Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners
May 6, 2009
A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at 7:17 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – Chairperson Kinch, Councilors Barros, Barry, Hodge, Moran, Tetreault and Vitali
Absent – Councilors Chadwick and Wildenhain.
Chairperson Kinch presides.
The reading of the records of April 22, 2009 is dispensed with and the records are approved as prepared by the Clerk.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP:
PUBLIC HEARING:
CLASS B (Limited) NEW
J & K Restaurant, Inc., d/b/a Rosa’s Kitchen, 757 Main St. LIC#5094
Representing the license holder is George Hovarth, Attorney.
Also present is Rosa Lopes, license holder and Kathy Santos, Ms. Lopes’ daughter.
Attorney Hovarth states that he has just been hired to represent the license holder and requests a two-week continuance to prepare his case.
Speaking in favor is Kathy Santos, 3 Merrick Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Ms. Santos states that the business has been open for 5 years and they are trying to expand their business with a beer and wine license.
She also states that her father has been a chef for 20 years and has never had any problems at this establishment.
Patrons have also expressed an interest in having a glass of wine or beer with their meals.
Rosa’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also caters for private parties. They serve Portuguese, Italian & Cape Verdean food. A full menu is available every day. Hours are 6am-10pm, 7 days a week. Prices are reasonable and they are concerned that they are losing business without having alcohol available for their patrons. They want an opportunity to show that they can run their business with alcohol without any problems. Seating capacity is 34. They won’t have any gang members hanging out.
Speaking in favor is Daniel Tavares, 155 Robinson Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Tavares states that he eats at Rosa’s Kitchen four times a week, and he would like to have a glass of wine with his dinner.
Speaking in favor is Joao Mota, 21 Oregon Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Mota states that that his family goes there every week. He wants the council’s approval so they will be able to have beer and wine. He also states that the place is nice, with no trouble.
Speaking in favor is Daniel Evora, 5 Bailey Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Evora states that he eats there everyday; it’s a nice place; he would like to see beer or wine served.
Speaking in favor is Larry DoCouto, 519 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. DoCouto states that he has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years. He also states that he goes to Rosa’s Kitchen on a daily basis. He enjoys dining there with his family, including his children under 2 years old. He feels secure there. He believes that they deserve a chance to serve alcohol, even if it is temporary. He thinks this is a form of stimulus for them.
Speaking in opposition is Suzanne Mailhot, President of the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association, 15 Nancy Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Ms. Mailhot reads a prepared statement, which is made part of the record.
Speaking in opposition is Michael Marr of Marr Office Equipment, 751 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Marr states that he lives directly next to Rosa’s and he likes Rosa and her family. However, he cannot agree to alcohol. Rosa’s customers mill around his business. He states that he has older customers and they get nervous. Rosa’s customers will park in front of his driveway, making him unable to get in. His hours are 8:30am-5pm.
Speaking in opposition is Chris Caramela, Vice President of the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association, 18 Stuart Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Caramela states that his front door has a view of Rosa’s Kitchen. They are good neighbors but he has concerns about Rosa’s customers congregating on the corner. He notes that the Pawtucket House of Pizza does well without a liquor license. He believes that not a lot of good comes from alcohol. He states that the residents on Stuart Street and White Street have worked hard to improve the neighborhood, adding alcohol is contradictory to the progress made. He is concerned that lifting the moratorium will turn Pawtucket into Central Falls.
Speaking in opposition is Samantha Best, 14 White Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Ms. Best states that she bought her house 3 years ago. She is a small business owner in Pawtucket and understands the desire to grow the business. When she moved in, she had many issues in the neighborhood. Now it is much better. She feels comfortable for the first time. She doesn’t want to have fuel added to the fire. Trash in bank parking lot is a problem.
Speaking in opposition is Ronald Thibaudeau, CEO, Woodlawn Federal Credit Union, 744 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Thibaudeau is not speaking in favor or in opposition to the license. He is here on behalf of the credit union’s board of directors to state for the record that the credit union’s parking lot is for their patrons only. It is going to be fenced in.
Speaking in opposition is James Watkins, 10 White Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Watkins states that he has been living there since 1986. He is a small business owner and he also understands the desire to grow the business. He has a lot of uncertainty about this issue. He is concerned how it would impact the neighborhood.
Speaking in favor is Magany Monteiro, 111 Alabama Avenue, Providence, RI.
Mr. Monteiro states that he is a member of Rosa’s Family and a customer. He eats there almost every day and he would like to have a glass of beer or wine with lunch or dinner.
Businesses need a chance to grow. He states that if parking is a problem, he will take a bus or get a ride to go there. He wants businesses and the community to grow together.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is recessed until May 20, 2009.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARROS.
Upon motion made by Councilor Barros, seconded by Councilors Barry and Hodge, the following license is LAID ON THE TABLE, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS B (Limited) NEW
J & K Restaurant, Inc., d/b/a Rosa’s Kitchen, 757 Main St. LIC#5094
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP:
PUBLIC HEARING:
CLASS B (Limited) NEW
La Arepa LLC d/b/a La Arepa, 574 Smithfield Ave. LIC#5077
Speaking in favor is Jorge Garcia, license holder, 126 Broad Street, Cumberland, RI.
Mr. Garcia states that La Arepa is a Venezuelan Restaurant. He has worked there with his wife for 3 years. The hours are from 11:00 am -9:00 pm. The Restaurant seats 43 patrons. It’s located in a plaza in a commercial area. There have been no problems. There is parking behind the building for 12 cars for plaza patrons. Also, there is on-street parking.
Mr. Garcia states that he and his wife have attended alcohol training.
Speaking in favor is David Lithgoe, 136 Samuel Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Lithgoe states that he lived there for 5 years. He has known Jorge for 3 years. He also states that Jorge is committed to the City. He has a good clientele, quiet and well-dressed. He keeps the sidewalk clean.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following license is LAID ON THE TABLE, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS B (Limited) NEW
La Arepa LLC d/b/a La Arepa, 574 Smithfield Ave. LIC#5077
THE MATTER OF A FORMAL HEARING REGARDING THE FOLLOWING LICENSE, WHICH WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AT THE MEETINGS HELD FEBRUARY 25 AND MARCH 11, 2009, IS AGAIN TAKEN UP AND IS AGAIN LAID ON THE TABLE ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:
CLASS C
Dancinbr Enterprises LLC d/b/a Ray’s Boulevard Tap, 572 Armistice Blvd. LIC#5049
Communication from Attorney Michael F. Horan, to Richard J. Goldstein, City Clerk. (Great Entrepreneurial Endeavors, Inc., d/b/a Gee’s Liquors, 347 Broadway - Canceling the transfer from 400 Broadway to 347 Broadway) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Communication from Bruce C. Ream, President of Sine Cera, LLC d/b/a Northern Lights, 1005 Main Street to Pawtucket City Council. (Canceling the Liquor License) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Hodge introduces the following petition:
Class F (Beer & Wine)
Petition of Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation to sell beer and wine at 210 West Avenue, on Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, LIC#5117
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following petition is APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:
Class F (Beer & Wine)
Petition of Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation to sell beer and wine at 210 West Avenue, on Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, LIC#5117
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Moran, the meeting is adjourned at 8:41 p.m.