Tabu liquor license transfer shakes, stirs Saugus selectmen meeting

SAUGUS-A vote taken on a liquor license transfer for Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub has caused a little confusion and some irritation for a few selectmen.When selectmen voted last month to transfer a liquor license for the club from owner Frank Amato to a new owner it came down to a 2-1 vote. Chairman Donald Wong sat out the vote because he is a liquor license holder. Stephen Horlick voted against the transfer while Peter Rossetti and Michael Kelleher voted for it and Stephen Castinetti didn’t vote at all because he thought as chairman he didn’t have to.Horlick has since argued that according to the town’s liquor regulations the vote is invalid because it needed three in favor to pass.Rossetti said a three to approve is only needed for granting a new license.Tuesday Horlick raised the issue again asking one more time if the vote needed to be taken again. When he was informed the vote had already been filed with the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, he made a motion to seek an opinion from Town Counsel John Vasapolli.The motion, however, went unanswered.Rossetti once again said the vote was fine and Horlick said he respectfully disagreed. He then told selectmen, with his motion still hanging in the air, to forget his request.”Never mind, I’ll withdraw my motion and send it over myself,” he said. “That’s fine, I’ll just do it myself.”Vasapolli said Thursday that his interpretation of the regulations is that Rossetti is correct.”They’re not granting a new license,” he said, “and (the rules) don’t say anything about transfers.”Vasapolli said it is the petitioners that take the risk by sending the application into the ABCC with the 2-1 vote.”If the ABCC denies it,” he added, “they will just have to go back before the board for another vote.”Earlier in the same meeting, the ever-cagey board managed to have an entire discussion regarding a former Board of Health member without ever mentioning a name.When Town Manager Andrew Bisignani asked the board to approve two appointments to the Board of Health, Selectman Stephen Horlick declined to take part.Bisignani sought approval to appoint Stephen Rappa and newcomer Frank Woods to the board. Horlick wondered why Bisignani wasn’t re-appointing a certain board member who has served on the board for 20 years.Bisignani said his picks for the board, were both highly qualified and he thought Woods, who heads up the science department at the high school would be a welcome addition.”The individual you’re referring to served very well,” Bisignani said, “but sometimes it’s time to make a change. I feel Mr. Woods will be a good change.”Horlick was quick to say he felt no animosity toward Woods and agreed he was qualified to serve but he wouldn’t vote to approve him.”I believe the other individual should be re-appointed,” he said. “It’s no reflection on Frank Woods . . . but I feel the other person served the town for 20 years and should have been reappointed.”After the brief debate board Chairman Donald Wong suggested the board send a letter thanking “the board member who served 20-years,” which for those who haven’t figured it out yet would be Louise Bucchiere.The board also took a first glance at their budget.”Wendy did a great job balancing this,” Wong said with a laugh referring to the board’s clerk Wendy Reed.Wong said his only concern is that when the Charter Commission finishes its report the selectmen are charged with getting the report distributed. Wong wondered if they should ask the commission for a cost estimate but Rossetti said it was a little early for that.”The final report won’t be done until 2009,” he said.Rossetti did note that postage alone would cost $7,000 not to mention paper, printing the report and stuffing envelopes.Horlick said the board shouldn’t have a problem footing the cost since it gave up its salaries last year.”We should have the money,” he said, “there should be a savings in our budget.”Rossetti was quick to point out that when the board gave up their salaries