License Commission

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS City Hall, 718 Main Street Fitchburg MA 01420 (978) 829-1820 FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Apr 08 2025 8:50 am Daniel Sarefield, Chairman Richard Boscardin Glenn Fossa MINUTES OF MEETING A regular meeting of the Board of License Commissioners was held on Monday, March 17, 2025 in person and called to order by Commissioner Sarefield at 6:01 PM. Commissioner Boscardin and Fossa were present. FPD Lieutenant Ryan Keenan, City Clerk Joanna Bilotta, and Assistant City Clerk Elizabeth McNiff were present. I. RECONSIDERATION OF FEBRUARY 19, 2025 MEETING REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PRIOR MEETING(S) 1. Regular Minutes of February 3, 2025 NEW APPLICATIONS Please note that the Commission may enter into Executive Session pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, sec. 21(a) (5) (Discussion of CORI results), if required during this portion of the agenda, and will return to regular session upon completion. Solicitor Application Steven Sterner – Trinity Solar, LLC Taxi Driver Permit Ronald Clapper Sr. – City Cab Co. Special One Day Wine & Malt Beverages Jeff McVoy, North Central Massachusetts Fashion Show, Tower lounge of Hammond Building, 160 Pearl Street, Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM, for approximately 100 people. Jeff McVoy, North Central Massachusetts Reception, Main lounge of Hammond Building, 160 Pearl Street, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM, for approximately 200 people. Jeff McVoy, Presidential Inauguration Gala, Senior Citizen, 14 Wallace Avenue, Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 5:30 PM to 12:00 AM, for approximately 280 people. Application for New General On-Premises All Alcoholic Beverages Liquor License Ken O’Connell, The Wine Bar at 759 Main Street, 759 Main Street Change of Manger Application Kevin Gendron, Eastwood Club, Inc., 389 Townsend Street Page 1  The reconsideration of the February 19, 2025 meeting votes were approved by unanimous roll call vote 3/0. II. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PRIOR MEETING(S) 1. Special Minutes of February 28, 2025 2. Regular Minutes of March 3, 2025 The special meeting minutes of February 28, 2025 and the regular minutes of March 3, 2025 were approved by roll call vote 3/0. III. NEW APPLICATIONS Please note that the Commission may enter into Executive Session pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, sec. 21(a) (5) (Discussion of CORI results), if required during this portion of the agenda, and will return to regular session upon completion. Solicitor Application Andres Rodriguez – Trinity Solar, LLC Mr. Rodriguez was not present at the meeting for a second time. Application denied by unanimous roll call vote 3/0. IV. PUBLIC HEARING Application for New General On-Premises Wine & Malt Beverages Liquor License Robert Lamoureux, 299 Lunenburg LLC DBA Hill City, 299 Lunenburg Street Mr. Lamoureux was present at the meeting. His lawyer Ms. Scanton was also present VIA zoom. Commissioner Sarefield confirmed that Mr. Lamoureux is TIPS certified. Mr. Lamoureux explained that the establishment is a mini golf course that will offer a selection of beer and wine to patrons along with basic food items, food trucks, and ice cream. There will be a beer garden area that will be fenced in. Commissioner Sarefield encouraged Mr. Lamoureux to keep an open line of communication with the Board if he had any questions and with the Fitchburg Police Department if any problems should arise. Commissioner Sarefield opened the public hearing at 6:10 PM Mary Jo Bohart of community development and planning spoke in favor of the establishment. The public hearing was closed at 6:13 PM No concerns from Lieutenant Keenan. Application approved by unanimous roll call vote 3/0. Page 2 V. SUMMONS HEARING Mill City Pub & Pizza LLC, 488 John Fitch Highway Ms. Janessa Byington, Mr. Lawrence Lagoy, Mr. Joshua Champagne were present. FPD Officer Dawson Stacy was also present. Officer Stacy, who was the reporting officer, read his report to the Board, which detailed an incident that took place inside Mill City Pub and Pizza on Friday, February 28, 2025 at approximately 1:25 AM. Two victims were sent to the hospital. One of the victims appeared to be intoxicated, according to Officer Stacy. Officer Stacy indicated there was dried blood on the victim and on