Town Notes: McDonough’s Liquors changes hands
Published on July 26th, 2006
The Stoneham Board of Selectmen began their meetings as they do every meeting – with the Pledge of Allegiance – and then it was on to business as usual for local governing body.
The Selectmen approved a bevy of liquor licenses as the town Liquor Licensing Authority, including a unanimous transfer of liquor license by McDonough’s to Barvette Inc. DBA as McDonoughs
“The Cahills [the longtime owners of McDonough’s] are retiring and that’s the reason for the transfer,” said Attorney Peter Ragnante of a pair of North Reading residents named Peter Bavagalo and Frank Boyette who are taking over management of McDonough’s Liquors. “Both of my clients have completed the TIPS program and have a wide amount of experience in the beverage distribution industry.”
The Selectmen likewise approved licenses for Marino’s Ristorante at 19 Franklin Street, a new restaurant planned for the former setting of D’Agostino’s Restaurant. According to Selectmen Chairman Bob Sweeney, the restaurant owners hadn’t provided dimensions on the site plan for the restaurant (planned to seat 134 potential customers and approximately 50 seats at the full-service bar) and the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) wouldn’t approve the license without specific dimensions in the restaurant plan.
“They have extensive restaurant experience and currently run Ristorante Marino in Cambridge,” said Attorney Jonathan Sax of owners Max and Laura Marino, who are taking over the outstanding bills owed on the property toward the town. “When the property is purchased, all outstanding water bills and tax bills are to be taken care of when the title is transferred…that’s my understanding.”
Selectman Tony Kennedy reassured that the new owners understood the nuances of Stoneham’s liquor bylaws
Selectman John DePinto moved that the board vote to grant the license and hold the license until all outstanding bills owed to the town are paid and a finished site plan is completed and submitted to the Building Department for approval.
The new owners hoped to finish any internal work and have the new restaurant opened within the year.
The Selectmen voted to appoint Cosmo Ciccarello to replace Ron Florino’s vacant spot on the Stoneham Retirement Board, a spot they had advertised several months prior.
“I know Cosmo will do a super job,” said Sweeney.
The Board of Selectmen appointed Shirley Murray, August Niewenhous, Andrea Pappas, and Katherine Derbyshire as election officers for the Stoneham Democratic Town Committee, and Lawrence Allen, Gorden Perks, Frank Cesereale and Aaron Jerek as election officers for the Stoneham Republican Town Committee.
The Selectmen unanimously approved a block party on Pine Street from the corner of Franklin and Pine to Hancock and Pine from 1-9 p.m. on Saturday July 29 with a rain date of Saturday August 5.
The Selectmen accepted an undisclosed donation from Marty’s Caterers to the Stoneham Recreation Department
“I’m sure this isn’t the first one,” said Sweeney. “Marty is ready to donate anything when he’s asked.”
Selectman R. Paul Rotondi presented some information on the American Dream Down Payment Initiative, an initiative that facilitates home purchases for first time home buyers and the Selectmen agreed to send a letter of support that Stoneham will be a part of the initiative.
The Selectmen agreed with the Retirement Board to increase the benefits of family members by $52 a month to the surviving children of a town employee that suffers an accidental death – with the increase still needing an approval at Town Meeting in order to take hold in the Town of Stoneham.
“Most communities are going to be doing this and I don’t think this is going to be a big cost to us,” said Florino. “As a member of the board, I would support this.”
The Selectmen announced there’s an opening for an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and Sweeney welcomed someone to get involved and call the Board of Selectmen’s office if they’re interested in the one-year term.
Sweeney announced that the pay-as-you-throw committee met for a second time this past week, and the town is hoping to recommend a plan within the next 3 or 4 months and implement the program by January.
“We’re trying to work on it and be more fair to everyone in town,” said Sweeney. “I was happy to be a member of that committee.”
Seibold announced the SHS Class of 1982 Beautification Committee was anxious to get started on another project, and had their eyes on refurbishing the old police box in Stoneham Square.
Seibold requested having an open meeting concerning the granting of a liquor license at Unicorn Golf Course, and the
“Do you want to talk about it now, or do you want to wait like two minutes like you said…or do you want to move on?” said Seibold to Sweeney at the very tail-end of the meeting.
“I don’t think the town should get in the liquor business. Will it be in the management contract? Will it be separate? I’m looking at it as allowing a service by the town, and I personally believe that service will bring more golfers as opposed to the town running the bar and making a profit,” said Sweeney. “I don’t think the town wants to get into running a bar, and those are things we need to iron out before a public hearing.”
The Selectmen approved a request by NSTAR to construct a line of conduits and manholes in the areas of Main Street, southeasterly near Montvale Ave. (13 feet of conduit) to tie in a pair of existing manholes into one whole circuit.
Selectman George Seibold requested that the work possibly be done at night, rather than the typical 9-5 schedule to ease any potential traffic problems.
“I was wondering if the work could be done at night-time, as we had other work done on Main Street a few weeks ago and things were tied up a little bit when it was closed down to one lane,” said Seibold.
NSTAR spokeswoman Christine Crosby agreed to return to NSTAR with the request and attempt to find a workable solution for what amounts of a couple of hours of roadwork – with NSTAR likely agreeing to do the work between 6-10 p.m. rather than during the afternoon.
The Board of Selectmen approved minutes from the June 30 meeting in both regular session and executive session, as well the minutes from June 27 meeting of both regular and executive sessions and the June 20 regular and executive session minutes.
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