SALEM BUSINESSES Clergyman backs plan to regulate

The city has no adult-oriented businesses.
SALEM -- Councilwoman Alma Apicella, R-at large, is receiving support from area clergy in her effort to more strictly regulate adult-oriented businesses.
The Rev. Al Voorhis, president of the Salem Ministerial Association, attended Tuesday's city council meeting to voice his support of the plan.
The city must protect itself against the "subtle dangers of pornography," he told council.
Apicella is chairwoman of council's rules and ordinances committee. Earlier this week the panel asked city law Director C. Brooke Zellers to draft a tougher law than what the city has.
Using a model: Zellers also has been instructed by the committee to use as his model an ordinance adopted in November by supervisors in Mahoning Township, Pa.
That includes requirements that adult-business owners be licensed. Other restrictions include forcing such businesses to close between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Salem has an ordinance, adopted in December 1999, that requires adult-oriented businesses to be in commercial districts.
It also bans them from being closer than 1,000 feet from structures such as schools, churches and playgrounds.
But Apicella has said she wants Salem's law made stricter so that no adult business is tempted to come to the city.
There are no such businesses there now.