HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-03-20 BYOB Watertown Town Council
Committee on Rules & Ordinances Meeting March 20, 2017
Report: March 28, 2017
The Committee met at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Present were Kenneth Woodland (chair), Lisa Feltner
(vice-chair), Aaron Dushku (secretary),Town Councilors Vincent Piccirilli and Tony Palomba, Assistant Town
Manager/Town Auditor Tom Tracy,Assistant Town Manager/Department of Community Development and
Planning Director Steve Magoon, Senior Planner Andrea Adams, Licensing Board Chair Donna Doucette and
numerous residents (Attachment A).
The agenda for this meeting included a review of the Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) Ordinance's licensing fees
and the creation of a Watertown Community Preservation Act (CPA) Ordinance. The CPA Ordinance agenda item
did not come to completion at this meeting so it will be reported at a later date.
Regarding the BYOB Ordinance,the matter was referred to this committee after the City of Boston set their BYOB
licensing fee at$400 per year. Per the Watertown Ordinance,the fee for Watertown was set at$1000 per year.
Licensing Board Chair, Donna Doucette stated that since the ordinance passed, only two establishments have
applied for licenses and one of them relinquished the license back to the town after its approval. The other is
likely to appear on the April Licensing Board agenda for approval of a new license.
Ms. Doucette also stated that the reason that so few have been requested might not only be due to the higher
cost per year but also due to the increase in Insurance costs on an establishment.
Mr. Magoon stated that the initial setting of the fee at$1000 was, in part, due to a concern for an excessive
adoption,which has turned out not to be the case and he would be supportive of reconsideration.
Councilor Dushku suggested that the committee should consider a reduction in the annual fee.
Councilor Feltner stated agreement saying that she had researched other larger cities such as Austin,TX,
Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and they were all charging between $0-100.
After some discussion amongst all in attendance,the consensus was to lower the annual fee. Councilors
discussed merits of going as low as$150 and related concerns and potential expenses to the administration.
Lowering the fee below Boston's$400 was thought to entice restauranteurs across the river from Boston to
Watertown commercial zones.
Councilor Dushku made motion to recommend that the full Town Council amend Chapter 116 of the
Watertown Code of Ordinances, Section 116.03, Part 9 to read $300 in place of$1000 and that a first reading
be scheduled for said change.
The motion passed 3-0.
After preliminary discussion on the CPA Ordinance (to be reported later),the meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Report compiled by Councilor Dushku.
Page 1 of 1
Attachment A. Meeting attendees (continued)
Joyce Kelly, Historical Society
Katharine Wolf, Sunnybank Road
Brian Wyncoop, Rosedale Road
Shiela Wyncoop, Rosedale Road
Elodia Thomas, Marion Road
Margie Wayne, Historical Society
Charlie Breitrose, Watertown News
Anthony Kelly, 10 James Street
Michelle Cokonaugher, 37 Paul Street
Patrick Fairbairn, 20 Marcia Road
Maria Rose, 45 Edward Road