BARRE, Vt – The City Council is refusing to renew the license of a strip club where a patron allegedly touched a dancer, violating a provision requiring entertainers to keep at least three feet away from customers.

The license for nude dancers at Planet Rock, issued annually, is to expire at midnight Sunday. The club’s liquor license would not be affected.

Last July, a Washington County liquor inspector saw a customer put his head between a dancer’s breasts, according to Mayor Thomas Lauzon.

But Daniel Garr Sr., head of the corporation that owns the club, said the establishment had always complied with its conditions.

“We don’t know what one person’s hidden agenda may be, but of course we do understand there may be some other hidden interests here” said Garr.

“We will not sit quietly and let anyone violate our civil rights,” Garr said. “This type of entertainment is clearly protected by the First Amendment.”

Lauzon said he was troubled by Garr’s unwillingness to take responsibility for the violation.

“We’re not the ones who own the establishment that is having these violations, he is,” Lauzon said of Garr. “You violate the conditions … and then you accuse me of having a hidden agenda because I want to talk about that? That’s when my tolerance level goes way down.”