Norwich - The bar closes earlier. You can no longer hear the jukebox from the middle of the road. Surveillance cameras monitor the area. Complaints from neighbors seemed to have stopped. The Norwich Police Department has made routine checks to the area, but reportedly has not received any complaints.

These are all signs that the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Taftville has reopened under new leadership.

"The state put a lot of requirements on us to reopen. We had a lot of hoops to jump through," said Dennis Baptiste, post commander.

The Taftville post reopened at the end of May, following a four-month suspension due to various issues, the culmination of which was a handgun incident in the parking lot after hours.

"What really brought attention to us was that the quarterly financial reports were not being handed in" to the VFW district office, Baptiste said. "It kind of snowballed from there."

Leaders from the state VFW ultimately closed the post, which officially shut its doors on Jan. 30, after numerous complaints to police about noise and fights. City police told The Day in February that police had been called to the Taftville post 75 times in 10 years for reported disturbances, suspicious activity, fights in progress and other incidents. The most severe of those incidents resulted in police charging Anthony W. Cornish, 31, of Taftville with carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, first-degree reckless endangerment and other charges.

"Usually, once they close you, you really got to be aggressive and thoughtful and determined to reopen," Baptiste said. "It was a hard effort. A lot of effort and work and dedication went into getting this place reopened."

The state VFW had "a laundry list" of requirements that the post had to complete to reopen, Baptiste said. One was that the post had to have a change in leadership. Baptiste became the new commander, and all but one of the other six post officers are new.

"It seems like, since this change, people are leaving their egos at the door. We're working together as a team," said Donna Champlain, canteen permittee for the post.

Baptiste said one of the requirements from Robert Froelick, at the time the state commander for the VFW, for the post to reopen was that Baptiste had to come back as commander. Baptiste could not remember the start date for his first tour as post commander, but he said it ended in 2011.

"He's the only one who will get anything done," said Gail Rushford, president of the post's ladies' auxiliary.

In the months leading up to the reopening of the post on May 28, members attended a series of meetings with neighbors and police. As the members set post rules, they informed neighbors of their plans.

"We're just trying to follow the rules," Baptiste said. "Actually, with a whole new team, we're trying to learn the rules as we go. There are things we're learning. We're adhering to the rules and not deviating from them. It's keeping us out of trouble."

So far, Baptiste said, the neighbors seemed satisfied. He said he has met with every neighbor whose property abuts the post.

"They know if there are any issues, to contact us," he said.

Taftville resident Dolores LaBonte, who is a neighbor of the post and called the police about various incidents in the past, said the situation is much better now.

"I haven't heard too much. It's been very, very quiet," LaBonte said in a phone interview. "I'm hoping that will continue because I'd hate to see the VFW close. It's there to support our veterans. It would be great if this could continue and not go back to the way it was."

Now, the post's greatest struggle is increasing membership. Of its 53 current members, about 20 percent live out of state, Baptiste said, which leaves about 36 who live within a reasonable distance from the post. At meetings, seven to nine members show up consistently. Back in the 1970s, post membership was in the hundreds.

"We've had a couple of guys come in and inquire but nobody has actually signed on the dotted line yet," Baptiste said.

The ladies' and men's auxiliaries also are trying to recruit new members. Rushford said the ladies' auxiliary has signed up three new members since the post reopened in May. The men's auxiliary also has signed up a few new members. Rushford said she'd like to see a few younger members join the ladies' auxiliary.

In most cases, those who've served don't join veteran organizations until well after their tours are over.

"To get people who are just done their tours and they come right in, is kind of unusual," Baptiste said.

In recruiting young members, Baptiste said, the post competes with other veteran organizations like the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which charges nothing to join.

Champlain has a young friend who has done two tours and is interested in joining the Taftville post. "But because he's younger, he feels that he's not - he's up against these guys from Vietnam and he doesn't feel..." Champlain trailed off. Baptiste continued for her: "Like he has anything to share."

"I'm like, you've lost friends. You've been over there. You've served. Of course you belong," Champlain said.

Current members who live locally are pleased that the post has reopened.

"They like what's going on," Baptiste said. "We're starting to see more of them come in."

Some of the current members include those involved in the past issues. They can't hold leadership positions at this time.

"I think everybody has learned their lesson, let's put it that way," Baptiste said.

j.bergman@theday.com

Twitter: JuliaSBergman