WARREN - City Council voted 9-0 Monday to object to the renewal of the liquor permit held under the name of Gadds Olympic Inn Inc. on Parkman Road following a shooting that sent a woman to MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland with a head wound.
Pamela Dial, 43, 1175 Parkman Road N.W., was struck in the head Aug. 4 when a stray bullet entered her home. Dial is listed in serious condition at MetroHealth. Police believe the shot was fired from the parking lot of the next-door bar.
The bar's owner, Linda Gadd, closed the bar indefinitely last week.
Councilman Edward Colbert said council objects to renewing the liquor license because of a history of incidents in and around the bar.
In examining three years' worth of 911 calls, Colbert said he counted 147 calls for service to the bar at 1129 Parkman Road N.E.
"In fact, I spoke to Ms. Dial about the bar about her concerns about the bar on the afternoon prior to the shooting," Colbert said.
In its legislation to object to the renewal, the city is asking for a hearing before the Ohio Department of Liquor Control to take place within the city.
City officials believe the bar has been operated in a manner that demonstrates a disregard for the laws of the city and the state and that the renewal would interfere with public decency, sobriety and peace in the neighborhood.
"We do not want an empty building," Colbert said. "At the same time, this owner has been unable to operate in a safe manner. This has gone far beyond bar fights. I've spoken to the police department about this establishment before this shooting. They were well aware of this place."
Reports show police have made at least two arrests involving weapons in the bar's parking this summer.
Colbert emphasized the vote objecting to the renewal of the liquor license and any other subsequent actions the city may take are secondary to any action Gadd may take on her own.
"We want the owner, Linda Gadd, to step forward and present a plan that may include anything from selling the bar to someone else, finding ways to change its clientele, or increasing security in and around the establishment," Colbert said.
Efforts by the Tribune Chronicle to reach Gadd on Monday were not successful; however, in a release announcing the voluntary closing of the bar, Gadd wrote that it will stay closed ''as a sign of our deepest sympathy and respect for Pamela and her family.
''We truly feel terrible for the family next door,'' Gadd wrote. ''As the owner of this establishment, I have been working with and giving my full cooperation to the police.''
In other action, council voted to lower the age needed for senior multi-family district zone from 62 to 55 years old.