ROCKLAND, Maine — The City Council will discuss Wednesday whether to consider regulations to control adult novelty stores in response to the possibility that such a business may move here.
A local man has made multiple inquiries about opening an adult novelty store in Rockland, Code Officer John Root said Monday. One location being eyed is a vacant commercial building at the intersection of Union and Willow streets.
The request came from Herman “Rusty” Hoffman, who operated a store in Waldoboro. He also looked at opening a store in Damariscotta, where voters approved a moratorium in September to give town officials six months to come up with regulations.
Hoffman said Monday he does not understand why communities would want to impose moratoriums or regulate the business. He said his business is simply a gift shop.
Root said Hoffman expressed interest earlier this month in the Union/Willow streets site and another location on Camden Street. Hoffman said he is looking at locations around the Midcoast and has not settled on a location. His shop in Waldoboro has closed, he said.
City attorney Kevin Beal said the council will proceed cautiously and appropriately on the matter, citing First Amendment rights. He said one option would be a moratorium to allow the city to develop regulations.
The store plans to sell pipes, adult sex toys, pornography and swords, Root said of information provided by Hoffman. Hoffman said he also will sell tobacco, figurines, regular DVDs, and knives.
The code officer noted that there is an ordinance in Rockland that requires pornography to be covered but that only applies to stores that need city licenses. He said a retail store does not require city licenses. The city attorney also said one regulation could be to require that adult items not be displayed so that they can be seen from outside the store.
Hoffman was arrested in July for selling bath salts, a product he had at his store in Waldoboro. Hoffman was scheduled to be in Knox County Superior Court in Rockland on Monday for a status conference on his case but the matter was continued because he also faces drug charges in Lincoln County, according to Assistant Attorney General Katie Sibley.
Hoffman said he would be making an appearance in the Lincoln County court later this week. Though he has been charged, Hoffman maintained the state would not be able to prove he was doing anything illegal.
The council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.