Friday, February 8, 2002
Police said they are receiving fewer reports about crime at The Mill.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The former manager of The Mill nightclub has been fined $25 for a noise violation at the club in October.
Christian Rinehart, 26, of Lemans Drive, Boardman, pleaded no contest to the violation Thursday morning in Mahoning County Court. Judge David D'Apolito found him guilty.
Rinehart was cited about 1 a.m. Oct. 1 on an excessive-noise charge. The citation states that "numerous warnings went ignored and the problem was not corrected by management."
Police reports state that the club's staff had been warned about excessive noise eight times since June 2. Police also were called to the club's parking lot on several occasions last year in response to reports of fights and theft.
A club manager, Patrick Bengiveno, 48, of South Edgehill Avenue, was issued a summons for excessive noise about midnight Jan. 25. He paid a $100 fine.
Rinehart said he stopped working at The Mill on Jan. 1 because of a "difference of opinion" with the club's management.
Scott Cochran, the Youngstown attorney who represents The Mill, declined to comment. Cochran also represented Rinehart.
How bad it is: The reports of crime at The Mill have led township trustees to ask police to oppose attempts to renew its liquor license. Trustees said they would consider withdrawing that request if the owners improve security in the next few months.
Police Lt. Mark Durkin and Township Administrator Michael Dockry met with Cochran in December to discuss how The Mill's problems could be solved. Durkin and Dockry suggested the club lock its side and back doors at night and provide better training for its bouncers.
Durkin said the number of reports of crimes at the club have decreased since the meeting with Cochran.
Dockry noted that township officials have not met with Cochran since December, so they are not sure what action the club has taken.
hill@vindy.com