ARUNDEL — Selectmen approved another mass gathering permit for Bentley’s Saloon Monday night, following a two-hour discussion that focused largely on the business’ struggles with occupancy restrictions.

The permit for the April 25 “Spring Ride for the Troops,” a charity ride that begins in York and ends at the Route 1 saloon, was granted in a 3-1 vote. Selectman Tom Danylik dissented and Selectwoman Velma Jones Hayes was absent. The board also approved Bentley’s annual special amusement permit.

Occupancy of 1,222 on the site was approved for the event and a first aid tent was made a requirement of the permit, along with the presence of an emergency medical technician.

“This is the motorcycle event that shook the town up last year,” Gregg Martinez, manager of the saloon, told selectmen Monday. “We had 550 bikes that day, that’s where it all began. It was a day of education for me.”

Deputy Matt Nadeau, who attended the hearing Monday, said there were traffic issues on Route 1 during last year’s event due to the unexpectedly large crowd.

“It took us by surprise as much as it took Greg by surprise,” he said. “There were serious traffic control issues.”

The ride, now in its third year, is organized by the Patriot Riders group of the York VFW and raises money to send care packages to troops overseas, said Martinez. A ceremony with an honor guard is planned when the riders arrive.

Changes have been made for the event this year, said Martinez, and Kennebunk residents will not be impacted because the route will not include Route 1 until riders reach Arundel. Off-site parking will be made available, he said, and traffic will be controlled coming in and out of the saloon.

A resident who attended Monday raised concerns about having to wait for large groups of motorcycles passing through intersections together, ignoring red lights. Nadeau said he received complaints last year when he directed traffic to allow the groups to pass through.

Martinez said that issue was not under the saloon’s control and noted that many motorists are patient because they realize the rides raise money for charity.

Aside from policing concerns, occupancy was the main concern of the board as they discussed the permit Monday. Occupancy has been an ongoing issue for the saloon, which is a popular destination for motorcyclists throughout the region. Last summer, Bentley’s was cited three times for violating its town-imposed limit of 180 persons inside.

A controversial long-term mass gathering ordinance was granted to the saloon for each weekend during the riding season last year, as the business’ site plan amendment has wound its way through the town process.

Bentley’s is seeking an increase in its maximum capacity, inside and out, as part of that amendment, which will be up for discussion at a Planning Board public hearing Thursday.

“We can comfortably accommodate 775 (people) safely,” said Martinez. “We just need to get through the process to show that. We’re hung up on the assumptions and this outdated ordinance. We’ve suffered reputation-wise and our success is being driven into the ground and stomped out by this process.

“We’re just trying to get into compliance for the good fortune we have and the number of people we serve,” he said.

Danylik raised concerns that it would be difficult to keep count of a greater number of people on the site, but Martinez said a color-coded band system will be used to determine who can enter the building, to avoid overcrowding inside, and only one door will allow access, with a security guard manning the door.

“They may be angry they can’t get in the saloon, but I’ve made them aware of what our situation was,” said Martinez.

Selectmen went through the mass gathering ordinance line by line and several voiced that the ordinance, written in 1982, needs to be revised. Town Manager John Fraser said he proposed a revision of the ordinance in January, but work has not yet begun.

The ordinance’s requirement for adequate law enforcement was a particular issue with the board, since nowadays deputies and police officers cannot be hired to provide security at a private event, due to liability issues.

“This is lawsuit city,” said Peck, referring to the ordinance. “We can’t do it and in the ordinance, it has to be done. We recognize (the ordinance) needs a lot of work.”

Nadeau told the board that having police personnel on duty would be ideal with such a major influx of people, but said the sheriff’s department could not provide adequate coverage.

The board agreed to waive the need for police personnel at the event, with Danylik opposed, because Martinez said he has hired an on-site security firm.

— City Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.