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Bristol council approves Don Taco license, schedules rehearing for contested transfer and adopts new documentation policy
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Summary
Council approved a liquor‑license transfer to Don Taco and Tequila, scheduled a May 13 public hearing to reconsider a separate transfer tied to litigation, and adopted a new policy on required license documentation and enforcement for missing certificates of good standing.
The Town Council approved a transfer of a Class B‑V liquor license to Adolfo Escotto’s Don Taco and Tequila and acted to revisit a separate, contested license transfer at a May 13 public hearing while also adopting a policy tightening how the town handles missing liquor‑license documents.
At the meeting the clerk opened a public hearing on the transfer from East Bay Restaurant Group (Bristol Oyster Bar). Two supporters spoke: Artaldo Esparto (speaker 8) and Jordan Sawyer (speaker 11), the outgoing licensee. Adolfo Escotto (speaker 13), the proposed new licensee, described plans to reopen in early June and thanked the council. The council moved and approved the transfer by voice vote.
Separately Vice‑Chairwoman Mary Perella (speaker 12) asked the council to reconsider an earlier transfer involving Cali Kitchen and said it should be the subject of a new public hearing because of an outstanding lawsuit related to that license. "So I'm asking that we call for public hearing on May 13 to reconsider this issue," she said. Solicitor Andy (speaker 7) advised that a pending lawsuit can make the holder's claim secured by the license and that if the license is transferred the creditor’s remedy changes. As he explained, "It changes it from a secured claim to an unsecured claim...If you transfer the license, then if that person gets a judgment, they would have to try to collect the judgment as they would any other judgment." The council voted to call the May 13 public hearing.
On policy, the council adopted a resolution to make clear what happens when establishments fail to provide the Division of Taxation certificate of good standing in time. The solicitor described a procedural approach that limits renewals until the council's December meeting and sets steps for enforcement — including removal of alcohol from premises if required by state regulation — to avoid municipal liability. The clerk said notification to license holders will be sent out prior to the August application window.
Why it matters: transfers of liquor licenses affect local businesses, public‑safety oversight and municipal liability if establishments operate without required state paperwork. The council balanced business openings with the town’s legal exposure and ordered additional public process on the contested transfer.
Next steps: Don Taco may proceed with licensing steps; the council will rehear the Cali Kitchen transfer at the scheduled May 13 public hearing and the clerk will send notices to license holders about the new documentation policy.
