The Fall River Licensing Board met on May 24, 2021, with board members attending in person at City Hall and applicants and members of the public participating remotely via Zoom. At the start of the meeting, the Chairman noted that former board member Mr. McCoy had resigned the previous Thursday following his appointment as interim chief of staff, leaving a two-member board consisting of the Chairman and Mrs. Esposito. As a result, any decisions required unanimous approval.
The sole application on the agenda was a petition by Samida Corporation, doing business as Country Farm Convenience Variety at 144 East Main Street, for the transfer of a beer and wine package store license and a change of location from a South Main and North Main Street location previously operated by Bulge Corporation. Attorney Mark L. Levin and applicant Paresh Patel presented the request, outlining plans for dedicated beer and wine coolers and requested sales hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Abutter Brian Kurt of 118 East Main Street spoke in opposition, raising concerns regarding clerk inattentiveness, exterior building maintenance, lack of cooler locking mechanisms, and requested restrictions against single-container alcohol sales.
Due to ambiguities in the store floor layout diagrams and questions regarding physical segregation of alcohol from regular store goods during non-sale hours, the Board chose not to vote on final approval. The Board voted 2-0 to table the application and continue the matter to allow for a formal, posted site visit scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
Topics discussed
- 0:47 · Board Composition and Quorum
The Chairman announced Mr. McCoy’s resignation due to his appointment as interim chief of staff, establishing that unanimous agreement of the remaining two members was necessary. - 1:45 · License Transfer and Change of Location – 144 East Main Street
Attorney Mark L. Levin and applicant Paresh Patel presented the proposal to transfer a beer and wine package store license to Country Farm Convenience Variety at 144 East Main Street. - 10:49 · Alcohol Segregation and Operating Hours
The Board questioned the applicant on how alcoholic beverages would be segregated and secured from general merchandise during non-sale hours, as well as proposed hours of operation. - 12:06 · Public Opposition – Brian Kurt
Neighbor Brian Kurt raised issues concerning clerk attentiveness, potential shoplifting, exterior property maintenance, and requested a ban on single-unit sales. - 23:51 · Scheduling of Site Inspection — tabled
The Board scheduled an on-site inspection of 144 East Main Street for Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. prior to taking action on the application. - 26:45 · Motion to adjourn the meeting — passed