Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council grants new package-liquor license to Hot Shot Liquors, excludes competing applicant; denies expanded hours for Pine House
Summary
Tiverton’s Town Council granted a new package-liquor license to East Horizon Inc., d/b/a Hot Shot Liquors, after excluding a competing applicant from the lottery over criminal-background concerns, and denied a separate request to extend operating hours at the Pine House Kitchen and Bar.
The Tiverton Town Council resolved competing liquor-license matters on June 9: it removed one package-store applicant from the lottery process over criminal-history concerns and granted the new Class A package-liquor license to East Horizon Inc., d/b/a Hot Shot Liquors, subject to meeting all legal requirements. The council also denied a request by Pine House Kitchen and Bar to extend its hours of operation following complaints and police reports about out-of-hours service and noise.
Package store lottery: The council had two applicants for a fourth package-store license created earlier this year. After a public hearing and review, several councilors expressed concern about criminal convictions in the record of the applicant L and T LLC (Sekonic/Sekhana Liquors). Council discussion referenced specific older convictions, including some years-old drug and domestic-violence related matters and a 2013 driving-after-denial offense. The council voted not to move that application forward to the lottery. The other applicant, East Horizon Inc. (Mohammed Cara, 861 Main Road), presented materials and answered questions; the council voted to grant the license to East Horizon Inc., d/b/a Hot Shot Liquors, subject to the applicant meeting all legal and statutory preconditions (insurance, final application materials, and other licensing requirements).
Pine House hours request: Jared Machado, owner of the Pine House Kitchen and Bar, requested permission to extend his class BV license hours up to 2 a.m. on weekends and 1 a.m. on weeknights. Several neighbors testified that music and service had continued after hours on multiple occasions; the administrator and police department reported multiple calls and that officers had observed service past permitted hours. Councilors said they were sympathetic to small businesses but concluded that, given the alleged violations and pending police documentation, they would deny the hour-extension request at this time and consider revisiting the request after any compliance or show-cause process is completed.
Solicitor’s guidance: The town solicitor advised the council to place findings on the record about applicant fitness and location when denying or excluding applicants, citing Rhode Island case law that directs licensing authorities to consider financial stability, moral character, criminal history, and premises location when reviewing liquor applications.
What happens next: East Horizon Inc. must complete final application requirements and meet all legal preconditions before the license is finalized. The Pine House matter may proceed to a show-cause hearing if the police department files a report of observed violations.
Votes at a glance: Council voted to (a) not move L and T LLC’s application forward (motion: excluded from lottery); (b) grant the Class A package liquor license to East Horizon Inc., d/b/a Hot Shot Liquors, subject to meeting legal requirements; and (c) deny Pine House’s request to extend hours.
