Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners
January 6, 1999
A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, January 6, 1999, at seven forty-five o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. All the members are present except Councilor Hodge; Chairman Barry presides.
The reading of the records of December 18, 1998, is dispensed with and the records are approved as prepared by the Clerk.
CHAIRMAN BARRY ENTERTAINS NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PAWTUCKET BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GREBIEN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Grebien, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the name of Councilor Mary E. Bray is placed in nomination for Vice Chairperson of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners.
Upon motion made by Councilor Grebien, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, nominations for the position of Vice Chairperson of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners are closed.
COUNCILOR MARY E. BRAY IS ELECTED CHAIRPERSON OF THE PAWTUCKET BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
Ayes - Chairperson Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hoyas, Moran, and Wildenhain.
Noes – 0
Claim of Blackstone Valley Electric Company, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) liquor license of Club Mardi Gras Inc. 242 Middle Street, to Boson Associates Inc. d/b/a Zipperz in the amount of $596.62, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Claim of Arcaro, Belilove, & Kolodney, Attorneys at Law, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) liquor license of Club Mardi Gras, Inc., 242 Middle Street, to Boson Associates Inc. d/b/a Zipperz, in the amount of $451.33, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BRAY
With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Bray introduces the following communication:
Claim of Arcaro, Belilove, & Kolodney, Attorneys at Law, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) liquor license of Club Mardi Gras, Inc., 242 Middle Street, to Boson Associates Inc. d/b/a Zipperz, in the amount of $463.06.
Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following communication, is READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Claim of Arcaro, Belilove, & Kolodney, Attorneys at Law, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) liquor license of Club Mardi Gras, Inc., 242 Middle Street, to Boson Associates Inc. d/b/a Zipperz, in the amount of $463.06.
COUNCILOR HODGE ARRIVES AT 7:50 O’CLOCK P.M.
A Public Hearing is held on the following application for license advertised for this time:
CLASS B (VICTUALER)
Boson Associates, Inc. d/b/a Zipperz (Transfer from Club Mardi Gras, Inc.), 242 Middle Street, LIC # 10249
Speaking in favor is Marty Marran, Attorney representing the applicant.
Mr. Marran introduces Robert Thibeault, President and Treasurer of Boson Associates, Inc., who is available to answer any of the questions the Council may have.
Mr. Marran states, for the record, that his client will take the responsibility for all claims objecting to the liquor license, although it was the previous license holders responsibility.
Mr. Marran further states that Mr. Thibeault has held this liquor license in prior years and is requesting that it be transferred back to Mr. Thibeault’s corporation. By doing so it will allow time to restore the building, which was heavily damaged by water during the time the previous owners were running the business.
During the period when Mardi Gras held the license, the water pipes burst and Mr. Thibeault, who owns the building, was not notified until a few days later. By this time, there was much water damage and the lower level of the building has to be completely renovated. Once this is accomplished, Mr. Thibeault will operate the business until a suitable applicant is found.
Mr. Thibeault has spent over $5,000 to date to bring the building back to code.
Councilor Moran states that he hopes Mr. Thibeault will find a good tenant because he feels that this is a good location.
Mr. Thibeault states that there will be light foods served. There will be no live bands planned for this time, however there may be a DJ hired at times.
He further states that the outside of the building will be painted. All the employees will be TIPS Certified.
Councilor Moran suggests that Mr. Thibeault speak to the neighbors surrounding the business to inform them of his plans to reopen.
Speaking in opposition are Edward Dunn and Gilbert Blais, 99 Rhode Island Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Dunn and Mr. Blais are the previous license owners who operated under the name of Club Mardi Gras.
Mr. Dunn states that there is a dispute between the Mardi Gras Corporation and Mr. Thibeault, which will be settled in Superior Court.
He states that they feel Mr. Thibeault was not a responsible landlord, and have asked that the deposit of $25,000, which was the initial investment, be returned. They feel they have been victimized by the landlord and have asked the Council to be vigilant and wary of Mr. Thibeault.
Mr. Dunn states that the State Health Department did not approve the Victualling House portion of the business. There were major problems with opening the kitchen.
Mr. Marran addresses the statements made by Mr. Dunn and Mr. Blais, and states that many of these issues will be addressed in Civil Court or Superior Court.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN
Upon motion made by Coucilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following application for Class B (Victualer) liquor license is GRANTED on a unanimous voice vote, subject to the following CONDITIONS:
CLASS B (VICTUALER)
Boson Associates, Inc. d/b/a Zipperz (Transfer from Club Mardi Gras, Inc.), 242 Middle Street, LIC # 10249
CONDITIONS:
1. Written report with the results of meeting with neighbors in immediate vicinity of Club. Either Mr. Thibeault or Attorney Marran may provide this.
2. Release of all outstanding claims.
3. Approval of the City of Pawtucket Department of Zoning and Code Enforcement, to include electrical, plumbing and code inspections.
4. Approval of Fire Prevention Officer, Pawtucket Fire Department.
5. Approval Rhode Island Department of Health.
6. Receipt of Certificate in Good Standing from the RI Division of Taxation
It is requested that the results of the meeting with the neighbors be provided in time for the next meeting scheduled for January 20, 1999.
Communication from Captain Stephen P. Ormerod to Commander George Kelley, III. (Activity report-Club Cosmopolitan - 18,19, 1998) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Grebien, the meeting is adjourned at eight thirteen o’clock p.m