Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon has asked the state ABC to no longer issue permits to Clem's Ballroom following 14 disturbance calls spanning nearly a year.

Macon also asked the board to approve allowing off duty police to serve as security at the restaurant when it is rented for private functions.

That  request, which was approved, was made  because during one disturbance the private, unarmed guards abandoned the premises for fear of the crowd, he noted in the May 5 letter to the commission, which he read to the board at its meeting tonight.

Meanwhile, Town Attorney Thomas Wellman told the board he would review the restaurant's current permit, which apparently under the town's ordinance does not allow private functions.

Macon said the disturbances have occurred between March 20 of last year to March 12 of this year. "The calls are progressively getting more dangerous," he said in the letter, "for the patrons, community and police, who answer the calls."

The calls, which are documented and logged, include loud music, underage drinking, fighting and large crowd disturbances. "The last disturbance resulted in approximately several hundred people out in the street fighting and breaking beer bottles," the letter said. "A police department car was damaged and officers on the scene were in jeopardy of being harmed. The hired, unarmed private security officers abandoned the premises in fear of the crowd."

The police chief told the board deputies from the sheriff's office and officers from the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, as well as off duty Weldon officers, were called to the scene.

Apparently no one fighting was seriously injured. One person was arrested on an outstanding warrant and for unruly behavior, the chief said following the meeting.

In the letter to state ABC, Macon said the owner, Deborah Clemonts, has been warned and was written a letter in 2009 about a violation of the town zoning ordinance. "The town's mayor and myself, along with the zoning director, met with Mrs. Clemonts back in the beginning of 2010. The meeting purpose was to provide some solutions and give notice to the state of her ballroom."

The letter notes the chief's understanding the establishment is being rented out as a nightclub. "The zoning permit does not allow that type of activity. Only six permits have been issued within the last year, therefore many of the events have not had permits issued for events held.

"Moreover, in addition to this request, I am asking the Weldon Town Board members to put a stringent ordinance in place, an ordinance which will require Clem's Ballroom to hire police officers for security at each and every event held at the establishment."

Macon told the board money is apparently taken at the door and patrons go in and drink. "We've received complaints from the people in the apartments. They've been notified and warned."

Zoning Administrator Traci Storey told the board Clem's is zoned as a restaurant and the owner doesn't want the troubles. She said, however, the restaurant's permit could be stripped, which would force it to shut down.

"No one wants a business to shut down," Mayor Julia Meacham said. "It's only a matter of time before there is a shooting. To me, this is really out of control."

Macon said one of the underage drinkers at the party passed out from alcohol poisoning and woke up in the emergency room. "If they had died it may could have set off a chain of lawsuits."

Wellman said he would review the current permit for the restaurant and then get with Macon and Storey so a letter could be drafted.

"We need to move on this as quickly as possible," Meacham said.

Fire Chief Rusty Bolt, during his report to the board, said it took firefighters a half hour to sweep the beer bottles from the street.