Peabody council reverses approval on cafe license

PEABODY – City Council members voted in favor of renewing the long-awaited entertainment license for Tanner’s Café, but nearly half way through the meeting, Ward Councilor Michael Zellen changed their minds.Zellen motioned that the issue be put back on the floor after noticing a discrepancy in the original application. Joseph McCarthy, owner of the café, applied for one vocalist, yet two instruments to be allowed each night.Council members joked that unless the performer was extremely talented, the chance that only one person could play two instruments while singing, all at the same time, was unlikely. It was clearly a mistake on McCarthy’s part, but to help avoid problems down the line, Zellen made the motion to make the appropriate changes.Zellen’s motion prompted Ward Councilor Arthur Athas to ask that in addition to changes on the application, the council receive confirmation that the building is in fact up to fire code standards, which has been the cause for delay in renewing his license since the fire department found the building in several violations in 2004.With that said, Councilor At-Large Michael Garabedian suggested that police and fire officials attend hearings on entertainment licenses to provide any needed information on safety code requirements.