Lynn license board pleased with drop in liquor hearings

LYNN – The number of hearings and conferences held in 2012 for troubled liquor, entertainment and common victualler license holders has dropped, according to a report issued to the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission.”It shows we’re doing our job,” said License Commission Chairman Patricia Barton.Commission clerk Debra Ginivan handed out copies of the year-end report she is required to file with the ABCC during a recent commission hearing.”The numbers of hearings and conferences are down,” she said.According to the report put together by Ginivan, the licensing board held only 40 hearings and eight conferences in 2012 down from 52 hearings and seven conferences in 2011, and down significantly from 2008 when it held 76 hearings and 18 conferences with troubled license holders. 2008 is also the year the board voted to roll back closing times for license holders from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m., which may have contributed to the increase in hearings and conferences.A license holder could be brought in for a hearing if a police report showed there had been an alleged violation, according to the commission’s attorney Vincent Phelan. A conference is called if a business is showing a pattern of “troubling conduct,” he explained. It’s a chance for the board to try and nip future problems in the bud.”They would bring them in and tell them they’re going down the wrong road and they need to make a change,” Phelan said.Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said he believes it shows the Community Liaison Teams are making an impact. The CLTs are teams of two officers charged with getting to know the neighborhood in which they’re assigned, and “if there is an issue and smooth things out,” he said.Officers have also been working with some license holders for several years and the businesses have come to understand the police are in fact there to help them, Coppinger added.”I’ve always said we’re not out there to kill anyone’s business,” he said. “We’ll work with bar owners if they ask for help.”Barton agreed that it seems the word is out that the city is not only willing to work with owners but also that it won’t stand for trouble. But she credits Frances Martinez from the Latino Business Association as well for some smooth transactions.”She comes to every meeting with owners that don’t necessarily speak English as a first language,” Barton said. “She makes sure they know what’s expected of them.”The report Ginivan sends to the ABCC also spells out all the violations that have taken place over the year. Of the 40 conferences and eight hearings held last year 13 dealt with actionable violations. Phelan said sometimes incident reports are merely kept on file, some have simple explanations but some require action.The most common violations in 2012 were serving after hours or sales to a minor. Enjoy Liquors, Debro Liquor and Jade Pacifica received a one-day license suspension, a letter of warning and a three-day suspension respectively for selling to and serving a minor. O’Briens Pub, Northern Nights and Kevin’s Cultural Corner all received letters of warning for serving after hours. Lo Nuestro Cafe suffered the most severe punishment of the year when it had its license suspended for seven days in May due to overcrowding.”I think the word is out and the police do a fantastic job going around to bars, popping in and seeing what’s going on,” Barton said. “They’ve established relationships ? there is much more outreach going on.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].