Two hearings called for Saugus clubs

SAUGUS – After reviewing the incidents from the last six months, the Board of Selectmen decided it needed two separate show cause hearings for The Oasis Restaurant and Tabu Ultra Lounge & Nightclub.The board sat down with Police Chief Domenic DiMella Thursday to review the list of incidents that led to the call for a show cause hearing.Selectman Peter Rossetti said DiMella helped the board come up with a criteria and issues that should be addressed during the hearings. They then picked an additional date after realizing it would be too much to hold both hearings in one night.Initially the board called hearings for both clubs for Oct. 1 but Rossetti said now The Oasis would be heard on Oct. 1 while Tabu’s hearing would be held the following week on Oct. 7. They also set aside Oct. 14 in case two nights were needed for the hearing.Selectman Michael Kelleher is holding out hope that neither hearing will be held. He asked lawyers for both sides to attempt to hash out a resolution to the violence that has been plaguing the clubs as of late.Selectman Stephen Horlick said he is content that the hearings are finally being held, but he believes if the Oasis hearing had been held in a timelier manner perhaps further incidents could have been avoided.”The Oasis hearing was called for in April and if we’d had it sooner we may not have had these other problems,” he said.The problems included a large brawl at the end of July where customers accused bouncers of getting violent and someone reported gunshots were fired. While police didn’t find any shooting victims, two people were reportedly seriously injured.There was also a fire just last week after hours at the troubled club. That in itself will keep the club closed for a few weeks.Tabu has also seen its share of troubles, including a patron who had been drinking at the club before walking into traffic on Route 1. Earlier this month, there was also a report that a bouncer assaulted a patron.The question Horlick really wants answered is why it takes the town so long to call and hold show cause hearings in the first place.”Why are other communities able to do it so much quicker?” he asked.Each hearing will be held at Town Hall at 7 p.m.