MECHANIC FALLS — Residents living in the Park/Lewiston streets neighborhood are not happy with their new neighbor: Shooters’ Sports Club — and Monday they told the Town Council just how they feel.

“The noise is outrageous, especially hot summer nights when they open the doors,” resident Peter Ford said, “and the traffic situation is crazy.”

Peter Lothrop added that he and Ford had talked with neighbors to try to gauge the impact on people in the neighborhood.

“It’s more than just the noise,” Lothrop said, “there’s a safety issue, people don’t feel as secure.”

Several residents complained about gatherings outside the bar, people out for a smoke hollering and fighting, and racket from people slow to leave the area after closing time.

Police Chief Jeffrey Goss reported his department had received more than a dozen calls in the three months Shooters’ has been open.

“One of my men reported he could hear some noise coming from the area late one night when he was at a traffic stop up by Elm Street School, but when we’ve gone over it hasn’t been loud,” Goss said.

Roxanne Pearl, who operates the establishment with her husband, Chad, admitted that there had been some problems but, noting that they had been open but a short time and hadn’t built up much revenue, offered that they had taken steps to improve the situation.

“We’re put a foyer on and covered the front and side windows,” she said, “there’s no riff-raff, no fights; we’re willing to work with townspeople.”

She added that that they now have a new bouncer, who moves people along at closing time.

The council agreed to take no action at this time but will revisit the situation at its September meeting.

The council also met with members of the Bog Hooters ATV Club and residents of Riverside Drive to try to resolve problems with certain dirt bike and ATV owners who aren’t abiding by the 10 mph speed limit for such vehicles.

At the heart of the matter is whether the town has any say in allowing ATVs access to Riverside Drive, as it is a private road. Complicating the issue is the fact that the road association granted the town access to the road for plowing and sanding two years ago.

The council agreed to take up the matter once Town Manager John Hawley has an opportunity to consult a legal opinion.

The council also met with Maine Municipal Association representative Debbie Bridges to review a proposed change to the health insurance plan it offers to town employees.

According to Bridges, the proposed plan offers employees comparable or better than comparable benefits to what they are now receiving at lower cost to the town.

The council will invite employees to a meeting with Bridges to review terms of the plan in detail to see if they agree the change would be advantageous to all.

Hawley also advised the council that he will call a special meeting within the next few weeks once final numbers from O’Donnell Associates, the town’s assessor, are received to set next year’s tax rate.