SELECTMEN’S MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2005 5:30 p.m.
In attendance: Marion V. McEttrick, Charles J. McCarthy, James G. Mullen, Jr., David A. Colton, Town Administrator and Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary
James G. Mullen, Jr. moved, Charles J. McCarthy seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the May 23, 2005 meeting minutes. James G. Mullen moved, Charles J. McCarthy seconded and the Board voted 2-0-1 (Marion McEttrick) to approve the June 6, 2005 meeting minutes.
In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws a Public Hearing upon the request of Acapulco’s Mexican Family Restaurant for a license to sell all alcoholic beverages at a restaurant at 88 Wharf Street, Milton was continued from June 6, 2005. Nicholas Felici, legal counsel for Nogales, Inc (dba Acapulco’s Mexican Family Restaurant), introduced the owner and manager of the restaurant and gave a brief presentation on behalf of the applicant. The establishment was described as a family restaurant with a capacity of 150 seats, 120 in the main dining room, 10 bar stools and 20 seats in the “casual” area. Patio seating accommodates up to 20 people with five or six tables. Hours of operation are 7 days a week, with food
being served Sunday through Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and beverages being served 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, food is served from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and beverages are served from 11:00 a.m. to midnight. Questions regarding food and beverage deliveries, sanitation and noise were discussed.
The Board acknowledged receipt of correspondence from John Zychowicz, Jr., Chair of
the Milton Village/Central Avenue Revitalization Committee which is in support of
Acapulco’s Restaurant at 88 Wharf Street.
The Board acknowledged receipt of correspondence from resident Michele M. Garvin, 46 Brook Hill Road which sited questions about the adequacy of the present HVAC system and how it will successfully accommodate the ventilation demands of a restaurant, parking issues and noise control. Ms. Garvin requested that the Board limit its approval to a restaurant that is in keeping with the size, traffic and community needs of 88 Wharf Street.
The Board acknowledged receipt of correspondence from James Austin and Catherine Overholt who urged the Board to not issue a liquor license to Acapulco’s. Ms. Overholt and Mr. Austin feel that this establishment is a large scale restaurant with high turnover, heavy bar usage and late closing hours that would not be compatible with the residential setting of Milton Landing. Parking issues and traffic volume were also sited as reasons for denying this license.
The Board acknowledged receipt of correspondence from Sheryl Ann Percy of 88 Wharf Street. Ms. Percy sited traffic problems, noise, waste issues and inappropriate music that will compromise the enjoyment of living at 88 Wharf Street. She feels that Acapulco’s is not the “quality” restaurant that tenants of 88 Wharf Street were promised.
The Board acknowledge receipt of correspondence from Mary Harkins Sullivan of 88 Wharf Street. Ms. Sullivan stated that she is in support of a restaurant, but not this restaurant. She feels that the Town should not approve a license for an operation whose chief business is their bar business and that the parking problems, trash that comes with crowds and the noise created by those crowds are all things that residents of 88 Wharf Street do not want.
The Board met with Police Chief/Traffic Commission Chair Kevin Mearn to discuss the outcome of a meeting held by the Traffic Commission on Wednesday, May 25, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss traffic and parking concerns related to the application by Acapulco’s for a liquor license. The following recommendations are being made by the Traffic Commission:
To insure adequate availability for parking, the restaurant should have authorized seating for 100-120 people to include seating at any proposed bar area.
All employees for Acapulco’s Restaurant should be required to park their vehicles in the designated service zone on Eliot Street and all truck deliveries should be prohibited from blocking any designated fire zone areas.
There is no need for an additional traffic impact or access study. The May 1, 2002 report by Highway & Traffic Signal Design (HTSD) does take into account yearly projected increases in traffic in the area.
The twenty-one (21) currently designated “service zone” parking spaces and three (3) un-designated spaces for 41 Wharf Street should be re-designated as 2-hour parking, acknowledging that once the restaurant is in operation this re-designation should be reviewed.
The Board discussed the proposed ventilation system for Acapulco’s, specifically the engineering of the grease trap system. Chairman McEttrick requested that Attorney Felici be prepared to submit information at the Board’s meeting on July 5th regarding the ventilation system and the engineering of the grease trap system.
The following residents addressed the Board regarding their concerns about the issuance of a liquor license to Acapulco’s Mexican Family Restaurant: Jane and Gerard Gaughan, Attorney Paul Needham, representing the residents of 88 Wharf Street, Bradley Richardson, Charles and Enid Gamer, Gregory and Cassandra Miller, Patricia and Paul Clemente, Michael Bourque, Mark Ramer, Loretta McLaughlin, Carolyn Savage, Eugene Sullivan and Diane Bleicher.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted at 8:55 to take a ten minute recess. The Board re-convened at 9:05 p.m.
The Board met with John Michael Shields, co-chair of the Education Fund Committee. Mr. Shields announced the resignation of Janice Blake from the committee and requested that the Board appoint Roxanne Musto to replace Ms. Blake.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to appoint Roxanne Musto, 101 Milton Street, to the Education Fund Committee for a three year term to expire on May 31, 2008.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to appoint Everett Hayward, 50 Alfred Road, to the Milton Village/Central Avenue Revitalization Committee for a one year term to expire on May 31, 2006.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of Martha Curtis, Market Master for the Farmers’ Market, to occupy space on the grass lot on Wharf Street every Thursday, from 12:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of selling fresh produce and other goods, from June 30 through the end of October.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Senior Tax Work Off Program for FY ‘06.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the following applications for seasonal labor positions in the Public Works Department and to forward these applications to the Personnel Board for its approval: Michael Mullen, 80 Pleasant Street, Matthew Regan, 34 Spafford Road, Ralph Jacques, 30 Blue Hill Terrace, Jonathan Pedican, 27 Lothrop Avenue, Christopher Howard, 28 Spafford Road.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the application of John Thompson for the position of Assistant Town Engineer, Level 8, Step 1 and to forward this request to the Personnel Board.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract for professional services with Beta Group,Inc., in the amount of $52,800 for improvements at the intersection of Blue Hills Parkway, Canton Avenue and Unquity Road and the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Canton Avenue and to authorize the Town Administrator to sign on behalf of the Board.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve and sign the annual Dog Warrant.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted 2-0-1 (James G. Mullen, Jr.) to approve the replacement of lead water service located at 1475 Canton Avenue in accordance with the town-wide plan for lead service removal.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted to accept funding in the amount of $7,000 from Milton Academy to cover the cost of upgrading sidewalks from asphalt to concrete in the locations where the existing sidewalks abut the curbing on Centre Street between Randolph Avenue and Voses Lane.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve and sign a letter of support for H2408, “An Act Relative to the Taxation of Telecommunication Companies”, and to forward this correspondence to Senator Brian Joyce, Representative Walter Timilty, Representative Linda Dorcena Forry and Representative Angelo Scaccia.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request to hang a banner announcing the Devine Spirit Run/Walk for Melanoma that takes place in September.
Town Administrator David Colton shared an AARP report with the Board concerning community living and a thank you note from the Tucker School PTO for allowing them to conduct a fund raising donut sale on Town property. He also advised the Board of a proposed rate increase for parking in the MBTA parking lot to $3.00 and distributed correspondence that was sent to the Quincy City Council regarding the proposed Marion Manor project.
Charles J. McCarthy moved, James G. Mullen, Jr. seconded and the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:00 p.m.
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