1997-06-05WILLIAM F. TERRY, Chairman
OLIVER T. COOK, Esq.
GEORGE HELLER
LICENSE BOARD
CITY OF BEVERLY
MASSACHUSETTS
MINUTES - BEVERLY LICENSE BOARD --June 5, 1997
Meeting called to order at 6:12 p.m.
All members present.
Chairman Terry introduced Board members.
1. Application for an All Alcoholic Beverage Restaurant License
from Yanks Inc. at 717 Hale Street.
Mr. Glovsky present to represent the Bergmans.
Mr. Cook removed himself from the proceedings as he is a member
of St. John's Church.
Mr. Glovsky introduced himself as an attorney at 8 Washington
Street in Beverly.
Mr. Glovsky stated the Bergmans are MA Corporation with three
shareholders. Sherri and David Bergman and Richard Ricci,
Sherri's father who will be an investor.
He continued to say that Mrs. Bergman is a BU Grad and has been
involved 8 years in the food business. Is certified by Serve
Safe. Also employees will be required to take program. Mr.
Bergman owns a communications business and is a BU Grad. Mr.
Bergman will be helping in the restaurant. Have been interested
in finding a location. Interested in the Farms area. They have
focused on the Farms looking up and down West Street. Found one
appropriate at 717 Hale Street. Want to be part of the Farms and
downtown improvement. Survey taken and that is what they are
proposing. The Bergmans hope they will be part of the
revitalization. There are a number of empty store fronts. Hope
they will be an anchor for other compatible businesses.
This location is presently vacant, 2200 square feet. Frank
Dennison owns the building. It was previously the office for
Laurel Ridge.
Minutes - June 5, 1997 Page 2
Mr. Glovsky stated that St. John's Church has asked for an
extension to allow them to digest information. He also stated
that they have agreed to begin the Public Hearing this evening,
not close it, and continue it to a future date.
The restaurant will have 97 seats indoors and 16 seats outdoors.
The application s~ys 70-80 seats but the space can comfortably
accommodate 97. Need to amend application. It will be an
upscale, white table cloth restaurant. American Bistro. Sample
menu submitted. Want to use local farmers and local merchants as
much as possible.
Assure you the space will compliment the menu. Proposing design
that is light and airy, distinctive use of light. Want it to be
a gallery for artists. Upscale in all ways. Will employee 10-
12. 4-6 waitpersons. Open 6 days a week, Tuesday - Sunday.
Open for lunch and dinner. Is a commercial zone, require
business to close at midnight. Weekends last call at 11:00.
Week days close earlier. Bar and piano. Jazz bar and piano on
weekends. Not a restaurant that would be an entertainment
destination. Feel it would be in keeping with the neighborhood.
Talked with the neighbors.
One issue that not adequate parking to satisfy Zoning Ordinance.
20 cars can park behind and across the street there is parking
for 10 cars. There are also spaces behind the condos. Don't
anticipate parking problem. Do not anticipate noise problems.
Have talked to lots of people in Beverly Farms. Have a petition
indicating support in the Beverly Farms community. Submitted
returns for abutter notification.
Mr. Terry - Will continue with the Public Hearing and will
accommodate church by not voting this evening. All questions
have been answered.
Anyone in favor of this application?
Melissa Reed, Director of Beverly Chamber of Commerce - read a
letter of support into the record.
Peter Gilmore, City Councillor - Spoke in support. Knows the
Bergmans very well. If given the opportunity, they will run a
first-class restaurant. Will be an asset. They are fine people.
Economic revitalization requires an anchor. My experience that
the Farms lacks an operation, business that will be an ~nchor.
This will provide that anchor. Give people a reason to spend
money in Beverly Farms. City of Beverly needs businesses. Give
people a reason to stop. Please give fair consideration to this
application.
Minutes - June 5, 1997 Page 3
Councillor Bill Coughlin - Find the need for a restaurant is
substantial. Farms people have expressed the need. Like to be
on record as being in favor.
Jane Brusca - Farms Prides Mother's Club - Group consisting of 85
women. Letter read into the record as being in favor.
