Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners
August 11, 1999
A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, August 11, 1999, at seven fifty o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Present - Chairman Barry; Councilors Bray, Carr, Clemente, Grebien, Hodge, Moran and Wildenhain.
Absent - Councilor Hoyas.
Chairman Barry presides.
The reading of the records of July 21, 1999, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
A public hearing is held on the following application for license advertised for this time:
CLASS A
Stateline Wine & Spirits, Inc., (transfer 100% of stock holders) 880 Central Avenue, LIC#10261
Speaking in favor is Michael F. Horan, 393 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Attorney, representing Stateline Wine & Spirits.
Mr. Horan states that this is strictly a change of stockholders and an interfamily exchange of stock. Nothing else will be changed in the operation of the business.
There are no other speakers.
The hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following application for license transfer is GRANTED, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS A
Stateline Wine & Spirits, Inc., (transfer 100% of stock holders) 880 Central Avenue, LIC#10261
Communication from Todd Olbrych, Building Official, to Frank Milos, Jr., Assistant City Solicitor, (Lafayette Social Club - 71-73 Benefit Street.) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.
With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Moran introduces the following communications:
Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Assistant City Solicitor, to Ronald F. Travers, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, RE: Lafayette Social Club Intensification of a Legal Non-Conforming Use.
Memo from Ronald F. Travers, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, to Janice M. LaPorte, City Clerk, regarding Lafayette Club.
Petition of neighbors opposing a change of Liquor License from Class D to Class BV for the Lafayette Social Club - 71-73 Benefit Street.
COUNCILOR HOYAS ARRIVES AT EIGHT FIFTEEN O’CLOCK P.M.
Upon motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Hodge, the following communications are READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Assistant City Solicitor, to Ronald F. Travers, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, RE: Lafayette Social Club Intensification of a Legal Non-Conforming Use.
Memo from Ronald F. Travers, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, to Janice M. LaPorte, City Clerk, regarding Lafayette Club.
Petition of neighbors opposing a change of Liquor License from Class D to Class BV for the Lafayette Social Club - 71-73 Benefit Street.
A public hearing is held on the following application for license advertised for this time:
CLASS B (VICTUALER)
Lafayette Social Club Inc., 71-73 Benefit Street (REQUEST TO CHANGE CLASS OF LIQUOR LICENSE FROM CLASS D (Club) TO CLASS B (Victualer) LIC#10260.
Speaking in favor is Michael F. Horan, 393 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Attorney, representing Lafayette Social Club Inc., 71-73 Benefit Street.
Mr. Horan states that this is a request to change the Class D Club license to a Class B Victualer, full liquor license.
Mr. Horan states that the Club has been there for approximately fifty years, and there are no plans for expansion. The reason for this request is for liability issues. Under a non-business Club license the officers are liable for any lawsuits that may occur. By changing the operation to a Class B type of license, the corporation is liable, rather than the officers, should an incident occur.
Representing the Lafayette Social Club is President Peter Culpo, 153 Albert Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island. Mr. Culpo states that there will be no change in the operation of the business. He states that the neighbors have been notified of the change, and that those that he spoke to have no objection to this request. He states that there will be no entertainment and requests the Council’s approval.
Councilor Moran brings up zoning concerns and raises the question as to whether this will be going before the Zoning Board. Councilor Moran also questions whether there have been any police problems.
Mr. Culpo states that there could have been no more than ten calls made during the ten years that he has been President.
Speaking in opposition is Markas Markasian, 76 John Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Mr. Markasian states that he has lived at this location for more than fifty years, and submits a petition signed by the neighbors in the immediate vicinity of this Club opposing a change in this license.
Mr. Markasian states that there are numerous police calls made to this establishment, not ten as was stated by Mr. Culpo. He also states that the club generates excessive noise caused by its patrons, their cars and /or motorcycles, sometimes in the early morning hours disturbing sleep.
Mr. Makasian states that he runs a liquor business in East Greenwich, and is very familiar with the liquor laws. He requests that this business remain as it is, as a Club.
Speaking in opposition is Dennis Picard, 78 Wakefield Street.
Mr. Picard states that he owns an abutting six-unit apartment building and is concerned. He questions what would happen if the current president changes and someone else takes over the business who doesn’t have the same concerns for the neighbors as Mr. Culpo has.
He received complaints from his tenants regarding noise from the club. He states that he has heard bad language from the customers and that the children who live in his apartment building play in the area directly behind the club. He does not think that a change in this type of business will bring peace to the community, and he is requesting that this request be denied.
Attorney Horan responds to the nightclub issue regarding entertainment and states that his client has no objection to placing a stipulation where entertainment would be prohibited. He also defends the statement made by Mr. Markarian regarding the number of police calls made to the club. He states the main reason for this request is the limited liability issue.
There are no other speakers.
The hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Hodge the following application for license is LAID ON THE TABLE pending a decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS B (VICTUALER)
Lafayette Social Club Inc., 71-73 Benefit Street (REQUEST TO CHANGE CLASS OF LIQUOR LICENSE FROM CLASS D (Club) TO CLASS B (Victualer) LIC#10260.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Grebien, is passed on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Police Chief George L. Kelley, III, requesting a copy of the log of police calls made to the Lafayette Social Club, Inc. 71-73 Benefit Street, during the past year.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAY.
With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Bray introduces the following communications:
Claim of Arcaro, Belilove and Kolodney, Attorneys at Law, objecting to the transfer of Class BV liquor license of Aline Oddi, d/b/a Heritage Tap, 264 - 266 Grand Avenue & 147 Suffolk Avenue to The New Heritage Tap, LLC d/b/a Heritage Tap, in the total amount of $74.25.
Communication from John T. Gannon, Attorney at Law to Ms. Janice LaPorte, City Clerk (Withdrawing application for transfer of the New Heritage Tap LLC.)
Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Grebien, the following communications are READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Claim of Arcaro, Belilove and Kolodney, Attorneys at Law, objecting to the transfer of Class BV liquor license of Aline Oddi, d/b/a Heritage Tap, 264 - 266 Grand Avenue & 147 Suffolk Avenue to The New Heritage Tap LLC d/b/a Heritage Tap, in the total amount of $74.25.
Communication from John T. Gannon, Attorney at Law, to Ms. Janice LaPorte, City Clerk (Withdrawing application for transfer of the New Heritage Tap, LLC.)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAY.
Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Grebien, the following application for license is WITHDRAWN WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
CLASS B (VICTUALER)
The New Heritage Tap LLC d/b/a Heritage Tap (transfer from Aline Oddi d/b/a Heritage Tap) 264-266 Grand Avenue & 147 Suffolk Avenue LIC#10262
Communication from Captain Stephen P. Ormerod to Chief George Kelley, III, (selling alcohol without a license, DePina’s Restaurant) July 22, 1999 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following licenses are GRANTED on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS F (Beer and Wine) -
Petition of Cape Verdean American Community Development for license to sell beer and wine at a Cook Out - Cape Verdean Night, (liquor - indoors only) at 120 High Street, on Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5, 1999, from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight, LIC#46
CLASS F -1 (Full Privilege) -
Petition of St. Raphael Academy for license to sell alcoholic beverages at a 42nd Class Reunion, at 123 Walcott Street, in the School Gym, on Saturday, September 18, 1999, from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m., LIC#47
Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Hodge, the meeting adjourned at eight twenty-five o’clock p.m.