Jesse Floyd
Compliance Addressed
Town Administrator Patrice Garvin updated the board on three restaurants that had not complied with the requirements of their licenses.
One, Gregory’s House of Pizza on Leonard Street, had completed the necessary work and received its license.
According to Garvin, Shine’s Fresh Asian has worked to reach compliance. Fire Chief David DeStefano told the board the restaurant had fixed issues with the fire suppression system and had pulled permits for electrical work that needed to be done. The restaurant can continue to operate while work is being done.
Theo’s Pizza on Trapelo Road has not responded and cannot open because it no longer has a common victualer’s license granted by the town.
Select Board Chair Roy Epstein asked for another update in two weeks to ensure work was continuing.
Town-Wide Yard Sale
The Board unanimously approved a request for the second Town-Wide Yard sale, scheduled for Sept. 7 from 9 to 3 p.m.
Last fall, 125 households participated in the sale.
Conley’s Outdoor Dining
The Select Board voted 2-1 to allow Conley’s Pub & Grill to use up to two parking spaces in front of the building for outdoor dining.
Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne cast the dissenting vote.
Conley’s Pub & Grille is on Belmont Street in Watertown, but the Belmont town line runs right to the curb in front of the restaurant.
Attorney Joseph Noone pitched the request for another year of outdoor dining to the board, citing the connection to Belmont [two of the owners are former Belmont residents], most of the clientele come from Belmont, and the ownership has made several donations supporting Belmont.
Dionne opted to oppose the request because she had heard concerns about the parking around Conley’s and concerns about a Watertown business taking space away from Belmont businesses. According to Dionne, her opinion could change if she heard support from businesses around Conley’s.
Outdoor dining begins May 6. In order to serve alcohol outdoors, Conley’s will need permission from the state and from Watertown. Now they have approval for the use of the outdoor space in Belmont, that piece of the process can begin.
As the discussion wound down, Epstein pointed out that the Select Board was using rules around outdoor dining developed during COVID-19. Conley’s request pointed out the need to formalize Belmont’s policy on outdoor dining.
“For the long haul, we need a new policy,” he said.
