West Boylston's Ari's Tavern not reopening; liquor license to be returned to town

WEST BOYLSTON – Ari’s Tavern isn’t reopening.

And the restaurant’s liquor license will be returned to the town.

Arianna Saarinen and Richard Gallant had gotten the all alcoholic pouring license for the 171 West Boylston St. restaurant in February 2019. They then worked on preparing to open the former restaurant location, which had various names over the years, from Beaman Tavern to Finders’ Pub and finally McCormick & Mortell’s.

Saarinen had been a general manager for Finder’s before the 2018 closure in a bankruptcy.

Selectmen were slated to receive the liquor license at the board’s June 30 meeting, but communications with Saarinen about the issue had been unsuccessful.

Records show Town Administrator Nancy Lucier had informed the business partners  the license needed to be returned to the town.

Lucier had informed them that “When an establishment with a liquor licenses closes, that license must be turned back to the Local Licensing Authority, which is the Selectboard.”

Gallant indicated in communications he would return the license in July.

While that location is closed, another venue will be available soon, in a location where generations of people enjoyed summer and views of the Wachusett Reservoir.

A food truck will be at the Triangle by the reservoir within a couple weeks.

Ron LaFlash, who runs Captain Ron’s, a food truck, applied and a contract is being finalized

“Everything is in order,” Lucier said.

“He’s very excited,” she said before LaFlash arrived, not realizing the meeting had been moved to the West Boylston Middle High School media center for a live event.

LaFlash has all the needed permits.

The final construction work is being done and the DPW will coordinate with the Municipal Light Department on running conduit and power that food truck would use at the site.

“The site is going to be ready,” Lucier said. The DPW is on it.”

LaFlash said he would plan to set up starting July 21. He is paying a $700 a month fee, pro rated, and plans to make that his main location.

“We want to do something really special there, We can make it nice for the town.” LaFlash said. “It’s something that’s going to stand out.”

He said he may open earlier than required, at 11 a.m., Wednesday to Sunday, but may also set up on Monday and Tuesday if people are around.

In other business

• Selectmen approved an extension of premises for Oli’s restaurant

The West Boylston Street restaurant wants to make the patio installed under the COVID rules permanent, requiring a change in the liquor license to allow permanent outdoor eating and drinking options.

• The board approved transfer of the auto sales license for Autowright, shifting it to James Hadley, who said his parents were retiring.

• Weston and Sampson detailed the town’s storm water management status and efforts to meet state guidelines.

DPW Director Gary Kellaher said the town was also working with Weston and Sampson on repairing a leaking pipe that allows water into the sewer system at the Prospect Street pumping station, with work planned within two weeks.

• Kellaher said line striping is planned, with 300,000 linear feet using longer-lasting epoxy rather than water-based paint.

The department will do crosswalks itself, using epoxy paint in the department’s machines.

It will be done before fall, Kellaher said, referencing complaints from previous years when painting over fallen leaves left gaps in the lines.

• Oakdale paving is complete, Kellaher said.

“It was a long issue,” he said, but no overruns are expected in the work to repair issues along North Main Street after work on the road that left it in poor shape, making for rough – and car-rattling – ride for motorists.

The DPW is doing backfilling to complete the project.

“I’m very happy with how its turned out,” Kellaher said.

• Selectmen plan to include on future meeting agendas concerns about specific items such as repairs. Selectman Barur Rajeshkumar starting asking about some of the concerns he had had under  an “update on other projects” by the DPW director.

Selectmen Chairman Chris Rucho ended up clarifying that the specific items should be listed on the agenda so residents affected by the issues would know in advance the board was discussing them.

• Changes to the Pink Bag recycling program are in the works, but will be discussed at a future meeting. Lucier said the program may change so residents using it would contact the company to arrange a time to have materials picked up.

• Selectmen discussed ways to encourage truck traffic from Shrewsbury Street to avoid Pierce Street, where residents have complained of the larger vehicles on the smaller road.

But prohibiting truck traffic there, if it could be done legally, might only push the trucks to the center of town and even Franklin Street, Selectman Pat Crowley said.

The board suggested reaching out to the businesses to see if they can direct trucks to go down Shrewsbury Street into Worcester and then connect to the highway.

• Lucier said there were three applicants for the DPW director position, which Kellaher is filling on an interim basis.

Lucier, Kellaher and Kittredge will interview applicants, with the decision on hiring being Lucier’s as town administrator.

• Currently officially closed to the public, Town Hall will be opened July 12, selectmen decided. But residents can get access by contacting the town hall offices, where they can be let in and escorted to offices of business. The building is still being repaired after water damage from a February pipe burst, leading to liability concerns until sufficient work in done.