Selectmen Hand Down Suspensions for Liquor Licence Violations

The message was clear for the first four of nine establishments to go in front of the Foxborough Board of Selectmen for serving a minor alcohol during a liquor license compliance check performed by the Foxborough Police Department: no more.

After the first of three nights of hearings, the selectmen voted 5-0 to hand down liquor license violations to Chickie Flynn’s, Demetri’s Red Snapper, the Lafayette House, and the Renaissance Hotel for failing the check and 4-1 to give a letter of reprimand and a three day liquor licenses suspension to take place prior to Jan. 31, 2015. For the suspension, one of the days has to be a Friday or a Saturday.

Selectmen Chairman Lorraine Bure was the only dissenting vote but suggested that the board should look into the possibility of legal action against the servers for giving alcohol to a minor.

“We’re missing the mark, it’s the employees that have to be brought up to that level of accountability. I think looking at criminal prosecution is a better way for this board to send a message,” Brue said.

For all four business, the compliance check was identical. On Thursday, Sept. 25, a 19-year-old male walked into the establishments under the watchful eye of a plain clothes police officer and asked for a Bud Light from the bar. If he was asked for his age or his license he gave his real age and genuine Massachusetts under-21 vertical license.

Of the four businesses, only the server at Chickie Flynn’s check the license but sold the operative a beer anyways.

When the operative ordered the beer at Demetri’s, the Lafayette House, and the Renaissance Hotel, the bartender did not ask for any form of identification or the age of the operative.

As a consequence of their actions, the bartenders at Chickie Flynn’s and Demetri’s saw their shifts get cut. The bartenders at Lafayette House and the Renaissance Hotel however, were fired for causing the violation.

During last year’s violation hearings, only one of four establishments received a suspension with the other three receiving only letters of reprimand. During the sentencing portion of the evening, it was clear that the sentencing was going to be much harsher during this round of hearings.

Originally, the recommendation from town council, town manager Bill Keegan, and the Police Chief Ed O’Leary was a one day suspension advanced, unannounced compliance checks, and an update from the establishments six months later. The suggestion did not sit well with selectman Jim DeVellis, who proposed the three-day suspension.

“I know some of theses managers and they’re good in the community and it’s a situation where you’re only as good as your staff. I don’t have a lot of interest in having people come back and tell us how they’re doing, I’m past that,” DeVellis said.

Selectman John Gray did not necessarily agree with the length of the suspension, but did cite a need for tougher consequences.

“The fact that nine failed on one night, I think it’s time to put some teeth into the penalties. I don’t mean to be cruel but we’ve given out a lot of letters of reprimand. I’m actually on the side that a suspension is warranted,” Gray said.

The selectmen will hold the second of three nights of liquor violation hearings on Nov. 19 when alleged violations at Saga’s Hibachi Steakhouse, Showcase Cinema de Lux, and Tavolino are addressed.