Council renews annual alcohol licenses; Water Street Kitchen given conditional approval pending sound testing

The council conducted the annual public hearing on alcoholic beverage license renewals for the 12/01/2025–11/30/2026 period. Town Clerk Lee Carney explained the three-category approach used this year: applications that are submitted and complete (recommended for approval), applications recommended for approval conditioned on local inspections or sound testing, and incomplete applications requiring state approvals (to be continued).

Two complete applications (Richard’s Pub and Providence Oyster Bar 2) were approved without representation present. The council then discussed Water Street Kitchen & Bar’s request related to an outdoor amplified-sound permit. The applicant representative, introduced by Clerk Carney as Mr. Slocum, said outdoor amplified music would be limited to special events and not a routine weekend nightclub schedule.

Clerk Carney read the town’s noise-ordinance requirement for businesses holding entertainment licenses: "amplified music should not exceed the maximum permitted sound level at the property and also not exceed 70 dbc at the property line." The council and applicant discussed hours, the deck location, and testing requirements. The council approved the liquor-license renewal conditioned on full compliance with building and fire inspections and required sound-equipment testing; the applicant was told to return once testing is complete for the amplified-sound permit.

Why it matters: The decision allows Water Street Kitchen & Bar to continue alcohol service but conditions outdoor amplified sound on demonstrated compliance with the town ordinance and a sound test by a qualified acoustician. The ordinance names acceptable qualifications for inspectors and sets a clear numeric threshold for property-line sound levels, which councilors said they will enforce.