submitted by WildIrish

Town Says Owner Might Face Fines, Arrest



BERLIN, Conn. -- The rules of naked karaoke are simple: Amateur singers grab a microphone, sans clothing, and belt out tunes in the buff.

Berlin Station Cafe owner Marty St. Pierre said he was just kidding around when he advertised such an event in front of his bar. Then volunteers arrived. Lots of them.

"It honestly started out as a joke," he said. "But there were people signing up, so I just let it run."

The planned event struck a sour note with the establishment's neighbors, who called Town Hall to complain. St. Pierre received a visit from town authorities, who said he could face fines or arrest if he operated the naked musical performance without a permit.

The dispute is now the subject of a lawsuit challenging a town ordinance on sexually oriented businesses. While Berlin does not outlaw such businesses they are required to have permits and meet certain zoning requirements, said Town Manager Richard Haberman.

He said the visit to Berlin Station Cafe was just to warn the business about the ordinance and tell the owners they needed to get a permit, before officials enforced penalties.

"Most business owners say, 'Oh, thanks,'" Haberman said. "The next thing I know, I got a summons."

Without a permit, a sexually oriented business can face a fine of up to $100 and an arrest on misdemeanor charges, according to the town's code. The lawsuit contends the penalties are harsher than towns are allowed to enforce under state law.

State statutes specifically permit towns to issue fines to enforce ordinances. But David E. Koskoff, co-owner of the building since the 1980s and the lawyer who filed the lawsuit, claims that the penalties make noncompliance a crime, and that isn't permitted under state law.

"Towns are creatures of the state, and they have such powers as the state grants to them," said Koskoff, a Plainville-based attorney.

He also contends the business is not "dirty."

"You're not talking about the Bada Bing!" he said, a reference to the strip joint frequented in the television series "The Sopranos." "Nobody who knows our operation would think that suggestion is anything but funny."

Mayor Paul Argazzi, who is chairman of the town's Ordinance Committee, told The Herald of New Britain newspaper that he thought the regulation was one of the strongest in the state, and sound.

"We had constitutional attorneys look at the ordinance. We drafted it believing it to be constitutional," he said.

Koskoff's lawsuit also contends the ordinance "operates as a chilling factor" on constitutional rights of expression, according to court papers.

Berlin has been long-known for its battles with sex businesses. Last month local authorities shut down a swingers club that charged a $60 fee to swap spouses. Employees were charged with 14 counts of violating the sexually oriented business ordinance.

Haberman said Berlin Station Cafe owners have not applied for a permit, and he has not reviewed whether they meet all the regulations spelled out in the town code. He said if the business meets all the regulations, he'd approve the application.

The case is due in New Britain Superior Court Nov. 17. In the meantime, St. Pierre has not had the chance to actually host a naked karaoke night, but says he's hopeful.

The billboard outside his club reads "Are you signed up for Naked Karaoke?"

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The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

<----is checking out housing in Berlin, Connecticut.

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"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, then let it, and if you have to wait for what you really want, take the time because nobody said that life would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it." ~ Unknown author

<~~~~~~~~~Somehow knew that IAK would be the first respondant in this thread.

Maybe I should team up with Madame Lilith...

After I debut at naked Karaoke with IAK.

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Put me on wheels and I'll turn tricks.

Clever? Nah, I ran out of that years ago. But if you find this, let me know, k?
"The road goes ever on..." ~ Tolkien

In memory of my friend skip...
Go then, there are other worlds than these

<---- Would be happy to host any prospective contestants

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Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

IAKaraokeGirl,

It's a loooong way from the cornfields!

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Eudaimonia

I may come to see you sing after all IKAG.:lust:



I'll get us a room

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Sorry for the limited notice, but the qualifying rounds are this Saturday.

__________________
Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

LOL. You just want to spirit me away from spending the weekend with my parents.

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"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, then let it, and if you have to wait for what you really want, take the time because nobody said that life would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it." ~ Unknown author

win-win situation, huh?

__________________
Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

win for me, win for you? LOL

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"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, then let it, and if you have to wait for what you really want, take the time because nobody said that life would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it." ~ Unknown author

brings a whole new meaning to follow the pouncing ball!

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Half of a set :halo: