NORWAY — The owner of Charlie’s Entertainment on Main Street asked selectmen to change a town ordinance that will allow him to bring female exotic dancers into the facility once a week.

The request must be approved by voters through a referendum question or town meeting vote.

“It would bring more income in to help me out,” owner Paul “Charlie” Creamer said at Thursday night’s board meeting.

Under town ordinance, Creamer is allowed to have exotic dancers at his establishment twice a year after notifying municipal officers in writing no less than 10 days in advance. The dancers are only allowed to display their breasts under the ordinance.

Selectmen said they have had no problems with the establishment in recent years, but the issue extends beyond allowing the one establishment to bring in exotic dancers.

“I am open to discussing it but we’re not just telling Charlie’s, we’re telling anyone that opens a hall they can do it,” Chairman Bruce Cook said.

The board agreed they could see if there was still time to put the question on the November general election ballot, and barring that, it would probably go on the annual town meeting warrant in June. The board could vote to place the question on the warrant or a citizens’ petition could be circulated to place it on the warrant.

The board agreed to put it on a future board agenda to discuss.

Creamer said after the meeting that his club normally gets about 20 or 30 patrons, but when exotic dancers are advertised, he can fill the hall to the 272 maximum capacity. Creamer said there is no other local competition and that patrons who want to see exotic dancers normally have to go to establishments in Rumford or Portland.

Creamer, who has owned the club for 11 years, said he has brought in male dancers who dance in “G-strings” which is allowed under the ordinance and he will continue to do that.

“I’m just trying to make a living,” Creamer said.

ldixon@sunjournal