License Commission

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK May 02 2022 11:33 am BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS City Hall, 718 Main Street Fitchburg MA 01420 (978) 829-1820 Daniel Sarefield, Chairman Richard Boscardin John Zarrella MINUTES OF MEETING A regular meeting of the Board of License Commissioners was held on April 4, 2022 over the Zoom meeting platform, and called to order by Commissioner Sarefield at 6:01 PM. Commissioners Boscardin and Zarrella were also present at the meeting. FPD Liaison Lieutenant Howe and Provisional City Clerk Amanda Alford were present. I. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PRIOR MEETING(S) Commissioner Zarrella abstained from the vote. Minutes of March 21, 2022 were approved by a roll call vote 2/0. II. NEW APPLICATIONS Monday - Saturday Entertainment Permit Tacos Tequilas, Inc., 310 Main Street, for live acoustic music, live amplified music and DJ. Mr. Luis Angel, General Manager, was present at the meeting. He explained that the primary purpose for applying for the entertainment permits was to have a singer at the establishment for Cinco de Mayo but that he wanted the flexibility to have entertainment in the future to provide ambiance on the busier nights of the week. Commissioner Sarefield asked if the entertainment would take place upstairs or downstairs. Mr. Angel stated that for Cinco de Mayo, the upstairs would be utilized for the entertainment as the downstairs is not ready just yet. Commissioner Sarefield asked if the downstairs area was included in the liquor license premises. Mr. Angel replied yes. Commissioner Sarefield requested he keep the Board updated if the plans change and to ensure that he has comprehensive staffing in place from a security standpoint on the nights when there will be entertainment. Application approved by a unanimous roll call vote 3/0 Sunday Entertainment Permit Tacos Tequilas, Inc., 310 Main Street, for live acoustic music, live amplified music and DJ. Application approved by a unanimous roll call vote 3/0 Page 1  Special One Day License Beers for Good, for a Special One Day Wine and Malt Beverages License for Brewers Festival on June 25, 2022 from 1:00PM to 6:00PM for 1,000 people at Riverfront Park. As applicant was not present a motion to continue the matter to the April 20, 2022 meeting was approved by a roll call vote 3/0. Lodging House John Hussey, 94 Highland Avenue (OpenGov Permit #79735) Mr. Douglas Radigan, Attorney with Bowditch & Dewey, and Ms. Tania DiDuca, Chief of Staff of SMOC, were present at the meeting. Commissioner Sarefield apologized and noted that there was an issue with the online workflow for the Lodging House Application and the permit was presented to the Board prematurely. He stated that before the Board could approve the application, a background check needed to be completed for the Manger on Record. Ms. DiDuca noted the individual that completed the online application, Mr. John Hussey, was in fact the general contractor for the project and stated that SMOC Program manager, Ms. Susan Wilkinson, is the Manager on Record. She stated that the CORI application was awaiting notarization and expects to have it submitted shortly. Commissioner Sarefield asked about the process that they have undertaken up to this point. Atty Radigan stated that this project has been underway since prior to the pandemic. He noted that they had been working closely with the City Solicitor and other city departments to adhere to all requirements. He noted that in January 2020 they were granted a special permit for lodging from ZBA and received a satisfactory inspection from the Health Department. They currently have a temporary certificate of occupancy from the Building Department and will be re-inspected once the required hardwired carbon monoxide detectors are installed. Commissioner Boscardin asked if the Fire Department has signed off on the lodging application. Mr. Radigan replied yes. It was agreed that the application would be continued to the next regular meeting to allow for the completion of the background check. A motion to continue the matter to the April 20, 2022 meeting was approved by a roll call vote 3/0. III. NEW BUSINESS The meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM Respectfully submitted, Amanda K. Alford, Provisional City Clerk Approved: __________________ ___________________ ___________________ Daniel Sarefield Richard Boscardin John Zarrella Page 2