License pulled from Lynn pub

LYNN – Raffi’s Place was slapped with a 10-day suspension by the Lynn Licensing Board Tuesday for an overcrowding violation that occurred on March 31.The Summer Street pub will begin serving the suspension on May 3.Three other violations for operating without a proper occupancy permit on Feb. 1, 8, and 9 were dismissed by the board because the pub did not have a liquor license in place at the time.While the board does not have jurisdiction over the violations, the Lynn police department and the Lynn building department will further investigate the issues.After a fire gutted the building last June, a 60-day temporary occupancy permit of 115 people was issued on Feb. 16 while construction continued at the premise.After the permit expired on April 19, another 30-day temporary permit was issued last week because work at the building remains unfinished, including various non-compliance issues.In reference to the overcrowding issue in March, board commissioner Richard Coppinger said the owner, Rafael Guzman was well aware of the temporary occupancy limit that the pub violated.”Bottom line, at the meeting last month, you (Guzman) were in agreement that the number would be 115 and you went over that because the police (special investigations unit) counted around 150 people,” he said.Guzman however said there were 123 people in the club, including roughly 13 employees.”I’ve always done what I am told to do,” he said. “I fired the doorman in charge that night.”Attorney Sam Vitali, who is representing Guzman, said the pub is well aware that the number was over the allotted amount that particular evening.”But we’re talking about someone getting disciplined with a temporary permit of 115, but when it’s all said and done, the prior occupancy amount was over 200 before the fire,” he said.Chief Building Inspector for the Inspectional Services Department Roger Ennis warned that lofty penalties could be issued for overcrowding by the building and fire departments in the wake of the deadly Rhode Island nightclub fire.Ennis said the building department could issue a $5,000 fine or imprisonment for not more than 21/2 years or both, while the fire department could cite a business owner with a $10,000 fine for the first offense of overcrowding.”These are very strict and serious issues,” he said.Aside from Raffi’s Place, the board received last-minute notice that Richard Conigliaro would not appear before the board to discuss his plan to create a sports-themed restaurant and function hall at 31 Stetson St., in memory of his brother, Red Sox legend Tony Conigliaro.A stalemate with the process has since ensued over the actual plans and finances.Conigliaro’s attorney John Mihos submitted a letter of request for a continuance, which Coppinger said was clearly not within the board’s rules.”I’m not happy about this, and the attorney (Mihos) is well aware of our rules and regulations,” he said. “The license holder had sufficient notice and this meeting was well-publicized, but we’ll give him a chance.”Coppinger called for a notice to revoke the liquor license and for the matter to be tabled until the next meeting in May.