Kevin Margolis - Director - Beverly Farms Improvement Society -
Reinforce our support of the Bergmans. Survey indicated an
overwhelming response for a new restaurant.
Sherwin Ritter, Common Lane - In favor, Bergmans are committed to
quality. Anything they undertake will serve the City well.
Anyone in opposition?
Joseph Callahan - Opposed - they are fine upstanding citizens.
Have a building that borders and have two tenants. There is not
sufficient parking. Have no fault to find with the Bergmans.
Not enough parking. Will be a nightmare. Tenants upstairs.
Erin and Brian Sweeney, 5 Everett Street - Live next to the
parking lot, have concerns about noise and parking.
George Mosse - Do not feel Beverly Farms needs re-vitalization.
Heard there was overwhelming request for a restaurant, do not
feel a survey of 102 is overwhelming.
Eric Brandhorst, live across from the Sweeneys - concerned about
the noise factor and parking. Heard a lot about business. There
are a lot of people who live there. Concern with general
increase of traffic and emphasize it is home to a lot of people.
Paul Weingartner, 12 Everett Street - Beverly Farms is great the
way it is. Pretty much residential. It is around homes.
Traffic and noise and parking are serious concerns. Very
concerned about noise, traffic and parking. Do not feel
something that size belongs in that setting.
Judy Mosse - What happens to license if business fails?
Peggy Thorndike - Haven't made up my mind. What has to happen
first to make this succeed? Severe parking problem. Can't see
where the cars are going to go. I think parking has to be
addressed first. I think there are other things that need to be
attended to first before we can entertain a business of this
size.
Minutes - June 5, 1997 Page 4
Adeline Polese, Hale Street - Not too concerned about traffic,
but proximity to St. John's Church. Large parking lot. St.
John's has scheduled activities four nights and every day. If
there are no places.to park will park in St. John's lot. Used
for educational purposes, services, AAmeets there, christenings.
St. John's does not want to police their lot for parking. Means
every single available space will be used by Yanks. If there is
a delivery, they will double park.
Attorney Alexander - St. John's Church has some serious
reservations. Would like until the continuance on the 12th to be
able to discuss them. Will meet with the Bergmans. Continue the
hearing to allow ample time. Next Thursday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Terry - Commended all of the citizens for coming to the
Public Hearing. Not often we have this many people.
Mr. Cook rejoined the Board.
2. Seasons Deli and Gourmet Foods - Application to pledge
license. Mr. Harrison present - stated he needed to apply to
Beverly Cooperative Bank for more money. The bank wants to have
license pledged to them. Copy of agreement with the bank.
Mr. Cook - Problem with the language in the pledge. Request we
hold off until next Thursday, June 12 to check it out.
3. One day licenses -
Farms-Prides for June 28. Motion by Mr. Heller to approve.
Seconded by Mr. Cook. Motion carried 3-0.
Trustees of Reservations for June 1, 14, 15, 21, 28 and 29,
July 12, and 13. Motion by Mr. Cook to approve. Seconded by Mr.
Heller. Motion carried 3-0.
ICC for July 26
licenses by approved.
0.
and 27. Motion by Mr. Cook that the
Seconded by Mr. Heller. Motion carried 3-
Landmark School - Application for a 25th Reunion. Clerk
instructed to check the location and notify them license would be
for only 4 hours. Motion to approve by Mr. Heller, seconded by
Mr. Cook. Motion carried 3-0.
4. Police Report r__e Kitty O'Sheas's for an incident on May 2.
Clerk instructed to invite Mr. Giblin in for July 10 meeting.
Also to invite Police representatives Negrotti, McCarthy and
Roccio.
Minutes - June 5, 1997
Page 5
5. Endicott College - one day licenses for May 16 and June 11
- Mr. Cook excused himself from participating in this item as his
wife is an employee of Endicott. Motion made by Mr. Heller to
approve the license, seconded by Mr. Terry. Motion carried 2-0.
6. Wine Tasting - Mr. Finn wanted to know if he could hold Wine
Tastings in his establishments. Board ok'd his request.
Regulations state the servings can be no larger than 1 oz, there
be no charge and the wine must be available for sale on the
premises.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk