Williamstown Orders Training for Restaurants That Served Minors
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| Police Chief Kyle Johnson answers questions about compliance checks; DPW Director Timothy Kaiser is at right. |
"I hate to be the heavy but I just think unless we're very serious about this, to get compliance, that people know it's not going to be tolerated," said Selectmen Chairwoman Jane Allen.
The Selectmen, acting as the Alcohol Licensing Commission, voted Monday night to require the training for the 6 House Pub, Thai Garden and Red Herring after they were caught selling alcohol to minors during compliance checks last month.
The checks were done in cooperation by the Police Department in cooperation with Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, said Police Chief Kyle Johnson.
Two young women, ages 17 and 20, entered the three establishments together and were served drinks at each restaurant's bar between 7:35 and 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Allen said that according to Johnson's report, two bartenders said they usually check identifications but didn't in these instances and that the third said the girls "looked older."
"I think everybody is working very hard to curb underage drinking and I think one of the conclusions from the Community Coalition is it needs to be the adults in the community that take this seriously," she said. "Because adults are permitting this to happen."
The former elementary school principal has been outspoken in her concerns about underage drinking, quizzing new licenseholders on their understanding and responsbility of the state's and town's alcohol regulations.
 Photos by Tammy Daniels
The Williamstown Selectmen celebrate Town Manager Peter Fohlin's 61st birthday after last night's meeting. |
TIPS is a program that informs alcohol providers on laws and regulations and how to prevent intoxication and underage drinking.
Johnson said the compliance check wasn't a secret: it had been reported in local media and the restaurants know the drinking age is 21.
"There were no surprises here," he said. "They gave excuses but, in my mind, [there are] no excuses — it's laziness. It takes 20 seconds to card somebody."
The board spent nearly an hour debating how to treat the violators. Because there had been no local compliance checks last year, and this was the first check in 2009, it was decided to order the TIPS training. Both Thai Garden and 6 House had violations in 2006; Red Herring in 2007.
Selectman David Rempell wanted the servers to know that any further infractions could cause their licenses to be suspended; board members agreed and warned it would be tougher on any scofflaws in the future. Johnson said a second round of compliance checks would be done later in the year.
The licenseholders, offending servers and any servers in the establishments not up to date on their Training for Intervention Procedures, or TIPS, will have to take the training by June 1.
Allen and Johson did want to make note of the 19 other establishments that had passed the check, and signed letters to each recognizing that fact.
"I give a shout out to those 19," said Allen, who was seconded by Johnson, who added, "it's not a 100 percent but we're getting there."
The board also heard an explanation of the meter fee on town water bills after a homeowner complained of the charge.
Public Works Director Timothy Kaiser said the fee related to system maintenance, meter size and water demand. Kaiser said the $18 quarterly fee was typical of a single-family home; other buildings with far more need for water on demand, such as those with sprinkler systems, pay much more. He explained the fee in great detail for broadcast on WilliNet and said he would be happy to discuss it further to anyone who wishes to contact him. A report on the town's rates is also available for review at Town Hall.
In other business, the board:
- Approved one-day wine and malt beverage license for Mezze on Feb. 27 to cater a Berkshire Creative Spark networking event at the '62 Center at Williams College.
- Approved common victualer's license for O'Connell's Convenience Plus on Main Street.
- Approved the Pro-Am bicycle road race's route through Williamstown on Saturday, May 2. The annual race begins at Jiminy Peak.
- Accepted the resignation of Library Trustee Karen Lartin, who is moving to Colorado, and placed the final year of her three-year term for election on the town warrant. A temporary replacement will be named to serve until the May election.
- Designated Selectmen Ronald Turbin and Richard Steege to serve on a subcommittee to negotiate a price with the state for the so-called Blair lot. Any sale will be decided at town meeting.
