North Adams Council Votes to Move Ahead on Liquor Petition

The City Council voted to give a home-rule petition request two weeks more before voting on it.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday night voted to move swiftly to deal with a home-rule petition for a liquor license.

An initial motion by Councilor Keith Bona to continue the the matter to November failed; a second motion by Councilor Jennifer Breen to bring it back in two weeks passed unanimously.

Councilor Wayne Wilkinson, however, advocated acting immediately.

"They're using the City Council as a fallback position in case their deal falls through," said Councilor Wayne Wilkinson. "Everyone knows how they're going to vote at this point ... We should vote and get rid of it."

V&V, Steeple City Spirits, has been seeking legislative approval to obtain a a full liquor license in excess of the city's quota. There have been several meetings on the petition, including two well-attended hearings by the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Bona.

The committee voted 2-1 to recommend to the full council to submit the petition to the Legislature.

In the meantime, the beer and wine retailer entered into a purchase-and-sales agreement with River Street Package Store to acquire its liquor business and license. Should the deal be completed, the home-rule petition would be rendered moot.

Bona agreed that the home-rule petition was a fallback at this point.

"Chances are if this sale goes trough with no problems, it will be filed. ... There's truth but it's part of our job," he said. "We are the fallback. If it falls through they will go for the home-rule petition."

The applicant had asked for the continuance until November, Bona said, and the council had done similar continuances for others when asked.

Breen agreed. "I think we should respect that... we postpone our own things ad nauseum."

She also pointed out that no one was there to represent V&V, since they had expected the continuance.

"They deserve the courtesy of the council," she said, adding that business was doing exactly what it had been encouraged to do — buy an existing business.

Mayor Richard Alcombright said he had spoken with V&V's attorney and "he has every confidence this will close." But, he said, "if I thought there was any risk I would have told them to be here."

Wilkinson and Whitney speculated how the drawn-out process was affecting the value of the city's four liquor licenses. Breen objected that the council shouldn't be concerned with that.

"I think it's a public safety issue and that's all we should be discussing," she said.

Councilor Wayne Wilkinson felt the council was being used as a backup plan.

Wilkinson argued that the council had already spent an "exorbitant amount of time" on the issue and should move ahead rather than waiting two months.

Councilor Joshua Moran agreed.

"Whether it's now or three months from now, I don't think our opinions are going to change," he said. "We say we don't want to stifle business but that's what we're doing by drawing it out."

Bona countered that he hadn't even presented his public safety report yet and that V&V should be able to respond to the council. It's a process that could have to start over again if the deal falls through, he said. "I think it's easier to continue it."

Breen asked Bona if he would consider amending his motion to continue the issue for two weeks as a compromise. Bona declined, saying if his motion failed another could be made.

His motion failed on a 4-4 vote. Breen motioned to come back in two weeks, and to notify V&V, which passed.

In other business, the council:

Passed to a second reading and to publish an ordinance amendment recognizing the speed limit in Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park at 15 mph.

Gave final approval to a change in rates for cemetery lots and perpetual care fees.

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