City passes new alcohol sales policies for fairgrounds, other facilities

From now on, any organization wanting to sell alcohol at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds and other city-owned facilities will have to adhere to stricter rules and policies.

By a 3-0 vote, the Watertown City Council approved a series of policies pertaining to beer sales at Watertown Wizards summer collegiate baseball games, summer concerts and other events at the fairgrounds and at other city-owned facilities. Councilmen Jeffrey M. Smith and Joseph M. Butler Jr. were absent from the meeting.

“I think they bring clarity to everyone,” Ms. Burns said later, adding that both city staff and Parks and Recreation Department users will now know what to expect when beer is sold at the fairgrounds and other city facilities.

The city has been working on the policies after learning that the Parks and Recreation Department was not following state Liquor Authority regulations regarding alcohol sales at city facilities. As a result, the council hired consultant Anthony J. Casale, former chairman of the state Liquor Authority and CEO of the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to help draw up new ones.

Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, who has repeatedly said he has reservations about having alcohol sold at events, said he was glad the policies are now in place.

“Hopefully, it’s a step forward,” he said.

According to one of the biggest changes, a seasonal beer permit from the state Liquor Authority will be required at Wizards games, instead of day permits.

The policy also spells out beer sales for county fair week, concerts and special events held in the Jefferson County Agricultural Society Building and the fairgrounds ice arena. The city will no longer receive a 10 percent share in alcohol sales, as was the case for years.

The city has also put together guidelines to consider when the city reviews alcohol sales permit applications.

Last summer, Mr. Graham and other council members voiced concerns about beer sales at fairgrounds events after some concertgoers misbehaved at the Disabled Persons Action Organization’s Tragically Hip concert June 24.

The beer sales issue came up after council members discovered that the two-person Parks Department was in disarray.

In other business, the council did not take action on a $20,000 offer to sell the old Berow & Monroe shoe store building to Alex Rahmi, the West Virginia man who lost the property last June after failing to pay back taxes on it.

Council members also have decided not give an annual review to either City Manager Mary M. Corriveau or City Clerk Ann M. Saunders. Mrs. Corriveau will be leaving her position on April 28, while Ms. Saunders began her position in December.