Restaurant official escorted from Aspinwall meeting as council considers limiting outdoor operations

A discussion about limiting outdoor hours of operation for Aspinwall businesses became heated when a man launched a slew of expletives while defending his restaurant.

Luke and Mike’s Frontporch general manager Lou Curcio Jr. was escorted out of council chambers Wednesday night after cursing at council and resident Patti McCaffrey, who was talking about how she no longer patronizes the establishment.

“I had to stand up for what I believed in,” Curcio said back at the restaurant after the meeting.

The borough is in the process of developing what council vice president David Borland called the Hours of Operation ordinance.

“What today is designed to do is to be a formal discussion for people to hear what’s been bantered about, and also to collect input and if there are any issues or thoughts that people have,” Borland said at Thursday night’s meeting. “We’re not voting on anything. We will take the information that we’ve got and kind of determine a path forward.”

The planning commission has recommended outdoor operations cease after 10:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and at midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Borland said the ordinance is designed to quell noise complaints and potential issues with the public while allowing bars, restaurants and other entities to serve people indoors.

It had evolved from discussions within the planning commission in October 2020 about noise control.

The commissioners at the time talked about garbage collection and deliveries happening before 6 a.m. disturbing the peace, planning commission documents read.

Talks then went to the challenge of enforcing an noise ordinance, and how it may be easier to enforce an ordinance with time restrictions on restaurants.

Council members Thursday night said the proposed ordinance would apply to all businesses with outdoor activities, with possible exceptions for special events such as movies in the park and athletic games.

Even though borough officials stressed it would apply to all businesses, Curcio and restaurant owner Sheri Rice said they feel targeted by the ordnance.

“It seems like it’s an individual issue with me,” Rice said.

Curcio said the restaurant received dozens of complaints within the past three years all from one address — the home of Councilwoman Lara Voytko.

Curcio said he was unaware of any other complaints made about the restaurant in that time frame.

“It’s clearly just a personal vendetta against us to try and shut us down,” Curcio said. “There’s really no noise problems.”

He said Frontporch’s kitchen is open from 4-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and the business has closed around 11 p.m. in the past, but being forced to keep everything indoors may cost them 20% to 30% of revenue weekly because people like to get drinks and go on the porch.

Voytko denied the potential legislation was personal.

“It’s not targeted to any one business,” she said. Voytko also said other people have complained about noise coming from the bar, and declined to address Curcio’s comments after the meeting.

However, during the meeting she read what she called a threatening message one of her friends, Patti McCaffery, allegedly received from Curcio.

Rice said she was aware of the message and declined further comment.

“That text came to me just because I’m friends with (Voytko),” McCaffrey said. “As a business owner, you are responsible for your employees and your patrons and guests. I’m sorry if that’s news to somebody who’s had a business here in town for a while. This isn’t about blame. I’m an adult and I’m a professional. I expect other business owners to be adult and professional and civil.

“I’d be happy if we can all turn the clock back and go back to a time when it wasn’t like it is. But the noise and the trash and the parking problems have been going on for years. I’m not the only one complaining. There are other people complaining.”

There was more back and forth between Rice and McCaffrey before council president Tim McLaughlin was able to redirect talks back to council.

He said businesses and the Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce would be notified when a draft ordinance is made, and welcomed more dialogue from business owners.

“We have a lot more work to do,” McLaughlin said.