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Select Board spares Prima Vera—s alcohol license, sets firm compliance deadline after late inspections
Summary
The Millis Select Board declined to suspend or revoke Prima Vera—s all-alcohol license on Feb. 2, 2026, and instead imposed a deadline for missing safety inspection reports, following testimony from the fire chief and building commissioner that reports were late but the building was not unsafe.
The Millis Select Board opened a public hearing Feb. 2 on whether to suspend or revoke the all-alcohol license issued to Prima Vera Incorporated after required safety inspection reports were not filed by the renewal deadline.
Town counsel Kayla Venchowskis told the board the license was renewed Dec. 15, 2025 on the condition Prima Vera provide passing sprinkler, fire alarm and hood (Ansel) system inspection reports by Jan. 15, 2026. The fire chief and the building commissioner conducted the inspection and initially found several missing reports; the missing reports were submitted in late January and written approvals followed, Venchowskis said.
The fire chief told the board that while the restaurant—s paperwork has repeatedly been late over the years, the building was not in an unsafe condition: "We always ensure that the building meets all the life-safety requirements before we leave or the building would have to close," he said. The building commissioner agreed the department seeks timely paperwork but did not recommend closure.
After discussion about past extensions and the cost to the town when municipal staff must repeatedly perform or pay for inspections, the board unanimously approved a motion "not to revoke" the alcohol license but to require Prima Vera submit remaining paperwork or a feasible written compliance plan by May 31 (motion language recorded by the board; the board also authorized staff to prepare the written decision), warning the board may reconvene to consider suspension if the deadline is missed. The motion carried unanimously without a roll-call vote.
Why it matters: The hearing balanced the town—s duty to enforce safety rules with an interest in keeping a local business open. The board set a clear, enforceable deadline and left the record open to revisit suspension or revocation if the deadline is missed.
What happens next: The select board authorized the chair and town counsel to finalize a written decision and indicated it would reconvene if required evidence of compliance is not filed by the deadline.
