The Fall River Licensing Board convened on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. The board first addressed public input, for which there were no speakers. Following this, the board approved four one-day all-alcoholic beverage permits for Sociedade Cultural Acoreana at 120 Covell Street, requested by Lewis Melum. These permits are for events scheduled on August 3rd, August 18th, August 30th, and September 14th, 2024, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. The approval was unanimous. The main discussion revolved around reconsidering a prior requirement for a fire watch detail at an outdoor event for the Belmont Club on Franklin Street. Board member Michael Pera raised concerns about capacity and liability. The board chair, Greg, reported that Deputy Chief Neil Fado of the Fall River Fire Department indicated a fire watch was not necessary for this specific event, as the club's security would be responsible for crowd count and they were not expected to exceed indoor capacity. After discussion, the board voted unanimously to rescind the requirement for a fire detail, conditional upon receiving written notification from the Fall River Fire Department confirming its non-necessity. Finally, the board unanimously approved the minutes from the May 15th, 2024 meeting.
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City Officials
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for of a license support meeting of Wednesday July 31st 2024 at 9:00 a.m. um to my right is Melanie cadero we will wait before we hear your your petition for Mr Pera to come in but I'll get started um pursuant to the open meeting law any person may make an audio or video recording of this public hearing and may transmit the meeting through any media attendees are therefore advised
0:25that such recording of Transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and not deemed acknowledge and permissible the city Charter section 9-18 mandates that all multiple member bodies develop and adopt rules of policy of public comment we have adopted such a policy which in short provides for Citizens inut specific matter at the beginning of the meeting there is a Signum sheet located
0:54in the back of the nobody signs up correctly okay we're going to just take a couple of minutes though wa for Mike to come and then we'll get started because I have things to do but I mean it would only take a few minutes here I don't think cuz we know obviously what we're here for
1:54morning for the record Michael Pera has joined the meeting um agenda item one public input there has been none item two one day alcohol permits for associate do culture of syriana 120 koville Street Lewis melon looking for one day all alcoholic beverage permits for August 3rd August 18th August 30th and September 14th 2024 um this matter was brought to the board's attention um when Mr melum was in on our last
2:27regularly scheduled monthly meeting and we wanted to make sure that we cleaning up the reckon and making sure everything was done on point so he submitted the application and we're holding this meeting today to address these Mr melon um what times were these uh what time of these um these events scheduled for sry all right mostly afternoon okay do you have a time frame to put on there uh it's
2:53usually between 1: and 8: p.m. okay so how about how about if we put it for 12:00 noon till 8:00 p.m. that's fine okay and you know that the the circumstance regarding any police details you have all that information correct um I don't have any other questions anybody have any questions on this nope if not I I'll entertain a motion I'll make a motion to approve the one day all alcohol permits for sociedad cultural
3:21assana for the following dates of August 3rd August 18th August 30th and September 14th 2024 so okay anybody in favor of that petition anybody oppos hearing n um all those in favor I all those opposed granted Mr Mel thank you thank you thanks U just one question uh next year cuz we have a lot more than that early in the year but it was never done so next year can we like
3:49at the very beginning of the year apply for a whole year yes okay absolutely that's what we'll do okay save your time and you guys time thank you thank you have a good day are you got to pick those licenses up okay yeah there's a board there we put them up no you have to come to me oh yeah Che them yeah yes okay M tomor whenever you'd like no
4:09worries at all that's fine thank you bye sir article three on the agenda is old business new business a discuss Belmont Club Duty for Franklin Street outdoor event criteria um I just want to address the board in this regard I had a conversation with uh deputy chief Neil Fado regarding um the concern that Mr PR the rightful concern that Mr PR I had relative to having a fire fireman there a fir watch
4:35um based on that he told me that it really wasn't necessary to have a fireman there that they would not be responsible uh for anything to do with the count or what have you so he it was his recommendation that you know it not be put in as a condition he did tell me that on that particular day he was going to attempt to have one of the I think he
4:57said I don't want to be quarter but I think he said one of the district Chiefs that was actually on duty stopped by the event to make sure everything was in order um but it was his opinion that it was not needed um so therefore we were asked to bring it back to have a reconsideration of that uh requirement but I did speak to him I am comfortable
5:15with what he said um in so far as they wouldn't be undertaking any of that that would be that would be the responsibility of the Belmont Club security team and they would be responsible for the account and if it went over it would be a violation of their license and they would be in trouble he did say to me that they when when an establishment Just for future reference when an establishment has an
5:40event that they feel as though they're going to go over their capacity when they know that they're going to have more people then is when the the board should have um a condition that a fire uh the fire prevention be there simply because it's a fire hazard because they're telling you they're going to go over their capacity but in this particular case they have saying they're going to be outside they're going to
