Square One jumps liquor license hurdle

SAUGUS – A state legislative committee approved Square One Mall management’s liquor license request Tuesday, subject to approval by the Legislature.The legislative Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure voted to send the license request to the Massachusetts House for approval or rejection. The proposal also requires state Senate review and Gov. Deval Patrick’s signature.Square One Manager Susan Yee and another mall representative testified in favor of the bill. No one testified against it, according to a committee staff member.The license request is classified as “over quota,” meaning the town needs legislative approval before it can grant the license. In approving the license, the committee allowed its use only within the mall.Town Meeting members in May gave Square One permission to petition the state for the license. The mall has had vacant restaurant space for more than a year. Mall attorney George Gregson argued at Town Meeting on May 4 that Square One needed an all-alcohol license in order to attract a restaurant to the vacant space.When a local license became available in April before the Board of Selectmen, Yee sought to obtain it for Square One but the board approved it for long-time local restaurant La Vita Mia.The 35-5 Town Meeting vote for the mall license brought meeting members in conflict with Selectmen who pointed out the sole authority the board holds is determining where a liquor license goes.Town Counsel John Vasapolli during Town Meeting said he has never seen a request like Square One’s, where local action is taken to designate a liquor license to a specific location.