I-Team: City Council refuses to vote on spa license

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I.—A Central Falls business owner says he’s still being hassled about opening a massage parlor following serious allegations against the mayor of Central Falls.

But a city official said it’s the business owner who is harassing city officials.

Brian Dempsey told the NBC 10 I-Team last month that Mayor Charles Moreau threatened him over getting city approval for what he said would be a legitimate massage parlor.

Moreau denied the claim. State police began an investigation.

Now, Dempsey claims the City Council is refusing to grant him a license, even though he’s hired the required licensed massage therapists.

“I brought the three therapists in last night—three Rhode Island licensed therapists to the meeting. I gave them the paperwork—the licenses. They passed the licenses around to the different members of the council,“ Dempsey said. “The next thing they have to say is, somebody would have to say motion to vote. Nobody was saying anything.“

The council declined to vote on the license.

Dempsey also claims he’s gotten anonymous calls asking for “cash donations” that would make his license process easier.

City Council President William Benson said Dempsey and his brother have been harassing city officials to get his license to open the spa. He said Dempsey still lacks the required license for his massage parlor from the health department.

“Dempsey has been harassing city officials. He simply hasn’t gotten the required license from the health department,“ Benson said.

Dempsey said he has applied for the state license and that he hopes the city will let him open the doors to his Simple Pleasures Spa when he submits it to the city.