Swampscott renews liquor licenses for 18 businesses

SWAMPSCOTT – Selectmen breezed through the annual renewals of the 18 liquor licenses in town after a lengthy discussion about four or five businesses, which they did not identify, that have outstanding bills with the town.Selectman David Van Dam expressed concern about approving the liquor licenses for a handful of businesses that have not paid overdue bills to the town.?I’m a little irritated,” Van Dam said. “It’s a chronic problem. People aren’t paying their bills for 12 months.”Administrative Assistant Maureen Shultz explained the delinquent bills need to be paid by Dec. 29 at noon or the businesses would not receive the license.Chairman Jill Sullivan suggested the selectmen look at developing a policy that could go into effect next year.The license for Aikia Steak house, Bertucci’s Restaurant, C&L Liquors, City Bar & Grill, Cup-N-Board, G Restaurant, Gourmet Gardens, Hawthorne by the Sea, Paradiso Restaurant, Uno Chicago Grill, Red Rock Bistro, St. John the Baptist, Swampscott Club, Swampscott Yacht Club, Thai Thani, VFW Post, Vinnin Square Liquors and Yans China Bistro were all renewed.The licenses were approved pending the payment of all property taxes, water bills and other charges due the town.The selectmen also approved a request from City Bar & Grill, 435 Paradise Road, to extend its liquor license from midnight until 1 a.m. pending approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The selectmen also voted to allow City Bar & Grill an all entertainment license. The previous entertainment license only allowed one instrument, a television and stereo system.The selectmen also heard from Bill Bush, a former athletic director in town, on a request to name the driveway that leads to the football field parking lot after Stan Bondelevitch.Bush explained Bondelevitch was a football coach in Swampscott from 1953 to 1975.?He is the father of Big Blue football, Bush said. “We were the Sculpins, a bottom feeding fish, before he arrived.”Selectman Matthew Strauss said he disagreed with the location and suggested the Bondelevitch be honored closer to the actual field, which is named after Corporal John Enos Blocksidge. He was the first soldier from Swampscott who died in World War I.Despite the objection to the location raised by Strauss, the selectmen voted to allow Bush to proceed with placing a street sign paying tribute to Bondelevitch near the entrance to the parking lot.