Mayor wants 3-strikes policy for nightclubs BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - Borough officials are debating a proposal designed to curtail violence at local clubs in light of a recent wave of violent incidents that required police action. Though there have been several reports at various locations, the governing body in particular began to explore the issue after a Dec. 28 fracas involving up to 80 people in the parking lot of the Colisseum nightclub. In January, Republican Mayor Kennedy O'Brien proposed enforcing a three-strikes policy on borough nightclubs. He submitted a draft ordinance that was met with criticism by the all-Democratic Borough Council at a Feb. 5 meeting. Council members said the preliminary draft needs work. O'Brien reiterated his view that a liquor license is a privilege, not a right, and that there will be consequences for clubs who use their licenses irresponsibly. Those consequences could include revoking the liquor license, as the council did to the former Krome nightclub in 2001 after problems with violence and other incidents at the Route 35 venue. Despite running the operation without a liquor license in the ensuing years, the club was the scene of a fatal shooting in 2004 before closing its doors for good. O'Brien said the ordinance would ensure that businesses operate in a way that is conducive to the general safety of residents and visitors to Sayreville. Council President Thomas Pollando responded to O'Brien's proposal that the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages Control (ABC) would have to look at the ordinance and offer input before it could be adopted. "We want to do it the right way," Pollando said. Councilwoman Kathy Makowski agreed with Pollando, saying that she could not go along with the ordinance as it was written. Borough Attorney Brian Hak said that state ABC officials should be consulted on the ordinance, and that it may be too vague and could leave the borough open to legal challenges. Hak suggested that the borough more clearly define what type of offense warrants a strike against a club. "You do not want to put an ordinance in place, try to implement it and find out that it is unworkable," Hak said.