Saugus request for liquor licenses stalls

SAUGUS – Saugus? request for a pair of additional liquor licenses has run into a few obstacles at the State House.James C. Kennedy, chief legal counsel for the Mass. House of Representatives, laid out several problems with the article passed by Town Meeting last month in an email to State Rep. Donald Wong?s legislative aide, Paula Matrinko, which was forwarded to the Town Clerk?s office.He said the home rule petition does not state whether it?s for “all-alcohol” licenses and it does not cite a specific location for the licenses.?They are town-wide,” said Kennedy. “Its only proviso is seating capacity of 50 or more for purposes of ?economic development.? Committee will have issues with this language.”The original article, passed by the selectmen, was for two liquor licenses for “economic development along the Route 1 corridor” and for restaurants with a “minimum of at least 200 seats.”Town Meeting member Peter Rossetti, however, moved to eliminate both stipulations. The motion passed 25-15 and the article, which requests licenses for “economic development for restaurants with a minimum seating capacity of 50,” eventually passed 27-14.?The idea with these licenses was that they would be available for general use within the town,” said Rossetti. “We?re still working with them to determine if we can get this passed. Tying it to a specific location doesn?t serve a purpose because one of the places looking for a license isn?t on Route 1: The Pushcart Cafe at the intersection of Main Street and the Fellsway. It doesn?t have to be that particular location, they were just one of the businesses looking for a license.”Saugus has had two additional liquor licenses granted to it in the past, but they were both tied to the Square One Mall and the Fox Hill Yacht Club.?We?ve always been site-specific,” said Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian. “But what Rossetti?s amendment did was open the door to anybody with 50 seats or more in the entire town, wherever. We would have had a better chance with what the selectmen proposed. Not only did Town Meeting not specify whether it was looking for liquor stores or restaurants ? Town Meeting turns around and decided it?s OK to put them in residential areas with restaurants with 50 seats.”If the Legislature adopted the article as is, Manoogian asked how it would say no to any other community in Massachusetts looking for more liquor licenses.?The legislature doesn?t want to set precedence,” said Manoogian. “There are things there that weren?t thought through. If we really want more liquor licenses in town it should really come from an economic development perspective. You have to have a plan that goes with it.”Despite the issues raised, Rossetti is still confident it can pass.?Obviously we?re going to have to make some modifications but I think there?s a good shot at it,” said Rossetti. “Other cities and towns have increased their allocation of licenses and they weren?t specific. Whatever is necessary, we?ll make the changes.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].