By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — No one was willing to air their dirty laundry.

No one spoke for or against a moratorium banning adult-entertainment businesses from setting up shop in Naples.

However, as advised by the town attorney, the chairman of the Naples Board of Selectmen took up some air time.

Chairman Jim Grattelo read a rather long statement, which cited court cases and findings of the U.S. Attorney General regarding adult-entertainment businesses.

On Monday, the public hearing for the Adult Entertainment Business Moratorium was held in the Naples Gymnasium.

Public hearings were held for two moratoriums along with a half-dozen proposed amendments to ordinances.

Basically, according to Grattelo’s prepared statement, crimes particularly sexual crimes increase in the vicinity of adult-entertainment businesses.

Secondly, municipalities have a difficult time holding the owners of such businesses responsible for the uptick in these crimes, including the presence of prostitution and the use of drugs.

He summed up the reasoning behind the town passing a moratorium on adult-entertainment businesses. 

“The general welfare, health and safety will be protected by the town by the enactment of the adult entertainment moratorium to be part of the Land Use Ordinance,” Grattelo said.

Following that statement, the selectmen voted, 4-0, to pass the ban. Selectman Kevin Rogers was not present at the meeting.