Article 25/Home rule petition – seat restrictions for all-alcohol licenses
We started at 22:33.
The BoS recommended a vote to authorize it to file home rule legislation to allow it to put on the ballot a questions asking voters if all-alcohol licenses may be given to restaurants with at least 50 seats (down from the current 99). She introduced the president of the Chamber of Commerce who said a main proponent is Scutra and that it would be of benefit to other small restaurants in town.
Mr. Daly moved the previous question, which failed.
Mr. Loreti asked what a “function room” was. Town Counsel said he was merely copying verbatim the language used when all-alcohol licenses were voted on some years ago. Mr. Loreti moved to strike “function rooms” and to disallow applicants from having bars.
Mr. Tully asked why a number is specified. Ms. LaCourt said the BoS was worried about de facto allowing bars if the number was too small. Town Counsel said the Legislature would ignore the petition if it did not have a substantial minimum seating requirement.
Ms. Fiore asked if this would create additional all-alcohol licenses and was told it would not. She said she was against liquor and opposed the recommended vote.
Mr. Bernacchi asked if the BoS had told the Scutra owners that this article was unlikely to come up tonight. Ms. LaCourt said the BoS had.
Mr. Burke said he was against the proposed vote and that reducing the seat requirement would open a can of worms. He said it would turn Arlington into Cambridge and Somerville and that voting for the recommendation would help “ruin Arlington.”
We adjourned at 23:02, racking up 29 minutes of debate on this article.