North Adams License Panel Pressing Former Bar Owner on License
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The License Commission is looking for clarity on two issues: who will be running a local package store and the intentions of a former tavern owner.
The commission is requesting that Todd Hebert indicate his intentions regarding his one-year license for the former Crystal Hard Hat. Hebert had stated he was done with barkeeping after a series of violent incidents at the bar and recently reopened it as an antiques shop.
However, he has not turned in his license, which runs to the end of the year and seemed to indicate he may do something with it, said Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson
"The only reason I would be in favor of allowing him, since we do not have a quota on that kind of license ... it doesn't have any value," said Dickinson. "He doesn't have a location and if it were for the good of the public ... I would give him the time he needs to find a place if that's what he chooses to do."
Commissioner Peter Breen disagreed, noting the violent acts that had taken place at the bar and Police Director Michael Cozzaglio's concerns that had been brought before the commission. The escalation of problem customers was what had prompted Hebert to abandon the venture in the first place, he noted.
"He said he was closing and going into a different business .... the director pointed out to him that this was your last day," said Breen. "I think it's our business, I think we should revoke the license for the rest of the year and if he wants to apply for another one, so be it."
Chairman Jeffrey Polucci said it would be a lot harder for the bar to reopen.
"I will remember what that last night was like," he said. However, Hebert would still have to come before the commission if he wanted to reopen at the current location.
Dickinson wondered if the holding the license meant alcohol could be sold at the antique shop.
"It's a different business ... he'd be jeopardizing an awful lot to do that," she said. "I would think someone who's been in business for so long would want to keep his rapport with the city."
Breen asked if the commission could request Hebert come in the next month to explain his intentions regarding the license or to put them in writing.
The commissioners continued a liquor license transfer request for Ed's Variety on Union Street when the new owner of the business could not name a suitable manager.
Will Patel of Westwood, operating as Shivvanish LLC, said his assistant manager would be operating the store; Patel also operates liquor stores in four other locations around Westwood. However, the assistant named was not a U.S. citizen, which is a violation of state law.
"If he's not a citizen we've got issues here," said Polucci. "I've got problems with five businesses around the state. You're going to be the manager on paper but you're not going to be here."
He also noted that one of Patel's stores was cited for selling to underage customers. Patel said the clerk, a new mother, had been distracted because of family matters and made a mistake. If was the first violation in the business's seven years of operation, he said.
Patel said he was not buying the real estate but rather the business and the license. Current owner Richard Sheehan would hold the paper on the business for the six years it would take to pay it off.
"We're pledging the license to him so if we don't pay, he can put a lien on the license and get license and business back," Patel said.
He anticipated working 20 to 30 hours a week at the store until the assistant manager was ready to take over.
The commissioners, however, were not sanguine with the idea that Patel's name was on as the manager when he lived so far away.
"I think we want to meet who's exactly going to be running the place," said Polucci. "No matter how hard you work, you're not going to be able to be here."
The commission continued the matter until the next month to give Patel time to find a suitable manager.
In other business:
The commission will ask the police for details an incident near Key West. Polucci said it had been a fight in the alley and someone had suffered a laceration. The commission and police have been working with the State Street bar on safety issues.
"I'm not sure there's too much we can do about this but it certainly will be in memory," he said. "We are a License Commission. We are not responsible for the safety of the whole city. This seems a little out of our bounds."
Commissioners determined to clarify the extent of any special extended hours after the Mohawk Tavern thought it could stay open later than 2 a.m. the night The Nationale played as Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The extended hours had been for venues that normally closed earlier.
The board also approved two one-day event licenses in July for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a one-day license for outside service for Desperados for the Eagle Street Beach Party on July 15. The adult portion of the beach party runs from 7 to 10.
Tags: alcohol license, license board,
