Framingham Looks To Ease Burden On Restaurants During Reopening

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Gov. Charlie Baker will allow restaurants to reopen in his Phase 2 Plan post-coronavirus — but officials in Framingham are already discussing ways to make that transition as easy as possible for local businesses.

The Board of License Commissioners on Monday will continue an ongoing discussion on several ways the city could help. First, the board will look at temporarily waiving fees for certain applications related to restaurants and bars. The board has also already voted to allow servers to take alcohol training classes online.

But the bigger push is for a way to streamline licensing related to restaurants in the city, according to Board of License Commissioners Chair Adam Barnosky. That could come in the form of a temporary zoning ordinance that would allow licensees to submit one application for major changes — like adding outdoor seating — rather than individually with each city department.

"The bigger issue we're working on is we're trying to expedite the permitting process across all boards in the city," Barnosky said.

Many cities in Massachusetts are looking at ways to make reopening easier on restaurants. In particular, cities from Worcester to Waltham are figuring out how to allow restaurants to open patios as easily as possible. Outdoor eating could be a safer alternative to indoor dining because it allows customers to be in an area with lots of air circulation.

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One problem is that after municipalities approve something like an outdoor seating permit, the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has to sign off — a process that takes weeks. A bill in the state Senate could allow restaurants to make changes without going through the ABCC.

The state could also move to allow cities and towns to make zoning changes by executive order. It's possible Baker will make such an allowance as the state moves toward allowing restaurants to reopen. That would allow municipalities to grant outdoor seating requests much faster.

Barnosky said the city can't afford to wait for state government to act. Removing bureaucracy may help restaurants survive, he said. Restaurants could begin reopening in Massachusetts in Phase 2 of Baker's reopening plan, which is set to begin on June 8.

"These are not normal times, and restaurants are cornerstones of our community," Barnosky said.

The Board of Licensing Commissioners will meet via Zoom on Monday beginning at 7 p.m.