License Commission is After Worcester’s After Hours Problem
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
"Anything that happens after two o'clock is a violation with the License Commission. Basically by 1:30 they're supposed to start taking all the bottles and glasses off of the bar and everything should be closed and done by 2," said Karen Shea, Worcester License Commission member. "The staff can still stay and clean, but by 2AM they need all the patrons gone and everything stocked."
"Because the city has so many more bars now, it's become more of a nuisance," Shea said.
Who's Responsible?
The responsibility of closing on time falls strictly to the managers, and it's up to the bouncers to make sure everyone leaves by 2AM. According to the Commission's regulations rule #14, "Managers of all licensed liquor establishment shall be responsible for all violations or infractions of the law occurring on the premises whether present or not. The licensee is responsible for any disorder, disturbance or illegality of any kind taking place on licensed premises whether present or not."
"There aren't any consistent offenders. We meet twice a month, and some months we won't have any violations hearings at all. Then another month, we might get slapped with a bunch because the police have done a sting where they're actually looking for it. It depends on your season. A holiday season will have a tendency of people wanting to stay out later," said Shea. "This week in particular with everyone coming home for the holidays and college students coming back."
Shea said, "The city is pretty good keeping everyone under control. The police officers are fabulous. They're there making sure the law is being followed."
"Some bars are gone, because they are completely constant offenders," said Shea. "We had to suspend their license for a couple of days, and when it happened again, we had to suspend their license for a week."
One of the most notorious constant offenders was the International Lounge on Pleasant Street. The bar closed its doors this past summer. "They're gone because they continually came in front of us," said Shea. "Pleasant Street was the only street that really gave us all the problems, and now they're not there. It was tough, and it's not tough anymore."
Reaction from Patrons
"The amazing thing to me is patrons get angry at the bars. They get mad and ask 'What do you mean I have to leave? I haven't finished my drink.' They just don't understand that there is a law and it's a violation and they can actually make it harder for the local bar," said Shea. "They just expect you to just listen to anything. I really respect the bars because it's what they have to put up with."
As part of Rule #1 of the regulations, "All patrons off the premises by closing hour. Unconsumed beverages must be cleared at closing hour...MAIN DOOR cannot be locked until all patrons have left the premises."
Joe Herman, owner of The District on Green Street in Worcester, said "We have last call at 1:30, last song by 1:40, and start moving people towards the door at 1:45. We haven't had any issues getting anyone out as of yet. We are trying not to be a last call type bar and our security staff is very cordial and direct."
7 Nana Forced to Clean Up Their Mess
However, it wasn't the Commission's idea to implement these regulations for 7 Nana. Members of the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association had to stand up and make recommendations based on what they saw as "serious problems" at 7 Nana.
"The Worcester Police Department recommended an officer on Saturday nights for at least 30-60 days. Due to the problems at 7 Nana, and the serious nature of them, we recommended an officer there on Friday and Saturday nights for 90 days. The people living in the Mount Carmel apartments next to 7 Nana felt that there has been problems there for over a year," said Gary Vecchio, the President of the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association.
"The stabbing had nothing to do with what was going on inside," said Shea. "That was personal. It didn't have anything to do with the bar itself, it had to do with someone not liking someone else."
"We asked the manager and owner of 7 Nana to concentrate on the outside of the building. That's what we're concerned about. We want them to focus on the parking lot and front of the building," said Vecchio. "In addition to inside of the building, the outside of the building will also be the responsibility of the officer on duty. They have started closing earlier to avoid these problems. They assured us that they would do their best."
"We have Water Street, we have Millbury Street, we have Shrewsbury Street, all of these places with bars and restaurants, and for the most part they've been amazing. They obviously understand that when they come in to officially get their license, and come in front of the board to be granted that license, they understand the rules and regulations of having that license," said Shea. "For a city and a community like us, we are really doing well."
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