Cranston committee grants liquor-license renewals pending unpaid fees, sets Jan. 23 deadline

The Safety Services and Licensing Committee in Cranston City voted to grant multiple liquor-license renewals but not issue the physical licenses until outstanding fees or required documents are submitted, setting a drop-dead date of Jan. 23.

The committee’s action applied to a Class BV renewal for the Rhode Island Shriners Club and a Class D renewal for the Nelson Mac Narragansett VFW Post, among others. Thirsty Beaver Pub & Grub paid its renewal fee the afternoon of the meeting and had its license issued immediately.

Chair Solicita Videckia opened the public hearing on the Shriners’ renewal and noted the fee had not been paid. City solicitor Attorney Badecchia advised the committee that “there are different types of noncompliance. Clearly the payment of a fee standing alone is more in the nature of a ministerial requirement. It doesn't really go to suitability or legal capacity to hold a license,” and said the matter was within the committee’s discretion.

Councilman Pavlaskas urged approval pending payment, saying because the issue is “ministerial and it's just a fee, I would recommend ... approve it pending them paying the fee.” Councilman Wall agreed, adding that approval conditional on payment was appropriate and that if the fee is not paid the license should not be issued.

Clerk Rosalba told the committee the clerk’s office “has reached out multiple times and has had actual contact with all of them,” and the office notifies applicants through the portal when a license has been approved and a payment remains outstanding. The committee discussed whether applicants were adequately informed of the portal process; Councilwoman Manzulli asked whether a written policy exists and requested clearer communication to applicants.

An applicant representing the VFW, James Burnham, told the committee the certificate of good standing “was sent to the state today” and that the Division of Taxation expected to clear it by 10 a.m. the following day. The committee voted to grant the VFW renewal but not issue the license until both the certificate and the fee were submitted, subject to the Jan. 23 drop-dead date.

The committee heard that renewal fees vary depending on license class and city capacity, “from $100 to $250,” and members discussed using a uniform deadline to avoid repeated monthly appearances for applicants who fail to pay. One councilor requested a follow-up report at the next Safety Services meeting listing which renewals had completed payment.

Votes at the meeting also included the immediate approval and issuance of Thirsty Beaver Pub & Grub’s renewal after the applicant paid the fee that afternoon, and a block approval of multiple other license renewals taken as a single block later in the meeting.

The committee’s policy choice — granting renewals but withholding issuance pending payment or required documents — leaves enforcement discretion with the committee and sets a clear administrative deadline for applicants to complete their renewals.