WESTFIELD – The License Commission handed down suspensions and issued warnings to six businesses with liquor licenses after city police provided testimony of minors being served alcoholic beverages during a sting operation.
The sting was conducted by the Community Policing Bureau of the Westfield Police Department last August under strict guidelines established by the License Commission under state law, Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) and local policies.
The commission handed down the most stringent suspension to Ryan’s Package Store located on Franklin Street because of its recent history. The board voted to impose an eight-day suspension of the license, then modified that suspension.
Ryan’s will have to close for two days later this month. An additional six days of the suspension will be held in abeyance for the next eight months and forgiven if there are no future violation for selling alcohol to minors undere the age of 21-years-old.
Two restaurants were also cited for violations during the sting operation. Pasquale’s Restaurant on Elm Street was also issued a four-day suspension, which will be held in abeyance for the next 12 months, while Clemenza’s, which opened just prior to the sting, was issued a letter of warning based upon the owner Anthony Martone’s history in other communities.
Two package stores, Pop the Cork on East Silver Street and Mr. Phipps on North Elm Street, were also cited for underage sales. Pop the Cork, which is under new management, was issued a three-day suspension to be held in abeyance for eight months, while Mr. Phipps was issued a letter of warning.
The Whip City Brew pub on North Elm Street, cited for two counts of underage serving, was issued a four-day suspension to be held in abeyance for 12 months. Board members noted that the pub has made significant changes to reduce problems.
Community Policing Sergeant Eric Hall said that Whip City Brew owners have instituted policies which “have dropped the call volume and attracted a different (patron clientele).”
Commissioner Edward Diaz said that “I do see some progress here.”
Commission Chairman Christopher Mowatt said that an ABCC over-serving citation issued late in 2011 was “not underage serving” and should not weigh heavily in the board’s deliberation of the sting violations.
“I think they are on the right track,” Mowatt said.
