Booze Rules Continue To Stymie Melrose Lawmakers

MELROSE, MA — The mayor's proposal to sell alcohol at some of the city's park space still has life after a seemingly unsure group of city councilors voted to once again put it before the full body.

Mayor Paul Broduer's order would pave the way for Mount Hood to run an alcohol-filled beverage cart on the golf course and Farmers Market vendors to sell booze at Bowden Park, among other things.

But what those other things are exactly and what problems they are meant to solve are among the questions still-hesitant councilors have.

So the Legal & Legislative Committee on Monday night unanimously and unenthusiastically voted to send the order back to the full City Council without a recommendation for passage for the second time in less than a month, allowing for the full body to take another swing at it.

It's the third time councilors have had an opportunity to make a call on the order and passed. The full council has already sent the order back to the committee citing a need for more feedback and information.

It's unclear how much information was provided and whether any of it substantively addressed any concerns councilors had. One recent letter from City Solicitor Robert Van Campen was attached to the order, with Van Campen saying no liquor license holder has had their license suspended or revoked in at least the last 15 years and saying it was premature to discuss the Mount Hood beverage cart's potential hours of operation.

Many councilors have expressed displeasure with how the order has been rolled out by Brodeur's administration, including what they say was a lack of specificity and detail aside from striking language prohibiting the sale of alcohol on grounds run by the Park Commission.

Councilors said residents who are in favor of the order have brought up potential weddings and birthday parties in such areas, but it's unclear how that process would play out.

Follow my new Melrose Instagram account for supplemental coverage and more local happenings. And read these stories to get caught up.

• Expanding Melrose Alcohol Sales Proving Difficult Task
• City's Evolving Attitude Toward Alcohol Draws Debate
• Mayor Makes Pitch To Loosen Melrose Liquor Rules

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook