Councilor asks manager to review licensing enforcement after complaint about outdoor events at Seafood Haven

Councilor Healy raised concerns during the Oct. 6 meeting about a downtown business, Seafood Haven (300 Atlantic Ave), that she said had held multiple outdoor events despite the licensing board’s recorded position that the owner said there would be no outdoor entertainment. He asked the town manager to investigate whether enforcement action or fees are appropriate.

Town officials said Seafood Haven currently holds a beer-and-wine license (class B limited) and does not have an indoor-or-outdoor entertainment license. The manager and clerk advised that an outdoor entertainment license requires public notice and that enforcement typically occurs when staff or police observe a violation or receive a timely complaint. The police department issues summonses for entertainment violations when they can be observed and documented.

The manager said that if evidence of a violation is provided (for example, contemporaneous documentation or a police observation), the town would pursue enforcement via the licensing process and municipal court as required. Councilor Healy said affected downtown business owners complained of unfair competitive advantages and requested that staff review licensing enforcement and report back to the council with findings and any appropriate remediation.

The council did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting; the manager and solicitor were asked to review records and to advise whether retroactive enforcement or fees are appropriate when a license was not in place at the time of events.