By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A popular downtown nightclub could lose its liquor license, according to city officials.

Police are recommending that the City Council not renew the licenses and special entertainment permits for the Midnight Blues Club on Court Street. The permits all expire Aug. 9.

Police are scheduled to present their case to the City Council today at a 5:30 p.m. workshop.

“They have been placed on probation before, and we need to go through that process again,” said Auburn police Capt. Kevin Mulherin. He had not completed his report on the number of police calls to the club as of Friday.

“However, there continue to be a number of issues, of nuisances and disturbances, at that address,” Mulherin said.

Police documented at least 51 complaints at the club between April 2004 and April 2005 and another 61 in the nearby Mechanics Row parking garage. After meeting with the City Council in April 2005, club owner Paul Morency changed the hours of operation, closing earlier on the busiest nights to appease police and neighbors.

Councilors approved a provisional special-use permit in July 2005. That called for special training for bar staff, no marketing of oversized drinks or double shots, no drinking contests or volume discounts and nightly cleanup outside the club.

Bouncers were required to keep better control of patrons both inside and outside of the club and Morency agreed to pay for police officers on the premises.

Morency could not be reached for comment Friday.

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