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Central Falls council approves 2 a.m. pilot for two businesses on New Year’s Eve, with security requirements
Summary
After debate about staffing and liability, the Central Falls City Council approved a one-year pilot allowing two businesses to remain open until 2:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve provided they submit event and security plans; the council recorded a 4–1 vote. The police major and the city solicitor urged limits and enforcement steps, noting state law still limits alcohol service to 1 a.m.
The Central Falls City Council voted to allow two businesses to remain open until 2:00 a.m. for New Year’s Eve as a pilot program, provided each business submits an event plan and a security plan to the city clerk and relevant departments.
The request began with an applicant who described the event as a cultural New Year’s celebration and urged the council to permit extended hours for the community. Police Major (name given as Major in the record) told the council that while neither business had a history of major incidents, the city did not have staffing to cover many late-night extensions and recommended limiting any extension to a 2:00 a.m. pilot rather than 3:00 a.m. Major also recommended that businesses submit a security plan listing the security company, crowd-control measures and capacity limits. “We are not trying to stand in the way of people making money. However, we have to also work with the public-safety aspect of it,” the Major said during the discussion.
The city’s law department confirmed the council has discretionary authority under the city code to expand business hours in specific cases, but pointed out state law requires liquor service to end at 1:00 a.m. The law department advised that councils can keep doors open past that time but may not permit alcohol service beyond last call. The solicitor urged that any approval be conditioned on submission of a security and event plan and recommended explicit capacity and monitoring plans.
Council members debated enforcement and resource limits, noting that while two businesses applied this year, more applicants in future years could strain police and fire resources. One council member summarized the council’s priority: “Public safety is number 1.” Another said a 2:00 a.m. pilot would allow people an extra hour to sober up after last call at 12:45 and alcohol service cutoff at 1:00 a.m.
The motion on the table approved the petition for the two businesses to remain open until 2:00 a.m., contingent on the submission of security and event plans to the city clerk and with the understanding that alcohol service must end in compliance with state law. The council called the vote; the motion passed 4–1.
As next steps, the police major said spot checks and coordination with the fire department would occur before the holiday, and officers would conduct spot checks on the approved businesses during the pilot. Council members said they would revisit the topic if multiple petitions are submitted in future years or if the pilot yields operational concerns.
Vote and conditions: the council approved the 2:00 a.m. pilot for two specified businesses, contingent on (1) a written security plan and event plan submitted in advance to the city clerk, (2) adherence to state law that ends alcohol service at 1:00 a.m. (last call around 12:45 a.m.), and (3) police and fire spot checks during the event.
The council recorded the outcome as approved (4–1).
