Saugus selectmen to meet with group over beer and wine licenses

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen agreed to meet with members of Saugus Speaks Out but the actual issue is not as simple as the board believes.The board agreed Tuesday to sit down with the group that is fighting to put the brakes on drug abuse and underage drinking in town, prior to its next meeting. Selectman Peter Rossetti said it was so the board could review the town’s liquor rules and regulations with the group, but co-chairman Ellen Faiella said that was a misunderstanding.In a two-line letter to the board, Faiella clearly states she wants to discuss possible amendments to the rules and regulations.Faiella said Wednesday that Saugus Speaks Out members have all read the rules and regulations and understand them, they just don’t quite agree with them.The meeting was spurred in large part by the issuance of a beer and wine license to the Lincoln Avenue White Hen Pantry.It was the previous Board of Selectmen, which did not include Donald Wong or Stephen Castinetti, that approved the license request for the convenience store. Members of Saugus Speaks Out, along with a number of residents, spoke out against the license but it was after the fact.Faiella said if that many residents feel that strongly about keeping beer and wine out of convenience stores then perhaps the board should make a change to its liquor regulations.The board virtually rewrote the town’s liquor rules and regulations in 2004.”I think it’s wonderful they reviewed them and I’m sure they did spend a lot of time on them, but did they address this issue as it’s coming up now,” Faiella said.Faiella said she believes that not only did the public make its feelings known regarding beer and wine licenses last fall during the White Hen Pantry hearing, but it also had its say a year ago at the ballot box.Residents overwhelmingly voted down a statewide proposition in 2006 that would have allowed beer and wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.”I think the public clearly stated how it feels about this,” Faiella said. “We need to look at how (liquor licenses) are granted and where they are granted. We want to amend the regulations so we can address this.”Saugus Speaks Out will meet with the Selectmen Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. prior to its regular 7:30 p.m. meeting. The meeting is open to the public.