HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-14-2014 Joint subcommittee RO-PS-EDP_201410070912251930MEETING MINUTES
JOINT MEETING: COMMITTEES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
and PLANNING, RULES AND ORDINANCES, PUBLIC SAFETY
Meeting: September 3o, 2014, 7-8:30 PM
Report: October 14, 2014
Attending were Committee members Steven Corbett, Aaron Dushku, Susan Falkoff, Vincent
Piccirilli, and Kenneth Woodland. Also present were Council President Sideris; Councilor
Palomba; Planning Director Stephen Magoon; Attorney Donetski, and Charlie Breitrose from the
Watertown News.
Since our last meeting, Atty Donetski had provided copies of recent Special Acts that the
legislature has approved for additional liquor licenses. Councilor Falkoff pointed out that the Acts
were not consistent as far as number, purpose, type, or whether a maximum or minimum size
establishment was cited. We were chilled by the language adopted by the Town of Webster,
where the license must go to a location within the town's "Slum and Blight Inventory."
After discussion, the committee reached consensus in favor leasing, rather than selling, new
licenses. Leased licenses would not be transferable, unlike the older licenses that would remain
available for purchase. All licenses would pay the same annual fee (currently $2700).. Councilor
Woodland suggested that the town set the annual leasing fee at the average rate that current
license holders paid (insofar as that could be determined) divided by the average lifespan of a
Watertown restaurant.
The committees next discussed the number of licenses we would like to make available for lease
and to what extent we want to limit the location. Councilor Piccirilli made the point that the
purpose of the new licenses would be to encourage new business. Current business -owners could
still purchase the old licenses as they become available.
Mr. Magoon presented a list of potential liquor license locations (attached). The committees
discussed pros and cons of various scenarios. Attorney Donetski cautioned that the Legislature
likes to see a plan when approving Special Acts as opposed to evaluating requests that are vague.
The committee voted to request 15 additional licenses, to be distributed as follows:
• One for the Arsenal Center for the Arts, with no leasing fee.
• Three for already approved projects: Howard/Bacon Street, Marriott Hotel, 202 Arsenal
Street.
• One for Athena Health
• One for the Pleasant Street Corridor District (PSCD)
• Nine additional, all of which will be located in either one of the five Economic
Development areas (this could include an additional license for the PSCD), or in the
current Business Districts (Watertown Square, Coolidge Square), which a maximum of
two in the current districts.
The committees asked Mr. Magoon, in consultation with Attorney Donetski, to draft language for
a Special Act, for our review. The committees also discussed how the licensees would be
selected. One option would be a lottery. This issue remains To Be Determined, as does the
possibility of creating regulations for a Bring Your Own option. These will be reviewed at our
next meeting, scheduled for Monday, October 27 at 7 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Falkoff, Secretary