By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — It became apparent — loud and clear — that more work is required on a proposed ordinance to determine the permitting process for outdoor music and entertainment.

This was suggested well before the public hearing was wrapped up. The Town of Naples held a public hearing on several proposed ordinance amendments and a few moratoriums on Monday night.

One proposed ordinance held the most interest for residents, creating some division and some emotion. It was discussed for more than two hours.

One resident echoed what was being said by other community members who thought the ordinance needed more work.

Nancy Hanson, a real estate broker with Better Homes and Gardens, the Masiello Group, “After tonight, I feel like we just aren’t quite where we need to be. There are a lot of restaurant owners, business owners, and they need to get involved,” Hanson said.

An unnamed resident who worked at Brother Flecker’s during a summer agreed with Hanson. 

“A workshop is a great idea, off season” because everyone in the restaurant business is too busy during the summer, she said. 

“Something like this needs to have zero subjectivity. It has to be absolutely black and white with no chance of misinterpretation,” she said.

Doug Bogdan, another resident who serves on the Naples Planning Board, advocated for people getting involved with the process of drafting the amendments and well as attending public hearings.

“This is the meeting for us to put in the changes, to get the business owners together to say what the changes should be. They are providing you with the opportunity to participate in the changes,” Bogdan said.

“I go to establishments and listen to music at night. I go to bed early. I am a mix of everything that goes on in this town,” he said.

“If you don’t tell them, they won’t know,” Bogdan said.

In the future, the proposed ordinance will receive more input and be subject to more changes.

In fact, the proposed Mass Outdoor Gathering and Special Amusement Ordinance will on the agenda of the Ordinance Review Committee, which meets this Wednesday (Sept. 25), from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Naples Town Hall.

At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, Naples Town Manager John Hawley explained that he had realized a new ordinance was needed two years ago.  Confusion stemmed from having two boards, the selectmen and the planning board, be in charge of approving two similar permits. It put the governmental board in conflict with one another.

“It made no sense that we were putting our business-owners through such trouble,” he said.

Hawley addressed rumors that the proposed ordinance change was a direct result of one business in town. Rather, the alterations to the permitting process were recommended two year ago, he said. 

Also, there was a related matter — a potential lawsuit taking place between Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern and the neighbors whose lives had been adversely impacted by an increase in the number of nights music plays outdoors.

The Chairman of the selectmen, Jim Grattelo said at the beginning of the meeting that no one would be limited to three minutes and people could speak as long as they wished.

Some owners and employees of eating establishments said that live music helps them make money. Live music helps businesses thrive during the short tourist season.

On the other hand, homeowners said they needed sleep and some quiet nights during the summertime. 

Peter Guptill, a resident of Naples for 15 years, spoke.  

“A lot more thought has to go into that ordinance and does it reflect what the majority of Naples residents want rather than the minority?” he asked.

He said the ordinance should reflect the positive aspects of Naples.

“Naples has become a popular destination, not just a place that people drive through. When we took the swing bridge out, it made a heck of a lot of difference. Naples wants good, well-run business so that when people come here, they enjoy their time and come back,” he said.  “We don’t want to lose the lakes. We don’t want to lose the businesses.”

“I am really asking that we take a step back. It is unfortunate that we have litigation going on. To me, there is more common ground going on than we know,” Guptill said.