Massage Parlor Rules Could Be Overhauled Soon

Officials introduced legislation last week that tightens the town’s grip on massage parlors with a slew of new regulations that ban exposed genitals and require owners to submit a sterilization plan.

The proposed changes are extensive. Officials discussed approving such changes last March, but decided to wait until the state changed its requirements pertaining to the establishments.

The law would require that a patron’s “sexual or genital areas” be covered by towels, cloths, or undergarments when in the presence of an employee.

“We have, over time, checked on several establishments because sometimes customers complain about maybe seeing something they think shouldn’t be happening,” Police Chief John Reardon said last March.

An employee of Gold Spa was charged with engaging in prostitution in January. Police went undercover at the establishment after they received an anonymous tip from a concerned citizen.

New state law prohibits the township from licensing massage therapists. The state issues massage therapy licenses now. The ordinance requires that all therapists be licensed and that those licenses be displayed “in an open and conspicuous place” inside a massage parlor.

Each massage room would need to contain a sink. Each massage establishment would need to have a shower area.

The owner or operator of an establishment would need to submit a sterilization plan for non-disposable instruments and materials to the Health Department. Non-disposable instruments would need to be disinfected after every use and store in a clean and sanitary manner.

The council introduced the ordinance last Wednesday. Officials could approve it at the next meeting April 17.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.