Saugus selectmen table heated liquor license issue

SAUGUS – The fact that a hearing on an application for a beer and wine license for the Saugus Town Food Mart was continued had little effect on the debate that raged during Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.The convenience store located at 480 Lincoln Ave. was on deck Tuesday for a public hearing until attorney Eric Jarosz asked that the issue be continued. The store is seeking a license to sell beer and wine. The board voted to grant a similar license to the Lincoln Avenue White Hen Pantry last month that was later denied by the state.The vote came with a wave of public opposition that was felt clearly during Tuesday’s discussion. Although the hearing was continued, it is the custom of the board to hear from residents who attend if they wish to speak, which they readily did.Mary Celani, who owns a liquor store roughly 100 steps from Food Mart, objected strenuously.”It’s a convenience store,” she said. “How many kids do you see hanging around convenience stores?”Celani said putting beer and wine in liquor stores is asking for trouble because of the easy access minors would have. Donna McNeil from Saugus Speaks Out agreed.”All you’re doing is telling children that it should be more convenient to buy beer and wine,” she said. “Last year we voted 2-1 not to put it in grocery stores. Why would you think we’d want it in convenience stores?”Apple Lane resident John Truesdale told the board it needed to wake up.He also pointed out that the town overwhelmingly voted against Question 1 last year that would have allowed wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.”Because it wasn’t right,” he said. “You have to knock this off, this is wrong.”Truesdale said there were already too many accidents and deaths due to drunken driving and making beer and wine available in convenience stores only increased the risk for more.Town Meeting member Robert Long stepped up to oppose the license as well, but spoke longer on the fact the board was even allowing residents to speak on the issue.”I think it’s somewhat unfair,” he said. “It’s becoming a one-sided argument.”Long said since Food Mart’s owner was not on hand to defend himself, the hearing should be dropped, reposted and started from scratch during a future meeting.