License Commission

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS City Hall, 718 Main Street FitchburgMA 01420 (978) 829-1820 Daniel Sarefield, Chairman Glenn Fossa Richard Boscardin MINUTES QF MEETING A meeting of the Board of License Commissioners was held on January 22, 2020 m the Fitchburg Fire Department Conference Room, 33 North St., Fitchburg, and called to order by Commissioner Sarefield at 6:00 P.M. Commissioner Boscardin were present. FPD Liaison Lieutenant Howe was present. I. REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Minutesfrom theprevious meeting ofJanuary 6, 2020 were reviewed and signed. I. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PRIOR MEETING(S) II. APPLICATIONS Special One Day License - AI1 Alcoholic Beverases Fitchburg Lions Club, 14 Wallace Avenue, for a Party-Fundraiser, from 4PM to 10PM on Saturday, March 7, 2020 for 150 people at O'Neill Hall for the Worcester Emerald Society. Mr. Schaff^as present. Approved 2/0 Fitchburg Lions Club, 14 Wallace Avenue, for a Party, from 4PM to 8PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 for 100 people at O'Neill Hall for the Senior Center St. Patrick Day Party. Mr. Schaffrequested that the number ofpersons attending be amended to 400-500. Amended application approved 2/0 Special One Day License - Wine and Malt Beverages Fitehburg State University, 160 Pearl Street, Hammond Campus Center, for a Formal/Dinner, from 5PM to 10PM on Friday, March 20, 2020 for 100 people at the Hammond Main Lounge/Tower Lounge. Mr. Flanagan was present. Approved 2/0 Special One Day License - Wine and MaltBeverages Madonna ofthe Holy Rosary/Dr. Paul A. Migliozzi, 118 Theresa Street, for Annual Lenten Fish Fry, from 4PM to 6:30PM on multiple Fridays: Febmary 28th, March 6th, March 13th, March 20th, March 27th, April 3rd for 200 people at the Church Hall. Dr. Migliozzi waspresent. FPD noted that this is an annual event andsupports the application. Approved 2/0 Pagel  Taxi Driver Applications - NEW Frank C. Davis - City Cab (renewal) Mr. Davis \vas present. Approved 2/0 Kenneth G. Gerace, Jr. - Twin City Kab Mr. Gerace ^as present. Approved 2/0 Tammy Lees. - Twin City Kab Ms. Lees waspresent. Approved 2/0 Emest J. Smith, III - Twin City Kab In order to discuss certain particulars ofthe license, the Board unanimously voted to enter into Executive Sessionfrom 6:18 - 6:23 PM. Mr. Smith waspresent. Approvedfor t}vo year license with a revie^ ofstatus in January 2021. Approved 2/0 Monday through SatyrdayJEntertainment Permit 1. Fitchburg Historical Society, 781 Main Street, for live acoustic music on Saturday, January 25th fromlPM-4PM. Applicant had requested that this application be given Leave to Withdra^. Leave to Withdra^ Approved 2/0 2. Partner's Pub, 970 South Street, for live acoustic music, live amplified music, DJ, and karaoke. (Amend current approval from Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to Monday through Saturday) Mr. Dickhaut v^as present. Updated Entertainment Permit Approved 2/0 TRANSFER OF LICENSE: Transfer Application for Annual Restaurant on Premise, All Alcoholic Beverages License Blazin Wings Inc., dba Buffalo Wild Wings, 150 Whalon Street Attorney Michael Brangwynne ^as presentfor the Applicant. Application ^vas accepted and referred to apublic hearing to be held on February 19, 2020. III. PUBLIC HEARING Application for Retail General on Premise, All Alcoholic Beverages License The Graham Witherspoon Companies, LLC, dba Kingston Island Cuisine, 480 & 488 Main Street Christopher and Deborah Graham, o-wners, as -well as Ted Lappis, owner ofthe building v^ere present. Hearing ^as opened and a reviev^ ofthe application -was discussed. The notices ^were sent outfor this hearing thereby giving the abutters the required opportunity to comment on the application. The Chair invited anyone in the audience to speak. Mariris Davis, resident of 187 Fairmount Street, City Councilor Beth Walsh, and Mary Jo Bohart, City ofFitchburg Economic Development all spoke in support ofthe application. Chief Martineau reminded the applicants that Main Street v^ould be eventually a t^o-^ay street, and that they shouldreview their plans for loading areas. No one else requested to speak. Hearing closed and application approved 2/0 IV. DISCUSSIONS 1. Fingerprinting Ordinance, City of Fitchburg Chief Martineau waspresent to explain the approval ofthe nev^ Fingerprinting Ordinance -within the City ofFitchburg, andho-w it -wouldajfect the License Commission in thefuture. He noted that it ^ould be beneficialfor the Commissioners and City Clerk to attend iCORI training. Page 2  He stated that he -was -working to put procedures inplace in order to manage the new Ordinance and that this required approvalfrom the FBI. He added that the additional measure would allo^ the License Commission, and the City, to have better assurances that when instituted, they -would have better kno-wledge that the applicants ^were vetted completely. The Clerk -willfor^ard information to the Commission regarding signing upfor the iCORI system andtraining. 2. Lodging House updated application and correspondence Councilor Beth Walsh, Chair of Legislative Affairs, attended the meeting in order to discuss ho^ the draft Applicationfor Short Term Rentals andLodging Houses had been the efforts ofmany different departments, including Building, Fire, Housing, the Board ofHealth, and the City Solicitor. She mentioned that the application helps to legitimatize the lodging establishments. She noted that there is a one-time fee for the application and then ayearly inspectionfeefor the premises. Commissioner Sarefield asked that Liz Murphy, Director ofHousing and Development, be invited to attend the next License Commission meeting in order to discuss the issuefurther. 3. Email/discussion regarding satellite radio and 65 TVs. Commissioner Sarefield noted that as a licensefor this type of entertainment -was not already required, the Commission -would not need to discuss itfurther. 4. Email/discussion regarding Beemer's Pub Mary Jo Bohart, City ofFitchburg Economic Development, ^was present to speak about her conversation -with Mr. Cote and to note thatit appeared that equipment had already been taken from the premises. She stated that the lien holdersfor the establishment had been contacted and that she was hopeful that with their intervention, the business might be sold and bring in nev^ o-wners. V. NEW BUSINESS Lieutenant Hov^e mentioned that he will check with Chief Martineau regardingfuture handling of CORI applications with regardto the License Commission. The meeting adjoumed at 8:27 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Mary de Alderete, City Clerk Apprpved: fH^ (^a.r' aniel Sar/field, &.air Glenn Fossa Richard Boscardin Page3