Saugus cops, pols anxious over various bars’ security

SAUGUS-Selectmen met with Police Chief James MacKay Thursday to discuss concerns about some area liquor establishments, but it didn’t include the usual suspects.Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub was not on the menu for discussion, but Oasis, Jin and the Melrose Fish and Game Club were.MacKay said chief among his concerns is the fact that Jin, former home of Weylu’s, has a security force 16 officers strong and all of them are armed.”That’s a recipe for something bad to happen,” he said.Selectman Stephen Castinetti, who chaired the meeting while board Chairman and liquor license holder Donald Wong sat on the sidelines, asked if the board had any authority to restrict the security guards.”I don’t know if you can restrict them, but you could certainly have a discussion. I don’t know how well they are trained,” MacKay said, adding the security company at Jin said their personnel were not trained.There had been concern in the past that Jin was holding large, overcrowded private functions, including Brazilian Nights that made MacKay and Selectmen nervous.MacKay said it was thought the restaurant was violating its liquor license by serving patrons after hours, but after a few surprise inspections police learned the club was empty on time. The concern, he said, was patrons were essentially partying in the parking lot. MacKay said Building Inspector Frederick Varone also noted in one of his inspection reports that a number of Hell’s Angels members were seen leaving the restaurant.But new manager Henry Wong came before the board last month and promised that the raucous private parties were a thing of the past and the restaurant was going back to focusing on weddings and functions.Selectmen voted to send Henry Wong a formal letter reminding him of their conversation, and inquiring about the need for an armed security guard if there were no longer large scale parties going on.The owners of Oasis, just down the hill from Jin, will also receive a formal letter reminding the new restaurateurs of the town’s liquor rules and regulations. The restaurant owners were caught twice serving patrons after hours. MacKay said he was particularly concerned because he wanted the new business to start off on the right foot.MacKay said the owners admitted they had a problem getting their patrons to leave, but he thought a letter from the board would go a long way toward getting them on the right track.Difficult to reach and rarely heard from, the Melrose Fish and Game Club off Cheever Avenue has also landed on MacKay’s radar, largely due to a massive party on Nov. 22 that left one man bleeding in the parking lot after he was hit in the head with a beer bottle.While the club has a capacity of only 150, MacKay said when officers responded to a call for help there were 250-300 partygoers inside and more drinking in the parking lot.MacKay said police shut off one gentleman at the bar in front of the bartender only to see another bartender serve him minutes later.Selectman Michael Kelleher said he actually viewed the club’s indiscretions as more serious than Jin’s or Oasis’ and suggested the manager be brought in for a talk.Colleague Peter Rossetti agreed, but said since the club is only open when a function is booked it’s hard to serve any notice.However, the board voted to bring in the manager for the Jan. 8 meeting to discuss the incident, the overcrowding and serving intoxicated patrons.