Council looks at massage parlor rules
April 5, 2011
By VIRGINIA SHANK - reporter (vshank@tribtoday.com) , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com
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WARREN - Officials are looking at ways to revise legislation that governs the operation of massage parlors in the city.
At a legislative committee meeting on Monday, officials discussed limiting the number of licenses issued to massage therapists to 10, the current number already established in the city.
Assistant city law director James Ries said
he is drafting legislation to add to the current ordinance.
He intends to have the additions and revisions in council's hands this month.
In recent months, officials have expressed concerns over massage parlors in the city. Of the 12 in Trumbull County, 10 are in Warren.
City Council is considering increasing fees for licenses. Also, the current legislation prohibits individuals from providing massage services to members of the opposite sex. Ries said because that stipulation is outdated,
he intends to omit it from the city ordinance.
In the past, officials have also discussed increasing the number massage parlor inspections and adding a requirement that Warren massage parlors keep an appointment book listing names and addresses of patrons along with services performed.
Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, and Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, I-6th Ward, committee chair, each said they are concerned about the possibility of human trafficking taking place at some of the establishments. However, city police and health officials said there's no evidence that any of the massage parlors here have been conducting any illegal activity.
Recently, Tokyo Health
Spa, 2970 Parkman Road N.W., was shut down for a week when it was discovered an unlicensed person was doing computer work there. In October, that establishment and two others, VIP
Spa,
420 W. Market St., and Moon Night
Spa, 3875 Youngstown Road S.E.,were shut down each for one week due to an unlicensed person on the premises.
Officials said their attempts to strengthen laws governing the operation of massage parlors are in response to residents' concerns, as well as their own, about Warren's image and the safety of the community.
"We are very concerned about our residents and whether there is illegal activity at these places," remarked Saffold. "If there is, we need to do what we can to stop it. If not, then we need to prevent it from taking place."
Look at all the posts this last weekend for VIP
Spa as an example.
No wonder the Warren Council is looking at our spas again.
You got a few guys on here who can't keep anything to themselves.
I wonder how your favorite
spa providers will feel if they lose their jobs.
Some guys never learned their lessons from last summer.