Selectmen summon Lavo owners for Saugus hearing

SAUGUS – A police investigation into ownership and licensing of the Lavo Ristorante on Route 1 north has prompted the Board of Selectmen to schedule a show-cause hearing for April 5.Selectman Scott Crabtree said police began looking into the business in August 2010 at the board’s request. The restaurant’s license was issued by the selectmen.A Jan. 25 report by Saugus Police Lt. Detective Ronald Giorgetti to Police Chief Domenic DiMella indicates the restaurant and lounge at 114 Broadway is owned by Pam, Inc. and, until it was closed last year, was doing business as the Lavo Ristorante.The selectmen were told changes to the restaurant interior were made after the license was issued and without returning to the board for approval. They also suspected additional investors purchased a share of the business, again without appearing before the board to seek authorization.According to Giorgetti’s findings, documents from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance show former candidate for state treasurer Karyn Pollito received a contribution on Aug. 8, 2010, from Frank Amato, one of the suspected investors in Lavo and former owner of the controversial and now defunct Tabu nightclub in Saugus.On the form, Amato listed his occupation as restaurant owner and his employer as the Lavo, Giorgetti stated in his report.The same campaign finance report for Pollito also listed Joseph Mazzochia as having an interest in the Lavo Ristorante. Mazzochia also has been identified as a Lavo investor or partial owner.Giorgetti researched the Internet and found a Web domain with the name lavosaugus.com. The domain had been created on May 12, 2010, and was registered to Frank Amato, 114 Broadway. A phone number and email address were attached.Giorgetti further noted public hearings were held by the selectmen during August and September 2010, when an attorney for Pam, Inc. identified the business principal owners as Michael Reppucci, Paul Cucinatti and Anthony Cucinatti. “No one else has a silent interest of any type,” the attorney told the board.Other documents turned up by Giorgetti showed more investors or shareholders and various security agreements. However, no notification of these changes were given to the selectmen.Giorgetti recommended the police chief forward his report and supporting documents to the selectmen for review. He indicated a hearing on a charge of hindering an investigator might be considered, as well as the possible subpoenaing of witnesses in an effort to clarify ownership and stock holdings in Pam, Inc.While it was open, Lavo was reprimanded by the selectmen for an array of offenses.Meanwhile, Mazzochi and Joshua Spitaleri, along with North 5 Development & Construction, are seeking a restraining order to prevent the selectmen from transferring the establishment’s liquor license.A lawsuit filed by the pair alleges the owners of Pam, Inc. are trying to sell the license and should not be allowed because they owe money to the investors.The hearing before the selectmen aims to clarify some of the muddy legal waters and the status of the license.