Police chief offers ideas for Muse license conditions
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
In response to a request from the Board of Selectmen, Police Chief William Pittman recently compiled a list of suggestions on conditions that might be placed on the Muse nightclub's license. The request was made following complaints from the bar's neighbors who were disturbed by noise, violence and light intrusion.

Although Pittman was unable to review his recommendations with Muse owner Michael O'Reilly II prior to submitting them on Feb. 14, O'Reilly, who had been on his honeymoon, was reached by phone Sunday, Feb. 18. He said he had seen Pittman's suggestions and had been in touch with him, but referred all comments on the proposals to his attorney, Jamie Ranney.

On Monday, Ranney said because he has not yet had an opportunity to go over the recommendations with Pittman or the nightclub's neighbors, it is premature for him to discuss their appropriateness or feasibility before they are considered by the selectmen at tonight's board meeting.

Pittman's list is divided into three sections: current permit conditions on the Muse entertainment license; 2008 renewal considerations; and good neighbor suggestions. His points on the current conditions are that O'Reilly should comply with a section of the town code prohibiting noise, including amplified music, from being plainly heard 100 feet from the building; that at no time should The Muse doors remain open allowing sound to escape from the building; and that O'Reilly must ensure a designated manager is on the property at all times the Muse is open for business.

Under renewal considerations, Pittman suggests that O'Reilly prohibit loitering outside the building both on foot and in vehicles using easily visible signage and active enforcement. He further suggests that a sound engineer be hired to study the nightclub's current amplification system to determine how to mitigate the problem of outside noise, with documentation of efforts to reduce noise presented to the selectmen before approval of any entertainment license renewal. Finally, Pittman recommends that the outdoor lighting configuration be studied for compliance with the town's outdoor lighting code, with a verification of compliance from the lighting enforcement officer included with 2008 license renewal applications.

Good neighbor efforts include having Muse employees pick up trash left in the nightclub's parking lot after the close of business; and consideration of meetings with neighbors before the summer season and around the first of the year to hear comments on action to

improve issues of concern. I