License Commission

Lowell License Commission | Meeting Minutes for 2025.05.15 This meeting was held in City Council Chambers, second floor, City Hall, 375 Merrimack St. on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM, and by Zoom invitation. Video of this meeting is available: https://www.youtube.com/live/V9Q47m4f_dY?si=uiLH6539n-fQAmjL ROLL CALL: On a roll call at 18:00, members present were, namely: Commission Chair Howe, Commissioner Krieger, Commissioner Donahue, Commissioner Mercier, and Commissioner Taing. MINUTES: 0 Acceptance of the meeting minutes for May 1, 2025. Commissioner Krieger made a motion to approve the minutes for the meeting of Thursday, May 1, 2025; seconded by Commissioner Taing. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 1 Applications for public amusement licenses for carnival by John Flynn of Fiesta Shows, at South Common, 200 South Street, Thursday, May 22, through Sunday, June 1, 2025. Hours for all dates are 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM. John Flynn spoke to the Commission about the plans for the Carnival and some of the challenges of the location. Captain Peaslee confirmed that Lowell Police would monitor safety at the event. Move approval by Commissioner Donahue; seconded by Commissioner Mercier. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 2 Application by Peter Crewe, for a "Special Events Permit for Amplified Outdoor Public Entertainment," for recorded and live music and performances at the Greater Lowell Pride Festival to be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 11 AM to 5 PM, at Sampas Pavilion, 160 Pawtucket Boulevard. Peter Crewe, Director of City of Lowell CASE (Cultural and Special Events department), appeared before the Commission. Move approval by Commissioner Krieger; seconded by Commissioner Mercier. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 3 Application by Peter Crewe, for a "Special Events Permit for Amplified Outdoor Public Entertainment," for live & recorded music at Lowell's Family Day to be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from Noon to 5:30 PM, at Kerourac Park, 75 Bridge Street. Application was withdrawn by the applicant. 4 Application by Heena Bhatt, for a "Special Events Permit for Amplified Outdoor Public Entertainment," for announcements and live & recorded music to be performed at the Vibha Kite City of Lowell License Commission | 375 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 Page 1 of 5 Lowell License Commission | Meeting Minutes for 2025.05.15 Flying Festival Fundraiser, Sunday June 15, 2025, from 10AM to 6PM at Sampas Pavilion, 160 Pawtucket Boulevard. Ms. Bhatt joined the meeting via Zoom. She spoke about her fundraiser, noting that the event has been held in Lowell for a couple of years and that before that it had been held in Acton. Move approval by Commissioner Donahue; seconded by Commissioner Krieger. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 5 Application by Deborah Motew, for a "Special Events Permit for Amplified Outdoor Public Entertainment," for the 'Lowell Community Charter Public School Annual Block Party,' to be held on Friday June 6, 2025, from 1 to 7 PM at 206 Jackson Street. Ms. Motew appeared before the Commission and reviewed the plan for the annual block party. Move approval by Commissioner Krieger; seconded by Commissioner Taing. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 6 Application by Gregory Curtis for three "Special One Day Licenses to sell/dispense Malt Beverages & Wines" and for three "Amplified Outdoor Public Entertainment" permits for the Greek Festival. Event to be held June 13, 14, and 15, 2025, for the hours listed, on the Hellenic American Academy grounds, 41 Broadway Street. Attorney Greg Curtis appeared before the Commission and reviewed the details of the annual event. Move approval by Commissioner Donahue; seconded by Commissioner Krieger. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 7 Application by Julius Tabe, for a "Special One Day License to sell/dispense Malt Beverages & Wines" for a fundraising concert for Boston Business Elite Club on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 6 PM to 1:30 AM at the Hellenic Center, 41 Broadway Street. Mr. Tabe participated in the meeting through Zoom. He reviewed the specifics and bartender credentials for the board. Move approval by Commissioner Mercier; seconded by Commissioner Taing. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 8 Applications by Robert Dorris for Aramark at Tsongas Center, for two "Special One Day Licenses to sell/dispense Malt Beverages and Wines only," for the following events on UMass Lowell's campus: • Ratification of an application for Thursday, May 15, 2025, 5:00 to 7:00 PM for an Educator Appreciation event for the Department of Advancement, Coburn Hall, 850 Broadway Street. • Ratification of an application for Thursday, May 15, 2025, 5:30 to 8:30 PM for the 50th Alumni Dinner, at the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center at UMass Lowell, 40 University Avenue. City of Lowell License Commission | 375 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 Page 2 of 5 Lowell License Commission | Meeting Minutes for 2025.05.15 Mr. Dorris appeared before the Commission in Council Chambers. He explained to the Commissioners that these last minute events precipitated from the end of the school term and last minute requests by the various departments. Move approval by Commissioner Donahue; seconded by Commissioner Taing. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 9 Applications by Steve Syverson, for two "Special One Day Licenses to sell/dispense Wines only," for the following events at Arts League of Lowell, 307 Market Street: • Saturday, May 17, 2025, 3-5 PM: "Homage" Reception. • Saturday, May 24, 2025, 3-5 PM: "One and One make One" Reception. Mr. Syverson spoke to the Commission about the Arts League’s artist receptions for the month. Move approval by Commissioner Donahue; seconded by Commissioner Mercier. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 10 Application by Cesar Santacruz, for a "Special One Day License to sell/dispense Malt Beverages & Wines" for the Tour Inti Raymi Sun Festival on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 6 PM to 1 AM at the Masonic Center, 79 Dutton Street. Cesar Santacruz, owner, and Edison Lema, general manager, appeared before the Commission on Zoom. They spoke about the importance of the festival to their community and about their experience with holding the event in different cities for several years in other states. Move approval by Commissioner Krieger; seconded by Commissioner Taing. