The gas station at 571 Washington Avenue, long known as Pezzi Service Center, got its petroleum storage license from the Chelsea Licensing Commission on Thursday night. The license does not take effect until the station has a permanent occupancy permit and every other permit and fee is in place with the city.
A month ago, the commission told the new owners it would shut the station down if the occupancy permit was not on file by October 8. The company’s representative told the board on Thursday that the city had in fact closed the station the Tuesday after that meeting, and that it stayed closed about a week while the company tried to get an inspector out.
A temporary permit that runs out next week
The station is now open on a temporary occupancy permit, which Chair Marnie MacAlpine said expires on about the 16th. The representative said that when a city inspector came, the company was handed “a whole new list of things” that had not come up in the first inspection, for parts of the building it does not use. The inspector judged the station safe and issued the temporary permit, the representative said, and the company has since done the electrical work and pulled the permit. It is waiting for the final inspection.
Commissioner Mike McAteer, who is also the city’s director of inspectional services, said the station “hadn’t been inspected in 50 years” and that only a little electrical work remained. McAteer told the representative to have the electrician call the inspector the next day. MacAlpine warned that if the temporary permit lapses before the permanent one is issued, “you’d have to shut your doors.”
Assistant City Solicitor Mark Rossi said the approval is “contingent on all of the work being done and signed off,” and that until then it is not valid. The representative will not have to come back before the board, MacAlpine said, unless something goes wrong. The license is in the name of Chelsea SPI, LLC.
Cameras
A police officer raised concerns about cameras at the station and mentioned multiple hit-and-runs. The police captain at the meeting called Washington Avenue “a very, very busy roadway” and recommended that every station have cameras. MacAlpine said only liquor and cannabis licenses are required to have them. The representative, who said the company runs more than 20 other stations, said the station already has working cameras, mostly outside, and agreed to work with the police department on any others it recommends. The station is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the representative said.
Livery license approved
The commission also approved a livery license for JNS Limo Services Corp., at 42 Revere Beach Parkway, a one-car business whose owner already holds a livery license in Boston. The owner told the board the business has one Mercedes, kept in a garage at home, and takes rides through Uber, a booking company and private customers. The approval depends on a Chelsea police inspection of the car and on police confirming that the Boston license is in good standing.
Chelsea Walk hearing postponed
A disciplinary hearing for Fannies Place Inc., which does business as Chelsea Walk at 416 Broadway, was put off until the next meeting. According to the agenda, it concerns two sections of the commission’s rules for all-alcoholic beverage licenses and a police report from this year. MacAlpine said the police department did not have the surveillance video for the board, for an internal reason “not related to the establishment,” and the captain said the officer who investigated could not attend. The commission voted to continue it so the officer can speak and the video can be shown.
The commission will hold a special meeting on Thursday, October 29, at 6 p.m. for a disciplinary hearing involving a single establishment, MacAlpine said. It was supposed to be on Thursday’s agenda, but the paperwork did not come in in time, according to the licensing department. The commission’s next regular meeting is Thursday, November 12.
Renewals due November 27
Licensing Administrator Beatrice Hernandez reminded license holders that it is renewal season. Liquor, amusement and entertainment, common victualler, lodging house and constable licenses expire December 31, and renewal applications with supporting documents are due by November 27.
Hernandez also reported that the Merritt Club withdrew its application to change managers and will keep its current manager, which the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission approved. Two establishments the commission disciplined earlier have appealed to that state commission, with hearings set for Monday, November 2.
Read the full transcript of the meeting. The video is on Chelsea Community Cable’s YouTube channel.