North Adams License Panel Targets Intoxication, Violence at Local Bars
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The License Commission is hoping to be proactive in addressing incidents of intoxication and violence at local establishments, dangling the idea of pulling back closing times.
The commission at its next meeting will consider sending a letter to taverns "talking about late-night service and how that is seeming to become a safety issue," said Chairman Jeffrey Polucci.
"Our hot buttons as a commission in this city is underage service and overservice to intoxicated persons," he said.
Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson also asked police to provide the commission with more timely reports on incidents that result in charges.
"If they come to us right after it happens, we might want to call you in and work with you," she said. "We're not hereto close you down, we're not here to put you out of business, we're here to help you."
Those considerations are coming after what commissioners feel has been an "escalation" in incidents over the past six months or so. Last month, they took the Crystal Hard Hat to task and on Tuesday had the owners of Key West and the Pitcher's Mound before them for fights and overintoxication at their establishments.
"This isn't a citywide crackdown ... but we're also very aware of the [police] director's concern for the public safety and how it relates to us, which is alcohol service," Polucci said.
"We're not here to punish anybody, we're here to talk to you and figure out what we have to do to make this alcohol service in town responsible, certainly legal."
Police Director Michael Cozzaglio said both establishments have been very cooperative and have contacted police when there have been disturbances. Still, he said, there have been a number of problems at both places.
There have been at least 11 calls to the Pitcher's Mound — nine for overintoxication and two for fights — and more than a dozen at Key West.
Most troubling for the Pitcher's Mound, on Ashland Street, was an incident in October in which an individual left the establishment and drove his vehicle in the wall of the laundrymat across the street and the report in late February of an underage intoxicated girl.
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Cozzaglio said the girl had apparently imbibed a half-bottle of tequila prior to entering the Mound and it was unclear if she and her companion, also underage, were actually served. The police director said the doorman had been "upfront" and cooperative in explaining that he had been dealing with a disturbance in the parking lot.
"We don't know if she was served ... but she did get inside and that's a concern," he said.
In the case of the drunken driver, the individual had been at the Mound, left and came back. He caused some $50,000 in damage, Cozzaglio said, and had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the limit.
"It seems to be a lot of it could be controlled from less serving of alcohol," said Commissioner Peter Breen. "We're talking blood and property and people getting hurt."
At Key West, there had been a number of calls for "unwanted guests" and fights, including in the parking lot across the street. A stabbing outside the bar on March 5 prompted the appearance before the commission.
Since the stabbing, there was a fight between two people who claimed to have been at Key West and a crowd of 20 on the sidewalk outside that three officers had to be called deal with.
"What I'm seeing is late-night calls of overservice," Polucci said, adding that "sweeping them out on the sidewalk" doesn't solve the issue. "The neighbors don't deserve that, the city doesn't deserve that."
Polucci commended owners Michael and Laurie Bloom for having no underage-serving violations but said the other incidents at Key West "overshadow what you're trying to do."
Michael Bloom, who's owned the business for 30 years, said he has numerous cameras inside and out, has two to three people at the door, has TIPS-trained his staff and follows up on any incidents.
"I take it very, very seriously," he said. "Ninety-nine percent [of patrons] I know on a first-name business. It's a local bar ... it's the bad apples."
Pitcher's Mound owner Jack Rivard said he also works with police and keeps at least one or two people at the door to prevent underage drinkers from getting in.
Rivard was encouraged to add more cameras and both owners were urged to make sure patrons knew the cameras were there as a deterrent. Cozzaglio said the greatest deterrent would be the presence of the owners or someone invested in the business rather than just employees.
"Unfortunately, you're not there and no one takes care of the business like the owner," he said. "At the end of the day, the person who watches the place best is the person with the name on the license."
Similar suggestions were made to the Crystal Hard Hat last month; Cozzaglio and Sgt. Toby Randall reported no serious incidents since then.
"I think the control on the outside is very important ... I think it's important at the onset to stop them at the door," the police director said. "If your bouncer is away, there should always someone manning the door. ...
"We always encourage you calling us, we won't frown on you ... You think you can handle it and then it goes awry and you've got a problem."
The commission voted to have the status of both establishments reviewed in 30 days.
Dickinson suggested that if the incidents continue, it may behoove the commission to reduce everyone's hours.
"Maybe if we continue to have this much violent activity, maybe we consider doing it across the board," she said.
Tags: alcohol license, alcohol violation, assaults, bars, taverns, license board,
