Braintree Union Updates Police Procedures at Emerald Hall

Earlier this year, Braintree officials imposed a suspended sentence on the alcohol license attached to , finding that the union in charge allowed illegal activity – assault and battery – at its facility.

Another alleged violation, of serving an intoxicated person during a holiday party put on by the Valvoline Oil Company, was dismissed with a tie vote. At that , officials requested that Local #369, a chapter of the Utility Workers Union of America, return with a revised plan for police details to avoid any future problems.

Since then, the union has updated its procedures and also removed from its All-Alcohol Beverage License the company that still leases and operates its kitchen, Mastrangelo Family Catering. The bar at Emerald Hall is now under the direct control of union workers, manager Daniel F. Hurley told board members when he presented the new policies on May 17.

"We've been trying to be proactive," Hurley said, "in terms of planning each function beforehand."

Hurley outlined the changes in a letter to the board dated April 27, 2011. The union now requires police details for events of 100 people or more where alcohol will be served for three hours or more. The focus, Hurley wrote, is on the length of time the bar will be open, rather than how long the event lasts.

"So, for example," he wrote, "we may have an all-day 8 hour meeting at the hall. However, if the bar is only open for the final hour of the 8 hours, we do not require a police detail."

Furthermore, no events are allowed to have more than 225 people or extend past midnight, regardless of whether alcohol is being served. Also, the bar will shut down at 11:45 p.m. Any restrictions beyond those, union lawyer Valerie Pawson said at the meeting, would be welcomed so long as they were "non-discriminatory" and applied to similar facilities throughout Braintree.

The board did not make a vote, as it was not required by law, but appeared to appreciate the revisions.