Tabu hearing on tap in Saugus; Jin may be next

SAUGUS – The show cause hearing for Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub is scheduled for Tuesday, but it might not actually take place.In a letter to the Board of Selectman, Police Chief Domenic DiMella requested the board essentially continue the hearing for six months while he works with the club on a new security plan.Selectman Michael Kelleher said he likes the idea of DiMella working with the club, but he isn’t ready to give Tabu a pass.Tabu was called in for a show cause hearing based on a number of police-related incidents that have occurred at the club over about a six-month period. Initially, former Chief James MacKay said Tabu didn’t need a hearing, but shortly into DiMella’s tenure as chief there were several more incidents at the club, some violent, which caused DiMella to change the department’s stance.But the club is under relatively new ownership, and Kelleher feels it’s necessary to make a point.”They have to take some sort of penalty,” he said. “Whether they want to volunteer to take one or we’ll issue one, I don’t think they can take some sort of pass on it. It’s pretty significant stuff.”In fact, DiMella said his primary reason for supporting a show cause hearing was specifically because the club failed to protect its employees, patrons and the general public inside or outside the club, which liquor license rules and regulations required them to do.Selectman Stephen Horlick would also like to see the hearing move forward, particularly since there have been two additional incidents, including a large scale fight in the parking lot just this month.Horlick said he is concerned that if the hearing is pushed off and the club isn’t forced to face up to the incidents, there will only be more.Tabu is not the only club Horlick has his eye on.At some point during Tuesday’s meeting, Horlick said he also plans to call for a hearing on Jin, the huge Route 1 north Asian restaurant. Owners renovated and opened a new lounge, Orchid, within the existing lounge earlier this month. Horlick however said he believes there was construction beyond the scope allowed under the restaurant’s licenses and permits.”In my opinion there was a change that affects the license,” he said. “I will ask that the owner be brought in to answer to the changes.”Kelleher said he has no issues with Jin. He said if there was a construction issue it should be left to the Building Inspector to attend to. Selectman Peter Rossetti and Stephen Castinetti attended the opening of Orchid and said while the room was renovated, the alterations of the actual space were minimal and didn’t require notification.Whether Tabu will get off as easily remains to be seen, but the hearing will be held Tuesday as scheduled. Board Clerk Wendy Reed noted that since the hearing is a posted public hearing, it must be opened for public comment even if it is continued.The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall auditorium.