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Commission sets April 17 hearings for license changes and misconduct allegations; asks licensees to bring ID scanners
Summary
The commission scheduled multiple public hearings for April 17, 2025 — including alteration and relocation applications — and set disciplinary hearings for alleged violations at two downtown restaurants, instructing licensees to bring ID scanners as part of police evidence testing.
The Lowell City Commission on March 11 scheduled a series of public hearings for April 17, 2025, including applications to alter premises and change locations for several licensed establishments, and set disciplinary hearings on allegations the police say involve failures to comply with state age-limit statutes.
The commission voted to publish legal notice and hold a public hearing on April 17 for Mariachi Foods Inc. d/b/a Sazel Puatro Mexican Grill’s application to alter the premises of the all-alcohol restaurant license at 124 Merrimack Street. The panel also scheduled a hearing for Praftna Inc., d/b/a Praftna’s Convenience, to consider a change of location for its malt beverages and wines package-store license to 186 Branch Street.
Separately, the commission set disciplinary hearings — also on April 17 at 6 p.m. — for allegations communicated by the superintendent of police regarding two licensees: Middle Street Village Inc. d/b/a the Village Smokehouse (98 Middle Street) and Blue Shamrock Inc. (105 Market Street). The communications allege failures to comply with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138, including provisions related to age limits and service to minors.
Police Captain Peaslee and solicitor’s office staff told the commission that photo IDs confiscated as evidence in those incidents may be used to test licensees’ ID scanners. Captain Peaslee recommended that the licensees bring their ID scanners to the hearing so staff could determine whether problems stemmed from counterfeit or sophisticated IDs or from scanner operation. The commission approved a motion scheduling the hearings and including the scanner request in the notice to the licensees.
Commissioner Donoghue moved to schedule the hearings and include the scanner requirement in the notice; Commissioner Krieger seconded. The motions carried with no recorded opposition.
The commission instructed staff to include the scanner requirement in the hearing notices and to publish the legal advertisement in the local newspaper as required by city procedure.
