Application for a license.
Unless otherwise provided, licenses shall be issued for a twelve-month
calendar year, beginning on January 1. An application for a new license
shall be issued for the remainder of the calendar year. Fees shall
be charged for the entire calendar year even if the license is effective
for only a portion of the calendar year.
All applications must contain complete and truthful information.
Submission of an application containing false information may be cause
for refusing the application or for suspending, canceling or revoking
a license already granted. No application will be accepted for filing
by the Board until it is fully complete in accordance with the Town's
and the ABCC's requirements. Filing fees must be paid prior to
processing of the application by the Board. Annual license fees shall
be payable immediately upon approval of the license by the Board.
All filing fees and license fees shall be paid by cash or check. Filing
fees are non-returnable once an application has been accepted by the
Board. License fees shall not be prorated and are not refundable.
No person or entity shall obtain a license unless the applicant
can demonstrate proof of a legal right to the licensed premises for
the term of the license, such as ownership papers, tenancy documents,
or a management contract.
Applications for a common victualler or innholder liquor license
shall be accompanied by a food and beverages menu (including an alcoholic
beverages menu) and a general description of the operations. Applications
for renewal of such licenses shall be accompanied by a description
of any significant change in operations [such as changes to hours
of food and alcoholic beverages service, and significant changes to
the food and beverages menu (including the alcoholic beverages menu)
and entertainment offerings].
Applications by a common victualler or innholder shall be accompanied by a description of a plan for the control and elimination of litter that complies with Subsection
CC.
Where United States citizenship is stated as a qualification
by these regulations, such citizenship shall be proven by a birth
or naturalization certificate or by proof of registered voter status.
The Board reserves the right to request to inspect a copy of such
proof containing an original seal, in the event an applicant supplies
a photocopy not containing such seal.
The Board shall consider the public need and common good in determining whether or not to grant a request for a new liquor license. In considering whether the public need and common good would be served by granting a new license, the Board may consider the number and location of existing licenses, the sort of operation proposed, the qualifications of the applicant and proposed manager, any impact on the community with respect to matters such as noise, traffic, congestion, odors, sanitary and/or nuisance conditions, waste disposal requirements and facilities, parking, dust and fumes, the impact on the character of the neighborhood and the Town, and whether any articulable harm would follow from the granting of the license. The Board may refuse to grant licenses to common victuallers, inn holders and clubs in certain geographic areas of the Town where the character of the neighborhood may warrant such refusal. As part of the licensing application and renewal process, the Board shall seek advisory reports from the Police Department (to include but not limited to the results of adherence to Wakefield Bylaw Chapter
143), Fire Department, Treasurer/Collector, Health Department, Building Department, and Planning Department, as appropriate.
The Board may deny an application for renewal of a license where
there is cause for doing so. Prior to issuing a renewed license, the
Board shall seek advisory reports from the Police Department, Fire
Department, Treasurer/Collector, Health Department, and Building Department.
The applicant's failure to comply with any federal, state
or local law, regulation, or bylaw may be cause for denial of the
application.
[See MGL c. 138, §§ 12, 15, 15A, 16A, 23, 70;
204 CMR 2.01(1), (7) and (8).]