Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners

September 25, 2024

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners was held Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 6:45 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – Councilor Coderre.

 

Chairperson Mercer presided.

 

 

1.      The reading of the records of September 11, 2024 was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

 

2. Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the *Consent Agenda was APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

3. *THE FOLLOWING PETITIONS FOR LICENSES WERE APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

HAWKER LICENSE New –

 

Providence Dumpling (Providence Dumpling Company LLC) 379 Benefit St. LIC#PED-24-70

                                                  

VICTUALLING HOUSE Fist Class New –

 

Natalies Pizza (RNG Kitchen LLC) 1479 Newport Ave. LIC#VIC-24-9

(Prev. Rania Habchi - Natalies Pizza)

 

4.      Communication from Luis Rosado, owner of Harmony, to Michelle Hardy, Deputy City Clerk. (Update to the kennel building – insulation) was READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

5.      Communication from Mattie (Dunlap) Weeden and Seamus Weeden, 64 Vale Street, to Pawtucket City Council. (Kennel at 65 Patterson Avenue) was READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

6.      Communication from Keara Whitsey, 45 Patterson Avenue, to Pawtucket City Council. (Kennel at 65 Patterson Avenue) was READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

7.      Communication from Elizabeth Sousa, 52 Vale Street, to Pawtucket City Council. (Kennel at 65 Patterson Avenue) was READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

8.      THE FOLLOWING INFORMAL HEARING WAS POSTPONED AT THE MEETING HELD AUGUST 7, 2024, AND IS AGAIN TAKEN UP:

 

KENNEL LICENSE – Harmony (Harmony Dog Training LLC) 65 Patterson Avenue, LIC#16185

 

Speaking was Luis Rosado, 213 Grand Street, Woonsocket, RI, applicant.

 

Councilor Gregor stated that there was no barking, no smell, and the place was clean during a surprise visit he made to the kennel.               .

 

Mr. Rosado stated that he insulated the windows to dampen noise.  Upon checking the cameras at night, he has heard no barking and got no complaints about it.  He has tried to alleviate the problem.

 

President Mercer stated that he got a letter from a neighbor saying that feces were washed onto her property.

 

Mr. Rosado will go over the protocols for cleaning feces.  They pick up as much poop as they can before they wash it away.

 

Mr. Rosado stated that he was only doing training until he got his state kennel license which allows him to be open nights.

 

Speaking was Lt. Skahan, Pawtucket Police Department.

 

Lt. Skahan became aware of the kennel when an inspection was done. He received letters of complaint, and spoke to Mr. Rosado. He inspected the kennel during the day and heard no barking.  He also spoke to Ms. Whitsey, who said the barking is usually later in the day.

 

Mr. Rosado stated that he did upgrades after the August 24 letter was received.

 

He admits there was some barking when dogs arrived, but it was not excessive.

 

He has a license to hold up to 14 dogs, 20 with dogs being trained.

 

Mr. Rosado is looking to soundproof the back wall.

 

He currently has six dogs boarding overnight.

 

Speaking was Keara Whitsey, 45 Patterson Street, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Ms. Whitsey bought her house in 2023.

 

She stated that the kennel has been a nightmare, with dogs barking from 7:00 a.m. until 7:15 p.m.

 

She played a video of dogs barking.

 

Animal control spoke to her. She played a 2^nd video with dogs barking at 7 a.m.

 

She stated that she should not have to live like this.

 

She stated that Luis had no solutions on abating noise.

 

She can smell dog poop.

 

There are five houses near the kennel.  She has called the police several times. The noise has been going on for months.

 

She played a 3^rd video form 8:42 p.m. – barking still going on at 10:50 p.m. and at 2:00 a.m.

 

She had a list of police calls.

 

She stated that dogs are very loud when being trained.

 

Speaking is Mattie Weeden, 64 Vale Street, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Ms. Weeden was told that dog training is an art, there won’t be noise.

 

She stated that the smell is bad and there is noise.

 

She called the police and animal control. She feels like she was being ignored.

 

The noise arouses her dogs.  Nothing is getting better.

 

Councilor Gregor wanted written reports from Zoning, Animal Control and the Police regarding complying with the kennel license, any violations and disturbances.

 

Mr. Rosado stated that in August he hired someone to do training, who was fired half way through his contract because he didn’t mitigate noise.

 

He stated that the dog making noise on the videos was untrainable and was euthanized.

 

There were no other speakers. The hearing was closed.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR GREGOR.

 

With majority consent of the Board, the following motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilor Araujo, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Police Chief, regarding any call lists or reports; to Carl Johnson, Zoning Director, regarding any reports on non-compliance with the kenne license or other violations, and to Animal Control, regarding any reports of disturbances since Harmony’s license was approved in March of 2024.

 

 

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, WAS TAKEN UP:

 

9. CLASS B (VICTUALLER) New – The Industrial Café (AC Property Management LLC) 120 Webster Street, LIC#16255® #16256 (ent)

 

Speaking in favor was John Comey, 18 Oakhill Avenue, Attleboro, MA., applicant.

 

Mr. Comey stated that there will be a small café with liquor and music and once in a while there will be events, such as birthday, runway shows, ethnic events.

 

For food he will have pizza.

 

Mike Bettencourt will oversee the place. Standing room capacity is 200, and with tables and chairs they expect a cap of about 150.

 

Mr. Comey owns two buildings which will be torn down for parking.  Also, he stated that for parking he could rent space from a nearby law office.

 

The hours will be from 4:00 p.m. until 12:45 a.m., 7 days a week.  There will be some outside tables, up to four.

 

He has 32 security cameras.

 

He is trying to bring in parents with small children.

 

Entertainment will include DJ’s and live music.

 

The walls are soundproof.

 

Speaking is Mike Bettencourt, 95 Samuel Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Mr. Bettencourt stated that events will be very controlled - family friendly.

 

There will be signage on the building.

 

Speaking is Emanuel Vieira, 142 Webster Street, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Mr. Vieira stated that over the last 20 years Webster Street gone to hell, with motorcycle gang clubs, people smoking weed, making noise. One club has Latin music outside until 12:30 am.

 

There are auto repair shops with cars revving their engines at midnight.

 

Mr. Vieira stated that people come in to the council and ask nicely to have a liquor license, but once they get the license it causes problems.

 

They have fire trucks and rescues there all the time.

 

He stated that if it would be up to him, there would be none of that. He can hear music in his house late at night.

 

By the time the police come, the problems are gone.

 

Speaking is Joanne Barbiero (via zoom) 160 Coyle Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Ms. Barbiero was concerned about the parking lot on Coyle Avenue being the main entrance.  There have been problems with cars parking half on the street and half on the sidewalk.

 

At one event, the lot did not empty until 3:00 a.m.  Cars block her driveway.

 

At the last two events, lots emptied at 11:00 p.m., which was great.

 

The doors have been open, so music comes pouring out.

 

Mr. Comey stated that the problems Mr. Vieira noted were across the street, not from his building.   Problems also were with the prior tenant, who finished up last week.

 

Michelle Hardy noted that the prior tenant never picked up her license to operate.

 

There were no other speakers. The hearing was closed.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following petition for license was APPROVED with outdoor seating and the following stipulation, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

STIPULATION.

1.      Closed by midnight with last call at 11:30 p.m.  All patrons must be out by 12:00 midnight and employees out by 12:30 p.m.   The council will re-evaluate the closing time after six months.   

 

CLASS B (VICTUALLER) New – The Industrial Café (AC Property Management LLC) 120 Webster Street, LIC#16255® #16256 (ent)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN;

 

With majority consent of the Board, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Araujo, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to the Pawtucket Police Department, regarding the approval of the Class B (Victualler) license of the Industrial Café, 120 Webster Street.  Upon motion by Councilor Moran, the Board requested that the police provide a report in three months and then again in six months on any calls to the police department or any violations regarding that establishment.

 

THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A LICENSE WAS APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

10.  ENTERTAINMENT (One-Day) – Petition of Shri Studio Service Corps & Bark for license to have entertainment at Fundraiser with Live Music Trio, 390 Pine Street, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. LIC#EVT-24-69 (Alcohol to be sold by Class P Caterer)

 

THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR A LICENSE WAS APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

11.  ENTERTAINMENT (One-Day) – Petition of Coastal Cultivators Classic Inc for license to have entertainment at Coastal Cultivators Classic Presents “Latin Night” with DJ, at 125 Esten Avenue, (outdoors) on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. LIC#EVT-24-70 (Alcohol to be sold by Class P Caterer)

 

THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR LICENSES WAS APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

12.  ENTERTAINMENT AND CLASS F (Beer & Wine) - Petition of Pawtucket Film Festival, for license to conduct the 2024 Pawtucket Film Festival and to sell beer and wine at 190 Exchange Street (outdoors), on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. LIC#EVT-24-71

 

THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR LICENSES WAS APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

13.  ENTERTAINMENT AND CLASS F (Beer & Wine) - Petition of Pawtucket Film Festival, for license to conduct the Pawtucket Film Festival and to sell beer and wine at 175 Main Street, on Saturday, November 2, 2024, and Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. LIC#EVT-24-72

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Rubio, the meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.