Gardner City license commission approves fee changes, hears multiple ABCC license updates and sets renewal deadlines
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Summary
The commission adopted new licensing fees effective Jan. 1, 2026; heard status updates on several license transfers pending ABCC review; set a Nov. 26, 2025 renewal deadline and scheduled the November meeting.
The Gardner City License Commission on Oct. 14 approved changes to the city’s licensing fees and reviewed multiple local license applications that remain under review by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).
The commission voted to adopt the fee amendments as presented, with the new fee schedule set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Commissioners said the addition of an amendment application fee will help offset administrative work tied to frequent officer changes and other recurring filings.
Commission staff provided updates on several pending matters that require ABCC action before local approvals are final. The items discussed included a corporate transfer of a restaurant license described as Sawade Asian Cuisine Lounge (file confirmed complete July 24, 2025; under ABCC review as of Oct. 9, 2025); a related transfer that staff described as involving a corporate restructuring; a new on-premises annual application for the establishment previously described as Sawanago (submitted to the ABCC June 18, 2025; ABCC requested additional documents); a transfer and change-of-manager filing for SouthGuard Hotel submitted Sept. 17, 2025 and pending ABCC review; and a Gardner Lodge change-of-manager application that was returned multiple times for missing or incorrect documents before being resubmitted in September 2025.
Commission staff said they are monitoring ABCC review timelines and attempting to confirm receipt of documents where the ABCC has requested more information. Attorney John Flick’s office, specifically Mary Beth (office manager) and Vincent Pusiteri, were identified as representing at least one of the establishments with outstanding items.
On administrative matters, the commission noted that the health department has hired an administrative assistant, Dwan (also referred to as Dewan) Falzon, who will act as license commission clerk beginning Oct. 21, 2025; staff said she will be introduced at the November meeting. The commission also set the license renewal deadline for all liquor licenses at Nov. 26, 2025; a list of completed renewals will be presented in December, and any establishment that has not completed renewal by that meeting will be asked to appear before the commission to explain the delay.
The commission also settled scheduling for its November meeting: commissioners agreed to hold the November meeting in the city council chambers on the Monday date that staff had tentatively reserved.
No ABCC approvals for the pending transfers were reported at the meeting; the commission’s actions were primarily to adopt the fee schedule, record status updates, and set administrative deadlines.
