupified” that O’Reilly was not present to address the issues at hand. The Muse licenses expire next week. Neighbors and members of the Upper Surfside Road Association, including Lisa Solomon, wrote that concerns at the Muse span loud noise, the back porch’s being used as an extension of the club, intrusive outdoor lighting, violence on the club’s property and drug-related issues and loitering in the parking lot.

Solomon said the association formed this year in part because Muse management has not historically voluntarily complied with neighbors requests to address issues that affect enjoyment of their own premises and safety.

Pittman’s letter, dated Dec. 11, states that after calling O’Reilly about complaints against his business he attended a meeting with police to discuss the matters. Since the meeting, wrote Pittman, the activities have abated significantly. In addition, O’Reilly installed more security cameras and improved some of the lighting situations. Still, Pittman went on, there remain a number of problems that he said may be beyond O’Reilly’s sole control, such as litter and taxis that disrupt area residents while they wait for fares at closing time. The Taxi Association has been notified of this concern and will take steps to be more considerate of Muse neighbors when making pick-ups.

Charts that Pittman generated show that calls for police service, reports of disturbances and assaults and noise complaints have been markedly higher in number for The Muse than at the Chicken Box, Bamboo Supper Club, Cap’n Toby’s or the Rose and Crown.

Charts showing the levels of calls about these issues after the meeting with O’Reilly detail that the rates for disturbances and assaults at The Muse were in line with the Bamboo Club though numbers of calls for service and about noise stayed much higher than for the other establishments. Furthermore, Pittman pointed out that unlike the other nightclubs, The Muse is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and existed on Surfside Road before adjacent properties were developed.

Pittman’s suggestion, as was that of attorney Arthur Reade who represented the association at last Wednesday’s session, is that the selectmen impose reasonable restrictions on The Muse license to address the primary issues including noise. He also made note that the club’s common victualler’s license requires that the place be closed by 1 a.m., but the alcoholic beverages license allows a closure of 1:30 a.m. even though serving of alcohol is to stop at 1 a.m.

O’Reilly could not be reached for comment. On Friday, Pittman said police enforcement at the business is not the solution because by the time officers are called in a disturbance has already occurred. In his opinion, a proactive role by management to alleviate the problems will be most effective and appropriate.

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