HAMILTON — Neighbors of the Roundhouse bar are opposing the transfer of its liquor license to the current owner because of what they term increasing problems with patrons.

        Residents say the patrons of the bar, at 812 East Ave., leave with open containers, have urinated in the streets, and have fired guns into the air at night.

        Some residents say they have videotaped some of the behavior, and plan to present the tapes to city council, possibly at today's 7 p.m. meeting.

        Penny Strong, who lives near the bar, said she wants to see the liquor license transfer rejected.

        “There's been three different bar owners in the last 20 years that I've lived here,” she said. “And we've never had problems out of that bar like we've had with these people.”

        City Manager Steve Sorrell is recommending that city council, at its meeting tonight, reject the transfer of the liquor permit to Linda Sheehan. He also wants the Ohio Department of Liquor Control, which has final say in the matter, to hold a local hearing.

        Mr. Sorrell also said police want the transfer of the liquor permit to be rejected based on the high number of calls for police assistance to the bar. The calls include fights, assaults and dealing with intoxicated people.

        Attorney Patrick Garretson, who is representing the bar, said police have made only a dozen trips to the bar since July, when Ms. Sheehan purchased it.

        “There have been 12 calls, seven of which were from a phone booth outside, leaving five between the bar and the apartment renter above it, for various reasons,” he said. “The five calls in the three months of her ownership average less than two calls per month.”

        He added: “I think the number one element (for the concerns residents have expressed) is racism toward these Hispanics.” Many of the patrons are Hispanic.

        Patty Haskins, spokeswoman the Division of Liquor Control, said Roundhouse has not been cited for liquor violations.

        In addition to the Round house issues, the Human Relations Department is planning a Nov. 2 meeting at Jefferson Elementary School to address other East Avenue concerns, including prostitution, drugs, trash and broken street lights.

        Vaughn Lewis, director of Hamilton's Human Relations Department, said residents have told him that problems include speeding, over-occupancy in rental properties and Hispanic men intimidating residents.

        “I don't know what the motivation is — why they feel like that,” Mr. Lewis said. “Maybe it's because it's a new group of people in the community, maybe it's because they are men.”

        Said Mayor Adolf Olivas: “I think that some of the problems at the Roundhouse might indeed be caused by patrons, and not necessarily the building owner. I think the situation is somewhere in between where the opposite sides have painted it.”

        He also said he favors the recommendations of Mr. Lewis, which include installing security cameras, repairing street lights, increasing police patrols and razing or renovating vacant houses in the East Avenue neighborhood.

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