Saugus Selectmen OK 2 liquor licences bids

SAUGUS – The Saugus Board Selectmen voted 5-0 to request two additional all alcohol licenses for the town Tuesday night.Selectmen Vice-chairman Steve Castinetti originally proposed five new all alcohol licenses and five beer and wine licenses, which he said could possibly generate close to $100,000 a year for the town.?Look at the vacancies up and down Route 1,” said Castinetti. “Take a ride out and count the empty businesses sitting on Route 1 today. I strongly disagree with one or two licenses. That?s looking at today, not tomorrow. This is just one small way to (increase revenue) but at least it will put us in the right direction.”Castinetti said the town needs to get “creative” in order to raise revenue and pointed to the potential casino at Suffolk Downs as a boost for Saugus.?There will be hotels opening up and restaurants,” said Castinetti. “People from New Hampshire and Maine will be pouring down Route 1. I think we need to posture ourselves so we can be ready when this happens.”Castinetti said adding more liquor licenses won?t “bring back the entertainment” the town had ” a few years back,” noting that the troubled clubs are gone. Castinetti also said he wants to see changes to zoning and land use along Route 1 as well.?The zoning of Route 1 is inadequate for Saugus and we need to realize we can do more with what we have,” said Castinetti. “We need to start bringing money into this town and one of the ways is to increase the number of liquor licenses in town to entice bigger chains to set up on Route 1 to start generating revenue for Saugus.”Selectmen Debra Panetta and Stephen Horlick said they want to see changes to the town?s regulations when it comes to licenses, so that it would be easier and cheaper for the town to recall a license for non-use.Horlick said additional licenses also could have a negative impact on current businesses because licenses are used as assets.?How would you like if you had a liquor license that?s worth at least $150,000 that?s now worth zero because the town now has a drawer full of licenses,” said Horlick.Horlick also said he doesn?t think there are enough businesses in town to warrant 10 licenses.Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino said he was concerned about “quality of life” issues in the community.”?We need good businesses not liquor establishments on every corner,” said Serino.Serino and Castinetti then got into a testy exchange over past liquor license issues.?You?re the one who approved the liquor license for Atlantic Lobster,” Serino said to Castinetti, who replied, “You did a pretty good job with White Hen.”After some debate, Castinetti made a motion for four all alcohol licenses, but Horlick made a substitute motion for two, which he said is the current need for the town.?I?m going to support this motion ? even though it?s shortsighted,” said Castinetti. “It?s a Band-Aid ?”The issue will come up for a vote at the next Special Town Meeting.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].