Selectman takes issue with timing of club hearings

SAUGUS-Selectman Michael Kelleher Tuesday took issue with the idea that the board is not handling show cause hearings for area nightclubs in a timely matter.Tuesday night Kelleher sounded off on the idea that show cause hearings called for The Oasis restaurant and Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub were sitting idle.The Oasis was called in for a show cause hearing on Oct. 1 for a variety of incidents, including fights in the parking lot, assault and batteries and gunshots fired.Kelleher argued Oasis’ hearing was continued because the business has been closed since late August when a fire ripped through the ceiling. The restaurant later suffered severe water damage as well when rain seeped into the open rooftop. While restaurant officials said in October they hoped to be open in a few weeks time, the shop remains closed.”We cannot take action on a business that is closed,” Kelleher said. “To expend money on outside legal counsel for a business that is closed is absurd.”In the case of Tabu, Kelleher said Police Chief Domenic DiMella requested that hearing be put on hold to see how newly implemented security measures worked out.”That was continued,” he said. “There is nothing sitting idle.”Later in Tuesday’s meeting, Selectman Stephen Castinetti set a date to restart the Tabu hearing.Since Chairman Donald Wong, as a liquor license holder in town, stepped down as vice-chairman, Castinetti will run the hearing.Tabu officials sat down for a show cause hearing on Oct. 21, stemming from violence that had taken place both inside and outside the club over the previous six month period. While DiMella recommended the hearing, he opened it by recommending a continuance because he had and the new owners of the club had revamped its security plan.With the new plan, the club agreed to hire police details on Fridays and Saturdays from midnight to 2 a.m. to help clear the parking lot. They also agreed to add two additional security personnel, including at least one woman to search female patrons, and to brighten the lights inside the club, hang onto security tapes longer and look into adding surveillance cameras at the front and side parking lots.