McDonald’s renovations spark concern at license commission meeting

At its meeting Wednesday, the Board of License Commissioners heard from attorney Joseph Connors and franchisee Rich Hogan, who requested an alteration of premise permit for the McDonald’s at 789 Main St. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen at the end of November. 

Two residents voiced their concerns about an unrelated permit for extended drive-thru and mobile order hours that had previously been brought before City Council, saying that the additional noise and light pollution for residents wasn’t taken into consideration.

Connors explained that the updated drive-up communication system will be able to adjust its volume depending on ambient noise levels in the neighborhood. Chairman Wayne F. Brasco Sr. urged both residents to bring their concerns to the second City Council hearing for the extended hours permit, which will take place within the next few months.

Also at the meeting, Nicole Grasso, manager of Margarita’s at 211 Moody St., requested an extension of the location’s liquor license to include brunch hours starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays. “For your pretty faces, I have no questions,” Brasco said.  The request was approved.

The new owners of John Brewer’s Tavern, Hannah and Michael Morse, requested the transfer of the restaurant’s seven-day all alcohol restaurant license and entertainment license from previous owner Bill Honeycutt into their name. Both requests were approved, with the entertainment license being issued as a temporary 90-day license with potential for permanence as is customary for new licensees.

The Massachusetts State Lottery sent a letter to the commission requesting to install Keno To-Go monitors in five Waltham convenience stores. Commission member Kenneth W. Sumner spoke against the request, stating the monitors weren’t needed because the information on them was readily available on the internet. Commission member Kevin Ritcey agreed with Sumner, commenting that “you’ve got kids going in before school buying candy bars, this and that. I don’t think it’s polite or proper for people to be sitting around gambling while little kids are in there.” The commission rejected the request.

In other business, the License Commission:

• Approved a request from the Community Day Center of Waltham for a one-day all-alcohol permit at an Oct. 30 fundraiser at Gore Place catered by Brelundi. The fee for the permit was waived as is customary for 501c3 organizations.
  
• Approved a request for a one-day beer and wine permit for the Oct. 4 Buganda Day Celebration being held by the Ggwanga Mujje Boston Chapter at 50 Church St. The fee for the permit was waived due to the organization’s 501c3 status.
  
• Approved a one-day all alcohol permit request from Dion’s Liquors to hold educational classes for both staff and patrons on Thursdays in October in the adjoining office space on their 119 River St. property.-   Approved a one-day beer and wine permit request from the Charles River Museum for their 2nd Shift Concerts series as well as their Nov. 11 Don’t Tell Comedy and Dec. 19 Tarbox Ramblers Barn Burner events.