Judge Hears Braintree Motel 6 Appeal Case

BRAINTREE, MA — A Norfolk Superior Court judge heard arguments in the case between the Town of Braintree and Motel 6 Wednesday morning.

Judge Michael Ricciuti gave no decision during the appeal hearing but allowed attorneys from both sides to submit additional legal filings until midday Thursday.

The motel, owned by the Texas-based G6 Hospitality LLC, lost their operating license last Thursday following a 3-0 vote by the board of health. Attorneys for the motel said the license was revoked for reasons out of their control: the high number of calls to police. They said the level of crime was due to the location of the motel, which is right off the highway and next to an MBTA Red Line station.

Despite not having any health-released issues, Town Solicitor Lisa Maki said the board was within its rights to revoke the license because the motel was a public nuisance.

The town has put pressure on the motel to renovate the property since the May 5 shooting of officer Donald Delaney, who was shot while serving a warrant at the motel. While town officials would like to see the building knocked down and replaced with an enclosed structure, Motel 6 officials say that is not possible and have offered to add a fence around the property, more cameras, more lighting, and a new front desk in the former Bickford's.