Saugus White Hen granted liquor license

SAUGUS – Saugus Speaks Out member Donna McNeill is still trembling over the news that the Lincoln Avenue White Hen Pantry has won a beer and wine license, but it’s not because she’s excited.In fact, McNeill is livid that the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission disapproval notice sitting on her desk is null and void.”I can’t even tell you how infuriated I am,” she said Wednesday. “It’s dated 3/13. What about the appeals process?”Selectmen in October voted 3-2 to grant White Hen a beer and wine license, with Selectmen Michael Kelleher and then-colleague Janette Fasano in opposition. But later that month the ABCC disapproved the license based on a disclosure issue.At the time, Selectman Peter Rossetti said the license was denied because the Pantry was not forthcoming with information.The fact that it was denied also boded well for the board, which was hit with a backlash from liquor store owners as well as residents, who were upset that Selectmen had issued the permit in the first place.Rossetti said Wednesday White Hen officials appealed the ruling and it appears the ABCC changed its mind.”And because we approved it already, it didn’t have to come back before us,” he said. “The question is now if they want it and, if they do, it’ll cost them $2,000.”Rossetti said there are also other expenses due to conditions the board placed on the license when it initially approved it. The store will have to put in separate coolers with locks and purchase an identification reader for the purposes of catching fake IDs.Ellen Faiella, also of Saugus Speaks Out, a group aimed at quelling underage drinking and drug use, was also angered by the news.”It’s insult to injury,” she said. “Could we have done anything to stop it? Maybe not, but we could have tried.”Faiella took issue with the board regarding the initial hearing because she didn’t learn about it until after the fact, which denied her a chance to speak on the issue. She was relieved, however, when the ABCC decided against the permit. Now she said she feels as if she was denied that chance to speak a second time.”I thought they would have to go through the whole process again but I guess not,” she said.Faiella said the report she has regarding the state’s initial denial of the license contains three ruling options and the one checked off reads “disapproval.””It doesn’t say approval pending corrective action,” she said. “This is very sad for the town.”McNeill agreed.”I’m very disappointed at the direction our town is taking. There is a national movement to stop underage drinking,” she said. “I just think this sends the wrong message by making it more convenient.”Rossetti said he doesn’t believe the ruling will cause an onslaught of new applications as some fear.”There are very strict conditions people have to meet including parking and being located near churches, and if they don’t meet those we’ll deny it,” he said. “Just like we denied the one for Cliftondale Square.”