City Council

ABC MEETING MINUTES MARCH 16, 2009 CITY HALL – 5:00 PM A ABC Meeting/Hearing was held by the City Council of the City of Trenton on the above date at 5:23 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, 319 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order by Council President Paul M. Pintella, who announced that adequate public notice had been provided to the public specifying the time and place for this meeting in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act. This ABC Meeting/Hearing was advertised on March 5, 2009. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mr. Coston (via phone), Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 4. ABSENT: Mr. Bethea, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone - 3 ABC HEARINGS: A. MEM Bar: Appearance: Samuel Reale, Jr., Esq., Kearns Reale & Kearns Miguel Rodriguez, Owner, 400 Centre Street Jenny Morales, Interpreter Mr. Reale stated that Mr. Rodriguez was prepared to enter a guilty plea to the following charges: Number 1 - Incomplete employee list Number 4 - Violation of the order from the Director concerning operating hours Mr. Reale stated that this would cause the license to be suspended for eleven (11) days. His client would like to serve his suspension by closing from March 22, 2009 through April 1, 2009 for a total of the eleven days. Motion was made by Councilman Segura, seconded by Councilman Coston to suspend MEM Bar license for eleven (11) consecutive days from March 22, 2009 through April 1, 2009, reopening on April 2, 2009, and that charges 2 & 3 be dismissed. Roll Call: AYE: Mr. Coston (via phone), Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 4. Mr. Reale notified City Council that Mr. Rodriguez would deliver his ABC License to the City Clerk’s Office on Monday, March 23, 2009. Special Counsel, Joseph Alacqua will write-up and submit Resolution to Council for approval. City Council Conference: Minutes March 16, 2009 1 B. R & T Tavern, Inc. Appearance: John F. Vassalo, Jr., Esq. Mr. Joseph Alacqua gave City Council an update on the situation with R & T. Mr. John F. Vassalo stated that he had come to an agreement with Mr. Alacqua and that a resolution would be done for Council’s approval to amend the closing hours. If this is done they will remove the appeal. The owner has been operating on regular hours because of the appeal. Motion was made by Councilman Coston, seconded by Councilman Segura to resend the early closing condition placed on R & T license. Roll Call: AYE: Mr. Coston (via phone), Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 4. Special Counsel, Joseph Alacqua will write-up and submit the amended Resolution to Council for approval. C. Chappala II Appearance: John F. Vassalo, Jr. Esq. Mr. Jesus Merlo, Owner Mr. Joseph Alacqua stated that he had discussed the following two (2) matters with Councilman Melone and he agreed with the resolution. A hearing is scheduled for April 23, 2009 in the Office of Administrative Law for the conditions placed on the license. Mr. Vassalo stated that the following was what they had agreed on: • Removal of the condition placed on the hours of closing • To hire outside security for Thursdays and Sundays, and if needed on Fridays and Saturdays Chappala II will provide it. • One of the entrances will be closed (Morris Avenue) and used as an emergency exit only. Security will be at the entrance on Anderson Street. Council President Pintella stated that the request was to have security provided from Thursdays through Sundays. No action was taken at this time, as Council wants to discuss this matter with Councilman Melone. Special Counsel, Joseph Alacqua will write-up and submit Resolution to Council for approval. City Council Conference: Minutes March 16, 2009 2 D. Calderon Appearance: John F. Vassalo, Jr. Esq. Jenny Morales, Manager Mr. Alacqua stated he had discussed this matter with Councilman Melone and it was agreed that all of the conditions placed on the license remained except for the closing hours. • No Go Go dancers • No Live music or karaoke Mr. Alacqua stated that the condition to close one hour earlier was stayed by the court, so Calderon has been open until 2:00 am. Motion was made by Councilman Segura, seconded by Councilman Coston to accept the recommendations by Mr. Alacqua of no Go Go dancers, no karaoke music, no live music. The city will suspend the closing of one hour early. Mr. Vassalo stated that once Council approved the resolution, Calderon would withdraw the appeal. Roll Call: AYE: Mr. Coston (via phone), Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 4. Special Counsel, Joseph Alacqua will write-up and submit Resolution to Council for approval. E. Sambuca Mr. Alacqua and Mr. Vassalo will discuss this matter further. Council President Pintella announced that the next ABC meeting will be scheduled for April 20, 2009. The meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes March 16, 2009 3