Northampton License Commission schedules special hearing after video shows blocked exit at Hayes on Main Street

The Northampton License Commission voted Dec. 17 to hold a special public hearing in early January to hear parties about noise and recent fire‑safety complaints at Hayes on Main Street.

City building and fire staff told commissioners they reviewed photographs and a short video from the weekend that "clearly show that the band is blocking the second means of egress," and that a curtain was obscuring access to a secondary exit and an employee bathroom, raising accessibility and evacuation concerns. "The bathrooms have to be accessible to patrons," a city fire official said during the meeting.

Chair Natasha Jacoblev said the new material made the issue time‑sensitive and proposed scheduling a special meeting so the commission could "get parties in to have a full discussion over the various complaints that we've received, and this new information from Sunday night." Commissioners agreed and voted to schedule a public hearing; staff will distribute a poll to find an early‑January date that accommodates parties.

Kevin Ross, a city fire/building official who briefed the commission, said inspectors had previously directed the operator to keep the curtain open so a second exit would be visible from the bar area, and called the situation "a little concerning" because the video did not show the full crowd size. Ross said the primary egress remained available for the occupancy level reported but noted the commission should consider both the noise complaints and the possible safety violation when it hears the case.

Next steps: the commission has directed staff to poll participants for an early‑January special hearing and to include both the noise complaints and the fire/building concerns on the agenda. The hearing date will be announced once staff confirms availability.