BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 2005
MINUTES OF MEETING SELECTMEN’S OFFICE 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00 PM with the following members present: Richard Di Mento, Chairman; Martin O’ Brien, Selectman; Susan J. Bolster, Selectwoman and Virginia L. Wilder Executive Secretary/CAO.
Citation
The Board of Selectmen presented Coach Tony Fucillo with a citation for winning over 100 football games with the Winthrop High School Varsity Football Team. Coach Fucillo has surpassed Coach DeFelice’s record of 101 wins with a new record of 104 wins. The Coach happily accepted the citation and passed the accolades on to his coaching staff and the athletes themselves. A picture was taken for the Winthrop Transcript Newspaper.
Canine Committee
Members of the Canine Committee came in to update the Board on a potential new spot for a dog park here in Winthrop. Speaking on behalf of the committee was Patricia Flanagan. The Committee is now looking at what has been referred to as “the old Bonacorso property” on Morton Street. The Committee reported that they will be reaching out to the Department of Conservation & Reservation as well as the Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh to get both organizations feedback before they proceed any further. The Selectmen thanked them for the update and asked to be kept abreast of any new developments.
General Business
Municipal Parking Regulations were reviewed and tabled for another meeting.
The Board asked Executive Secretary Virginia Wilder to conduct meeting with Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, LLC d/b/a Cingular Wireless relative to the company’s recent RFP proposal. Ms. Wilder will attend meeting and report back to the Board.
The Board accepted Mr. Dalton’s resignation from the Board of Library Trustees.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to accept the Planning Board’s recommendation to appoint Davis Proctor for the Dalrymple Reuse Committee.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve Superintendent Giancristiano’s request to further extend the date the School Budget is due. The new date is for soon after February 10, 2005.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve WCAT’s reimbursement request per the Town’s contract. The total of the invoices is $31, 410.35.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the common victualler’s license for the new owner of White Hen Pantry, Mr. Ali Hamza.
Discussions were had regarding the saving of the “Town Hall Tree” and the Executive Secretary as well as the DPW Director will look into the Town’s options.
William Dacey asked that he be considered to fill a temporary vacancy on the Board of Library Trustees. This was put on hold to allow other interested persons apply.
The Rodgers property/Ingleside Park was briefly discussed and tabled for a later meeting.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to appoint Paul Minsky as Constable in the Town of Winthrop for one year.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve new taxi licenses to the following people who have been cleared through the Chief of Police:
Paul A. Belyea
Glenn N. Brennan
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve a request from Chief of Police to allow the current Animal Control Officer permission to carry a firearm when executing his duties as ACO.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve the minutes of the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting held on December 13, 2004 as submitted by the Administrative Secretary.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to approve a contract with low bidder, Community Reinvestment Associates of Swampscott, MA to provide a full range of Housing and Community and Development services to the Town of Winthrop for the sum of $34, 200. The contract will be funded through the use of funding from the North Suburban HOME Consortium of which Winthrop is now a member.
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to appoint Selectmen Marty O’Brien to be a member of the Storage Container Committee.
Kasbah Restaurant Liquor License Hearing
Joining the above mentioned meeting attendees were Police Chief Goldstein, Lt. Scarpa, Abdennaceur Belghiti, Attorney Ed Patton and a couple of Winthrop residents.
Lt. Scarpa reported to the Board that April 11,2004, May 1,2004 and June 20, 2004, Police had entered the Kasbah after 1AM to ask Mr. Belghiti to close his doors. On each of those occasions Police had reminded Mr. Belghiti that his license prevented him from staying open after 1AM. On August 20, 2004, Lt. Scarpa entered the Kasbah at approximately 3:20AM and found six people at the bar and alleges that one person was under 21.
Attorney Patton then stated for the record that he called Virginia Wilder on 1/3/05 to inquire about the allegations made against Mr. Belghiti. She informed Mr. Patton that the hearing was called at the request of Police Chief Goldstein and that Mr. Patton should call the Chief directly. Mr. Patton stated that he did in fact place a call to Chief Goldstein’s office on 1/3/05 and as of the time of the meeting he had not yet heard back.
Mr. Patton then went on to say that usually there was an unwritten rule that Restaurant/Bar owners had 30 minutes after the time on their license to close up and vacate the premises. There was discussion amongst all parties that this may not be allowed in Winthrop. It was decided that the Selectmen would consider exactly what time they expect the premises to be vacated and possibly amend the license in the future.
As for the occasion in August when the Police entered after 3AM, Mr. Belghiti said that he was under the impression that he could have a private party after hours if no food or drink was sold. He conceded that ignorance of the law is no excuse and assured the Board that this would not happen again.
Resident Nancy Harrison of Woodside Ave asked what assurances could Mr. Belghiti provide that the patrons will be quiet when leaving for the evening. Mr. Belghiti’s answered that they are looking into getting soundproof windows to help alleviate any noise issues with abutters.
Greg Jones, a consultant for Mr. Belghiti spoke on behalf of the Kasbah reassuring the Board that they were now informed of the rules and regulations surrounding their current licensing.
Selectmen Di Mento offered to give Mr. Belghiti a copy of the most recent Blue Book outling all the rules. Selectmen O’Brien suggested that going forward that “common sense” should guide the management of the Kasbah.
There was a brief discussion about the entertainment license and rules concerning it. Mr. Belghiti was informed that since his current entertainment license was for a light jazz ensemble only, he was to cease and desist on his current entertainment, a belly dancer. He was then encouraged to apply for a new entertainment license that clearly spelled out what types of entertainment he would be seeking for the Kasbah.
Chairman Di Mento then decided that the Board of Selectmen would take public comments for two weeks and at the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting come to a decision.
Executive Session
VOTED: on a Motion by Selectman O’Brien, 2nd by Selectwoman Bolster and made unanimous by Chairman Di Mento to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing issues relative to Personnel Contracts.
ROLL CALL: Chairman Di Mento - Yes
Selectman O’Brien - Yes
Selectwoman Bolster- Yes
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Vitale
Administrative Secretary
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Richard F. Di Mento
Chairman
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