6:02stay within their capacity indoors if they don't it's a violation we may want to just say something over to the building department they could go by and check as well but he said there was no need to have a uh a firew watch on that particular day okay so I have a couple issues with that uh one is I don't believe they can anyone can go over there their um licensed uh capacity so
6:24if you tell if you tell somebody we may go over op capacity they can't no no they'd have to come here yeah and ask us to go over to to to wave their um W their capacity in other words let's assume it was the Belmont club and the Belmont Club said on this particular day we believe we're going over our 77 capacity they can come and ask us permission for that one event but in so
6:45doing they'll beide oh yeah he said no you can't that's the building commissioner's he he told he told me that's when they've got involved maybe but maybe they get involved with the building inspector and they have a fire I don't think that I don't think that in other words we can't let anybody go over is that what I'm saying no way um and um with saying that I have do we need do we need action
7:09to resend my last um I think we can just take a vote to to um amend the the prior approval Michael so I will make that motion to amend it with everything that um Greg just said in writing from deputy chief Neil because if uh uh for because if something happens after we've already made this action and something happens there and there's a fire and somebody gets hurt or even worse killed everybody's going to be running
7:42for cover because that's how it works that's what I didn't say that I I'm not saying I'm not making accusation some would deny it but people will be saying well you know then then that we liable well you you made the action but you descended the action you you sended the action so if um if the deputy is Chief is so inclined to have no detail there I'd like him to put it in writing all
8:04the communications he's had with this board with you um Carrie and with the um with the um chair and then fine we don't I don't think we have to come back I'll make the motion to we send my actions earlier the last meeting with the stipulation that we get all of that in writing once that's in writing no problem that someone will go by that they don't need one yeah I want
8:30to make that clear he said he was going to try try well that's fine he'll try I just don't want I just want you to know Michael that's what he said to me I don't want to put words I said he was he said it was depending who was on duty right be quite honest I have grave concerns with the capacity of that uh that establishment during this event quite frankly all the time you know okay
8:48I mean I don't think their capacity says you could be shoulder toosh shoulder in in in your establishment cuz I've been in there when it's been show the show I haven't oh I have and and I every time that's happened I said wow this is crazy you know you told me that so um now did I take action as a police officer no I didn't you know but I that of often
9:11concerned me now you know again not I I haven't been in there 50 times a year maybe once in five years you know or once in two years or once in a year whatever but uh I do have grave concerns about the capacity and especially at at an additional event where you have an outside you know you know this when's this date of this 15th no no when's it when's it it's pretty soon that's why we
9:35had the special meeting um it is August 18th okay August 18th there's a thunderstorm on August 18th which they prob quite possibly could they're telling me people are not going to try to get in that building you know it's you know it's it's just a concern of mine we're here for the the safety of this citizenship you know not here for um we we've been this board has over the years and certainly since I've been on
10:02it and certainly since you've been on it Greg has uh very Pro business and pro uh uh activity and so on you know in the city and I want and I know Melanie feels the same way as well as pro pro business is we want we want the city to grow but safety has to be our number one concern that's what we're here I agree and so no problem if uh deputy chief Neil Fado
10:26wants to put everything in writing then I'll uh beend my last I'll make a motion that I'll resend my last stipulation of hiring a firefighter during this event if the deputy would be so inclined to put these these these things I can ask I can't guarantee he has then then I won't resend my my my last thing has they have to have the actions already been taken they have to have a firefighter the
10:46action is done right now as we speak they have to have a firefighter so if he if he can put that stuff in writing they don't have to have a firefighter but if he says no I'm not putting in writing i' I'd find that very odd and suspect and they have to have a firefighter simple I have a second to that motion I'll second okay anybody in favor anybody opposed so the motion is that we
11:10will resend the action requiring a fire detail on the condition that uh the for of fire department provides us with u a written um notification that it's not necessary under these uh these conditions correct correct yes all those in favor I all those opposed motion carries okay and now approv and sign the May 15th minutes sorry they're already here car could we uh can the can the um
11:41right where the little sticky is because there's so much a catch I apologize which I'm sure you're going to do this anyways but just officially can you let the three of us know pretty much immediately of his response sure will I'm going to try to get inou with them right now so upstairs okay could I have a motion to adjourn well we have to make a motion to approve the oh I apologize I thought I
12:04did and I'm sorry I'll make a motion to approve the May 15th 20124 minutes have a second second all those in favor I all those opposed they are approved and now can to have a motion to ad I apologize I'll make a motion to adjourn
12:27second okay I'm got to I got to run up to the sixth floor me too bye M have a good day