MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 at 7:30 P.M.

CUMBERLAND PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM

1379 DIAMOND HILL ROAD, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting of the Cumberland Board of License Commissioners was called to order at 7:33p.m.; all members are present. 

ACCEPTANCE OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

A.    Acceptance of Minutes of the regular meeting of August 19. 2026.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MAGILL, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SHAW, AND IT WAS UANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 7/0.

OLD BUSINESS

A.    CLASS BV LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFER – PUBLIC HEARING

1.      An application for a Class BV License transfer from Jose Almeida dba Valley Park Pub to Mar & Morna LLC located at 17 Mill St.

 

Chairman Shaw noted that approval of this application would be pending receipt of an insurance certificate, a permit to make sales, Department of Health approval, and a signed lease.

The public hearing was opened at 7:34 p.m.

Chairman Shaw invited the applicants to approach the microphone and state their names and addresses for the record. After a brief adjustment to the microphone, Patricia Silva introduced herself along with her husband, Jose Silva, noting they are the applicants seeking the license transfer for 17 Mill Street in Cumberland.

Chairman Shaw invited Ms. Silva to speak to her vision for the business. Ms. Silva, who described herself as a little nervous, shared that she and her husband have always dreamed of opening a restaurant. While they had originally envisioned a breakfast place, the new venture will focus on Portuguese food, reflecting Ms. Silva’s heritage. They’ve always dreamt of opening a restaurant to cook their food, to put it out there to the public. 

Chairman Shaw reassured her, noting that compared to budget season—when hundreds of residents attend—this was a comparatively small audience, and expressed the Board's excitement at welcoming new business to town.

Chairman Shaw reminded the applicants that pending approval that evening, they would need to submit the outstanding documentation to the Clerk’s Office to move the process forward.

 

The public hearing was closed at 7:36 p.m.

Chairman Shaw opened the floor for discussion or motions from commissioners.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KINCH, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE LICENSE TRANSFER PENDING AN INSURANCE CERTIFICATE, PERMIT TO MAKE SALES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROVAL, AND A SIGNED LEASE.  VOTE 7/0.

Chairman Shaw congratulated the applicants and reminded them to get the required documentation to Sandra in the Clerk’s Office. 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  CLASS F1 ONE DAY FULL LIQUOR LICENSE

1.     An application from Bev Voyage LLC for a September 5, 2026 wedding at The Lodge at Diamond Hill from 4 – 9 p.m.

 

Chairman Shaw noted this application was in order. 

The public hearing at 7:37 p.m.  

Gina Torricelli, owner of Bev Voyage LLC, residing at 46 Cedar Crest Drive in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, came forward.

Chairman Shaw noted that Bev Voyage had previously served at the Lodge at Diamond Hill, which Ms. Torricelli confirmed. Chairman Shaw acknowledged it as a pretty nice venue. The wedding in question is scheduled for the following Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 4:00 to 9:00 PM.

Commissioner Bradley asked whether there had been any prior trouble associated with liquor licenses at the Lodge at Diamond Hill.

The Mayor confirmed there had been no liquor license issues. When pressed further by Commissioner Bradley, who had heard secondhand about a scuffle or fight at a wedding at the venue, the Mayor clarified there was a sort of scuffle in the parking lot.  The answer is yes, he confirmed it occurred after an event.

Commissioner Bradley asked whether that prior incident involved the current vendor. Chairman Shaw sought clarification, asking if Commissioner Bradley was raising the incident because he believed Bev Voyage had been the vendor at that prior event. Commissioner Bradley indicated he did not know who the vendor had been and was asking in general terms. The Mayor clarified that the incident was not related to whichever vendor had served at that prior event.

Chairman Shaw confirmed there was no known connection between the prior parking lot incident and Bev Voyage LLC. With no further questions, Chairman Shaw asked if anyone in the audience or on Zoom wished to speak. Hearing none, the public hearing was closed at 7:37 PM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KINCH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAGILL, AND IT WAS UNANIMOULSY VOTED TO APPROVE THE LICENSE.  VOTE 7/0.

B.  CLASS F ONE DAY FULL LIQUOR LICENSE

1.      An application for a Class F license from Phantom Farms II LLC for Fall Fest event on September 12 and 13, September 19 and 20, September 26 and 27, October 3 and 4, October 10 and 11, October 17 and 18 and October 24 and 25, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. located at 2920 Diamond Hill Road.

 

The public hearing was opened at 7:40 p.m. 

Jason Macari, of 3100 Diamond Hill Road, came forward as the representative of Phantom Farms II LLC. 

