Selectman Calls for Better Approach After Lack of Background Check for Commuter Rail Cafe

Like most of Mansfield, selectman Frank Delvecchio was surprised when he found out about the background of one of the partners soon to operate the cafe at the Commuter Rail station. The unexpected development led the selectman to say that he hopes the town takes a more hands on approach when it comes to the cafe.

“I felt blindsided by the article that said the background check was not done. So I’m thinking our process should be different in the future,” Delvecchio said at a recent selectmen meeting.

Delvecchio was referring to a Sun Chronicle article detailing the lack of a background check by GATRA for applicants to operate the cafe inside the Mansfield Commuter Rail stop. According to the article, Steven DiSarro, who was awarded the contract to operate the space along with selectman Olivier Kozlowski, was arrested in 2012 in his Walpole home after a police raid.

During the raid, police found a small amount of cocaine, ecstasy, prescription pills, a mushroom, and items with cocaine residue on them, totaling an estimated street value of about $2,500. A sawed-off shotgun was also discovered in DiSarro’s closet.

The drug related charges were dropped but he pleaded guilty to a gun charge that was later dismissed.

DiSarro said he did not tell Kozlowski about the charges because they are scheduled to be wiped from his criminal record.

Because of the discovery, Delvecchio said he would like to see the town take a more hands on approach in the application process.

“We should have a more hands on approach. I had a bad feeling about that and wondered how (GATRA) couldn’t do that,” Delvecchio said.

According to town manager Bill Ross, the background checks Delvecchio is looking for is not something the town does.

“We do CORI for alcohol, school, parks and recs, and cabs. We don’t do CORI for common vics and never have,” Ross said.

According to selectman Olivier Kozlowski, one of two operators of the Firebox Cafe, the building is a joint operation between the MBTA and GATRA, giving them control over the process.

An opening date has not been set for the Firebox Cafe. According to Kozlowski, they are waiting for approval from the MBTA to sell train tickets.