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 11 Application by Mestiza Latin Kitchen Corp., Luisa Lopera, Corporate Officer, for Common Victualler license at 491 Dutton Street. No one appeared before the Commission, so the application could not be considered. 12 Communication from Gregory Hudon, Superintendent of Police, dated May 13, 2025, regarding allegations of misconduct charged against Blue Shamrock Inc. during compliance checks on March 1st and March 29th, 2025; and allegations of misconduct charged against The Middle Street Village Inc. during a compliance check on March 1st, 2025. The Commissioners discussed the memo from the Superintended of Police with the Assistant City Solicitor and Lowell Police Captain David Peaslee. Topics included:  Repercussions for underage persons who violate false alcohol identification laws.  History of alcohol licensing options in the City of Lowell.  Concerns pertaining to minors (under 18 years old) versus adults underage for alcohol consumption (over 18 and under 21 years old) persons. Motion made by Commissioner Donahue to refer the matter to the Law Department to research what changes can be made to the city code of ordinances, to the Lowell License Commission City of Lowell License Commission | 375 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 Page 3 of 5 Lowell License Commission | Meeting Minutes for 2025.05.15 Alcoholic Beverages Regulations, and to the current alcohol licensing options, seconded by Commissioner Mercier. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 13 Continuation of a violation hearing regarding allegations of misconduct charged against Blue Shamrock Inc., 105 Market Street, Nicholas Petrakos, License Manager, all alcoholic beverages restaurant licensee. Allegations of misconduct occurred March 1, 2025, regarding failure to comply with all laws and regulations, including Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) c 138 s34, Age Limits. The complaint was withdrawn by the Lowell Police Department. 14 Violation hearing regarding allegations of misconduct charged against Blue Shamrock Inc., 105 Market Street, Nicholas Petrakos, License Manager, all alcoholic beverages restaurant licensee. Allegations of misconduct occurred March 29, 2025, regarding failure to comply with all laws and regulations, including Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) c 138 s34, Age Limits. The complaint was withdrawn by the Lowell Police Department. 15 Continuation of a violation hearing regarding allegations of misconduct charged against The Middle Street Village Inc., d/b/a The Village Smokehouse, 98 Middle Street, Alan Kaplan, License Manager, all alcoholic beverages restaurant licensee. Allegations of misconduct occurred March 1, 2025, regarding failure to comply with all laws and regulations, including Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) c 138 s34, Age Limits. The complaint was withdrawn by the Lowell Police Department. 16 Violation hearing regarding allegations of misconduct charged against The Middle Street Village Inc., d/b/a The Village Smokehouse, 98 Middle Street, Alan Kaplan, License Manager, all alcoholic beverages restaurant licensee. Allegations of misconduct occurred March 29, 2025, regarding failure to comply with all laws and regulations, including Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) c 138 s34, Age Limits. At the hearing held by the License Commission on May 15, 2025, the following individuals appeared before the licensing board: Alan Kaplan, Liquor License Manager and co-owner for The Middle Street Village, Inc. Tim Kelleher, Co-owner and shift manager for The Middle Street Village, Inc. Attorney Travis Jacobs, legal counsel for The Middle Street Village, Inc. Captain David Peaslee, of the Lowell Police Department. Officer Danny Perrin, of the Lowell Police Department. Assistant City Solicitor Thomas Wood Attorney Jacobs waived reading the complaint into the record. The attorney spoke to the efforts and actions that the business owners have been taking to meet legal requirements and prevent illegalities. He reviewed their recent history, which has passed many Compliance Checks operated City of Lowell License Commission | 375 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 Page 4 of 5 Lowell License Commission | Meeting Minutes for 2025.05.15 by both the Lowell Police Department and the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Mr. Jacobs also spoke about options for penalties for these violations. The License Commission determined that the Licensee was responsible of the stated violations of c138 s34 of M.G.L. and of § 1.06 of Lowell Alcohol Regulations because Lowell Police Department officers witnessed underage persons in possession of alcohol. This assessment was not contested by Attorney Jacobs or The Middle Street Village Inc. LPD also pressed criminal charges, against the underage persons involved, for possession of false alcohol identification (fake IDs). After hearing the witnesses and reviewing the evidence, the Commission voted 5-0 on a roll-call vote to charge the Licensee a fee of $200 per each of the 2 violations. The Commission then voted to permit The Middle Street Village to participate in a Pub Crawl on June 21, 2025. 17 Request for hearing regarding an application by East End Social Club of Lowell, Inc. for a change location of the "All Alcoholic Beverages" Club Licensee to 12 West Fifth Street Unit 102. It is requested that legal notice be published in the local newspaper, and hearing be held on June 12, 2025, at 6 PM. Motion made by Commissioner Taing to hold public hearings at the June 12, 2025, meeting of the Lowell License Commission seconded by Commissioner Mercier. 5 yeas, APPROVED. 18 Informational: City Council Motion Response regarding Hawker Peddler License. [Place on file.] ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Krieger made a motion to adjourn at 18:55, seconded by Commissioner Donahue. 5 yeas, APPROVED. Submitted by: John Pyers Executive Secretary Minutes are prepared mainly per RONR(12th ed.) 48:2. ✻ City of Lowell License Commission | 375 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 Page 5 of 5