Chairman Shaw immediately raised a procedural concern asking Mr. Macari how many Class F1 licenses Phantom Farms had already obtained from the town in the current year. Mr. Macari responded that he did not believe any had been issued in 2026, though some had been obtained the prior year.

Chairman Shaw explained that state law limits such licenses to 12 per year, and the current application lists 14 dates, meaning the Board could only approve 12.

The Town Solicitor offered context specifically that the statutory language around the limit may not count individual days but rather "events," and that contiguous days might be considered a single event. She cautioned against committing to that interpretation without reviewing the statute but suggested the Board could approve the license subject to a later determination of how the dates are counted.

Mr. Macari agreed to this approach, acknowledging he didn't think of it as 12 or 13 events, he think of it as 1.

Chairman Shaw noted that if weekends were treated as individual events, the total would likely be six or seven, well within the statutory limit.

Mr. Macari proceeded to describe the Fall Fest event. He characterized it as primarily geared around kids, featuring bounce houses, hay bale mazes, hay wagon rides, face painting, and similar family-friendly activities. The liquor license, he explained, is sought so that the farm's brewery may serve beer and cider during the event.  He also addressed a question that had come up at prior meetings regarding attendance. He acknowledged that the figure of 100 had been cited previously but clarified that 100 refers to the number of tickets sold for Fall Fest activities specifically. The overall number of people visiting the farm on a given Fall Fest Day, including those visiting the farm independent of the ticketed event, is estimated at between 800 and 1,200 people.  He noted not holding him to it, but that's about what he thinks the number of people that visit the farm on a given day. 

Mr. Macari also voluntarily addressed ongoing concerns about parking in neighboring streets. He explained that following complaints from neighbors—expressed both directly to him and to the council—the farm made significant changes at their two vendor fairs held earlier in the year. Working with police assistance for temporary no-parking signage in the two adjacent neighborhoods, the farm also cleared additional areas at the back of the property to accommodate parking on-site. He estimated the farm can accommodate roughly 80 to 90 vehicles in the front parking areas and an additional 125 or so on grassy overflow areas, for a combined total of approximately 200 spaces. There'll be a little overflow, but I don't think we have anything near the last few years.

Chairman Shaw noted a discrepancy between the application, which listed 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Mr. Macari's description of the event's operational hours.

Mr. Macari clarified that Fall Fest typically runs until 3:00 p.m.  He drives the tractor himself and noted that by 3:00 p.m. the lines are down, rides are stopped, and bounce houses are deflated. He apologized if it was 2 o'clock on the submission, it should be 3 o'clock. 

The Town Solicitor clarified that since this is an F license rather than an F1, the matter of when the broader festivities end is separate from when alcohol service must cease. She suggested the Board could simply amend the agenda and the motion to reflect a 3:00 PM end time for alcohol service.

Chairman Shaw agreed and called for a motion to amend the agenda accordingly.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KINCH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAGILL, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO REFLECT AN END TIME OF 3:00 PM (RATHER THAN 2:00 PM) FOR THE PHANTOM FARMS II LLC CLASS F LICENSE APPLICATION.  VOTE 7/0.

With the agenda amended, Chairman Shaw invited any remaining comments from Mr. Macari.

Mr. Macari indicated there was another matter related to the possible removal of one event date from a prior meeting that he wished to raise, but Chairman Shaw noted that topic was not on the current agenda and would be addressed at the regular town council meeting to follow.

The public hearing was closed at 7:53 PM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KINCH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SWEET, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE CLASS F ONE DAY FULL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR PHANTOM FARMS II LLC FOR THE FALL FEST EVENT, PENDING CLARIFICATION FROM THE TOWN SOLICITOR REGARDING THE NUMBER OF ALLOWABLE LICENSED DATES UNDER STATE LAW.  VOTE 7/0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Chairman Shaw opened public comment, noting that remarks must relate to liquor licensing matters.

A member of the public, Pat Ford of 1 Esek Hopkins Lane, Cumberland, came forward and began to raise a topic unrelated to liquor licensing.

The Town Solicitor reminded Mr. Ford that the floor was currently open for public comment specifically as it pertains to the license matters heard that evening, and that there would be two opportunities for general public comment during the Town Council meeting to follow immediately after.

Mr. Ford acknowledged this and stepped back, though he offered a brief suggestion that the agenda language be made clearer in the future so that residents would know in advance what subject matter public comment would be limited to. Chairman Shaw acknowledged the suggestion.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION COMMISSIONER MAGILL, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KINCH, TO ADJOURN AT 7:56P.M.  VOTE 7/0.