Saugus club Oasis remains stuck in limbo

SAUGUS – The show-cause hearing for Oasis Restaurant was put on hold Wednesday largely because the business is still closed as a result of a fire in August.But before the board voted to continue the hearing, police personnel and restaurant management gave their descriptions of the incidents that forced the hearing in the first place.Police Chief Domenic DiMella said there were 21 incidents where police responded between Jan. 1, 2008 and July 31, the time the board asked him to look into. The incidents included seven disturbances; one incident of gunshots fired, two large-scale fights, an officer needs assistance call, two suspicious activity calls and one burglar alarm.In one incident DiMella said police reports show that management and staff were uncooperative and he felt that the manager Saher Abdel-Hardi was less than forthright in his promises to change things.DiMella said there was also an incident where Abdel-Hardi fired an employee in front of officers because the employee had called the police for help with an incident in the parking lot. That was just before the manager admitted to having a few drinks while on the job, which is in violation of state and local liquor regulations.Along with smaller incidents, such as failing to post cover charge prices, DiMella said Abdel-Hardi became belligerent on at least one occasion pushing a police officer.Abdel-Hardi said there were extenuating circumstances surrounding the firing of his employee, he was never violent with an officer and never used profanity.He essentially said he thought the police department’s recollection of events was skewed. He did admit to drinking on the job and apologized for any other miscommunications that might have taken place.DiMella said he would recommend the restaurant install security cameras inside and outside the building, increase lighting in the parking lot, increase the number of security personnel between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. and make sure security personnel are clearly marked.”Until they change their way of doing business and incorporate a comprehensive security plan that includes cameras inside and outside the building I feel they will continue to have episodes of violence inside and outside the club,” DiMella said.Selectman Stephen Castinetti warned Abdel-Hardi that he needed to clean up his restaurant or risk being put out of business.”This is Saugus and we don’t have shootings in clubs and we don’t have fights in parking lots,” he said. “If there is anything you take away from this meeting tonight, it’s that. If you don’t take that away then we’ll be taking something away and you don’t want that.”Since the restaurant lost its certificate of occupancy when it was closed due to the fire in August the board continued the hearing until the restaurant was ready to be reopened. At that time Abdel-Hardi must appear before the board to hear its ruling on the incidents prior to Oasis receiving its occupancy certificate. In the meantime Abdel-Hardi must also put together a comprehensive security plan.Lt. Leonard Campanello, who responded to a number of the incidents, said what he found most disturbing wasn’t the gunshots fired or that police were outnumbered by angry patrons on more than one occasion, but the lack of cooperation by a license holder.