Murphy to reconsider old ban on pool tables
Murphy – The owner of a downtown restaurant/bar has asked the Murphy Town Council to rescind a law banning commercial pool and billiards that dates back 40 years.
April Scayola of The Mason Bar at 46 Valley River Ave. wants her venue to be able to add a pool table, but she can’t because of Chapter 113.01 of the town code.
Downtown Murphy once had at least two downtown pool halls, but the town prohibited pool and billiards in 1983 because of public disturbances at one location.
“I’m old enough to remember why,” said Town Commissioner Frank Dickey, recalling fights and public drunkenness surrounding the pool halls. Dickey said he opposes repealing the ban.
Scayola approached the council on July 10 to pitch her idea. Council members are expected to consider the issue at its meeting Monday, Aug. 7, with others expressing a more open mind.
“I’m open to ideas,” said Commissioner Barry McClure, while Commissioner Keisha Dockery said she wants to see the proposal and hear both the pros and cons.
Scayola said she is looking to add one pool table to The Mason Bar for recreation purposes only – no gambling. Her proposal would require a business be open for at least 12 months before it can add a pool table, and a permit would be required.
“A pool table is just something my customers would enjoy,” she said.
Old-timers recall childhoods when they were forbidden from walking on one side of Tennessee Street – the side with the problematic pool hall.
“That was a different era, a different generation,” Scayola told council members.
Murphy Police Chief Tim Lominac, who was at the board meeting July 10, said he doesn’t foresee enforcement issues with Scayola’s proposal, but added that he doesn’t want his officers to become de facto bar bouncers.