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Council approves Aruba Lounge entertainment license renewal after public praise and mixed police CAD reports
Summary
Council approved the entertainment license renewal for Aruba Lounge (Aruba/Aruba Lounge/Duma Entertainment) after manager and trustee remarks; council discussed CAD police reports and security measures before voting to approve with no recorded objections.
The Clifton Municipal Council approved an entertainment-license renewal for Aruba Lounge (applicant represented as Duma/Dumont Entertainment) following a council hearing on Aug. 19 during which neighbors, a trustee, and the applicant described operations, security measures and prior police activity.
The applicant, represented by attorney Gerald Friend and manager Hans Pena, told the council the venue serves food and alcohol, operates evening hours (approx. 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.; entertainment from about 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.), and employs three security personnel on event nights. A trustee from Botany Village testified that the venue has been a community supporter at events such as the neighborhood tree lighting.
Council members reviewed the establishment’s history, a series of computerized police dispatch (CAD) reports that included a mixture of calls; presenters said many reports were unfounded or mistakenly attributed to the business’s address. Council members questioned whether the manager was authorized to speak for the owner; manager Hans Pena said he had verbal authorization and that the owner was out of town.
Several council members urged proactive neighborhood management by the operator, reminding the applicant to “be a good neighbor” and to maintain noise control and customer dispersal at closing. After public remarks and council questions, a motion to approve the entertainment license was made and seconded; there were no formal roll-call objections recorded in the transcript and council proceeded to approve the application.
Outcome: license renewal approved. Council discussion emphasized operator responsibilities (noise and crowd control), the presence of security personnel, and the need for clear owner authorization in future filings.
What’s next: council indicated continued monitoring; council members and staff noted that complaints and CAD reports will continue to be considered if new incidents occur.
