JAY – Selectmen tabled action Monday on a special entertainment license for Ma Duck’s bar until the police chief is present.

Residents who live near the establishment complained of noise, including hooting and hollering and squealing tires, parking issues and beer bottles being left behind.

Mary Ann Barker, who leases space for the bar at the intersection of routes 140 and 4, said she has done everything she can. Barker said she and employees patrol the outside regularly, constantly clean the parking lot of loiterers, give rides home to intoxicated customers and try to make sure customers don’t bother neighbors.

Barker also said she put up a noise barrier approved by police Chief Larry White Sr. and the beer bottles people find are the same bottles that can be bought at a grocery store.

Abutters Donna and Ken Jerry said the noise wakes them out of sound sleeps. The noise goes on from 11 p.m. to about 2 a.m., they said.

Ida Crocker, another nearby resident, has had to install no parking signs in an attempt to keep people from parking on her property, Donna Jerry said.

All parties said they contact the police regularly.

Barker’s son Steve said part of the problem is a “lack of respect on the public’s part.”

Mary Ann Barker said she is in the process of buying the property and if she does, she’ll erect a fence.

After a few more volleys of comments between the abutters and bar owner, Chairman Bill Harlow called a halt to the discussion during the public hearing.

Selectmen tabled the license until 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at the Community Building.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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