the floor. Commissioner Sarefield asked Ms. Byington if she agreed with Officer Stacy’s account. She agreed with his account, but added some context about what had happened before the officer arrived. The two victims are regulars, arrived late in the evening, and did not seem to be intoxicated upon arrival. They ordered two beverages, which later would be paid by a friend of the patrons. There were some comments made by other patrons that the victim did not agree with and asked them to stop. They did not, which resulted in the altercation breaking out and a bottle being smashed over the head of one of the victims. Ms. Byington stated that once the altercation started she immediately called the police. She then went in to the back to grab a coworker to wait by the door for the police. Once the other patrons involved in the altercation heard the police sirens, they ran out of the establishment. The victims remained inside. Mr. Champagne was not present during the incident, but after he received a phone call from Ms. Byington he went to the establishment as well. Commissioner Sarefield asked how long the patrons were present before the fight happened, Ms. Byington stated that they were there about an hour. Commissioner Sarefield asked if there was camera footage of the incident. Ms. Byington explained that there was not. Mr. Lagoy stated that since this incident they have installed three cameras. Commissioner Sarefield asked Officer Stacy again if the victim was intoxicated. Officer Stacy stated the patron appeared to be intoxicated and/or under the influence. Commissioner Sarefield asked what had happened to the other patrons involved in the incident. Ms. Byington stated that they left the building and have not been back to the establishment since, and that they were going on the banned list. Commissioner Sarefield shared his concerns about the violence of the incident. Commissioner Sarefield also indicated that based upon what they had heard there might have been a violation. He stated that if the victim, who appeared to the police to be intoxicated, had consumed several alcoholic beverages at the establishment prior to the incident then there would be reason to believe that he had been overserved, which would be a violation of the regulations. Likewise, if the victim arrived from elsewhere and only received one alcoholic beverage while at the establishment then the establishment would have allowed an intoxicated patron to enter, which would be a violation. Ms. Byington insisted that the victim was not intoxicated. Commissioner Sarefield pointed out that Officer Stacy would be able to properly identify an intoxicated person because of his training and experience. Mr. Champagne stated that employees at Mill City Pub & Pizza LLC also have training to determine whether a person is intoxicated. Mr. Champagne asked, since Officer Stacy was wearing a body camera at the time of the incident, that the footage be made available for the Board to review in order to make their determination. Commissioner Fossa indicated that, after what had been discussed, he wished to view the body camera footage. Commissioner Sarefield agreed that the Board could continue the hearing after seeking the footage. Lt. Keenan agreed to request that the footage, which is part of an ongoing investigation, be made available for the Board’s review. Motion to continue the discussion at the April 7, 2025 meeting approved by unanimous roll call vote 3/0. Page 3 VI. CORRESPONDENCE City Clerk Joanna Bilotta shared with the Board email correspondence from Joshua Champagne regarding the new cameras they had installed and some questions they had regarding trespassing patrons at their establishment. VII. NEW BUSINESS Lieutenant Keenan reported on two incidents involving local establishments 1. Partner’s Pub Incident: A worker at Partner’s Pub was struck in the face after denying entry to a patron due to the establishment's closing time. 2. Mill City Pub & Pizza Incident: A significant disturbance occurred inside Mill City Pub & Pizza, involving multiple patrons Motion for a summons hearing for Partner’s Pub and Mill City Pub & Pizza, LLC approved by unanimous roll call vote 3/0. NEXT REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 7, 2025 The meeting adjourned at 7:27 PM Respectfully submitted, Joanna Bilotta, City Clerk Approved: __________________ ___________________ Daniel Sarefield Richard Boscardin Glenn Fossa Page 4