I’ve taken a few weeks to process this but find that I am still shocked and appalled at the decision the license commission made a few weeks ago. This is in regards to an incident that happened at a local bar and involved a violent act of one of the employees against a customer. I am first appalled by the lack of representation by the police department at the meeting regarding this incident. At previous meetings regarding incidents at other bars, the police presence was much greater. Unnecessary but nonetheless greater. So why should this be any different? The decision to give the bar only a warning when previously the commission reduced hours, suspended entertainment licenses, and revoked licenses at other bars for far less offenses is unfair and ridiculous to say the least. This employee seriously injured a customer. Why isn’t this establishment being held responsible? The commission has held other bars responsible for actions of customers, never mind employees. I don’t agree with bars being responsible for customers’ actions because the establishment has no control over the behavior of customers but they do over their employees. Also, I have noticed that a package store that has been cited numerous times for selling to minors, was given a punishment of having to close his business for six days. However, the commission allowed him to close a few days one week and a few days the next on his slowest days. They also worked around a holiday, which is probably one of his best and busiest days. I believe by the commission’s own rules and guidelines it is supposed to be consecutive days. A few other establishments were given this type of a punishment or were made to close but had to do consecutive days. Why is this store given special treatment like this? Playing favoritism? Why does this store get to continue to do business when it is always found serving to minors? These are just another example of the commission’s inability to treat all establishments the same and giving unfair, impartial and inconsistent punishments. Thank you. The amount of police presence at commission meetings is not based on the severity of the event. It is based on the need to obtain as clear an understanding as possible of the event that took place. In the case you are referring, the police report was thorough and included testimony by an eyewitness. Not all reports provide this amount of clarity and in this case, we had the information we needed. The License Commission uses the guidelines set forth by the ABCC for punitive actions and the decision to take a specific action is influenced by nature of the current offense, prior offenses and the general reputation of the establishment. The Commission also takes into consideration actions taken by the license holder both during and after the event; actions that prevent recurrence are favorable vs. no action taken at all. For the case in question, actions to prevent recurrence were immediately taken by the licensee and the history of that establishment did not indicate a need to invoke tougher penalties. In the case of the package store that appears to have received preferential treatment, the Commission reviews each violation on its own merit and again, uses the ABCC guidelines to determine appropriate actions and the penalty applied was consistent with those guidelines. There is no requirement for a suspension to be carried out in its entirety for consecutive days and in fact, we try to work with the licensee as much as possible to ensure that the message is clear regarding the violation while trying not to place the licensee in the unfortunate position of going out of business. If you attend the License Commission meetings, you would hear supporting statements from the commissioners on why a specific penalty was imposed and the reasoning behind the action and while we will make decisions that can at times be argued, we make those decisions honestly and openly in the best interest of Westfield, its residents, its travelers and its license holders. You would think that being on the License Commission would be easy. It’s not.
It is summer. Dog Lovers want to take their dogs with them to run errands. PLEASE, don’t leave your dogs in the vehicle while you go in anywhere to shop. This is fact. If the Air Temperature outside is 85, after 10 minutes the estimated Vehicle Interior Air Temperature is 104. This could mean death to any dog; and a very painful one at that. Do your dog a favor and take him for walk when you get home. You will both be winners.
It is a shame what they did to Stanley Park in the rose garden. They took away a lot of the different kinds of flowers they had. Everything looks mundane and the same and they cut down quite a few big trees and the shade is gone and it is all hot and yucky there now instead of being cool and sitting on any bench and being in the shade. It is all open sun, the majority of it. Not like it used to be.
Another kick in the gut from the state: they’re raising the inspection sticker from $29 to $35. Six bucks all in one shot. This is just like an excuse for another tax. That is all it is. It is another way for the state to make money and spend it foolishly. Why can’t something be done about this? Mr. Velis, I hope you read the PulseLine. Mr. Humason, I hope you do, too. Do something about this, will you please? Thank you. Dear PulseLine, In response to the caller who complained about the Registry of Motor Vehicles arbitrarily raising their registration and inspection fees on Massachusetts motorists I say this: I agree with you! It is outrageous that an agency of the Massachusetts government that already collects hundreds of millions of dollars of motorists’ money can try to justify additional increases on top of higher gasoline taxes and higher sales taxes in the Bay State. Just so you know I voted against both of those broad based taxes when they came before the legislature. But the Registry fees are being raised by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of Transportation, who work directly for Governor Deval Patrick. They do not have to get the approval of the Senate or House first. And they did not. I encourage you to add your voice of opposition to mine. Call the Governor’s Western Mass office at 784-1200 to oppose the increases. Furthermore, remember this when you go to the polls this November: One party control of both the Executive branch and the Legislative branch means there are no checks and balances on tax increases, wasteful spending, or abuse of power. I’m voting for Charlie Baker for Governor and I hope you will too. – Senator Don Humason
Like the individual who wrote into the PulseLine, I am profoundly concerned by the by the recent fee increases imposed by the RMV. He correctly points out that the new fee increases are nothing more than another tax of Massachusetts citizens. It is my full intent to raise this exact topic with the RMV-Department of Transportation forthwith. Of equal concern of mine is the poor level of service provided at RMV’s throughout the Commonwealth. The citizens of Massachusetts deserve better. – Representative John Velis
