Framingham Bar To Lose Liquor License for 30 Days

In July, Framingham Police arrested the bartender at Railroad Six Sports Grill on drug charges. During the investigation, Police identified a total of six liquor license violations.

The owner Salvatore Bellone fired the bartender and voluntarily closed the establishment for 5 days to fix the problems.

Last month, Framingham Police recommended Selectmen, the town’s licensing board, suspend the alcohol license for an additional 5 days.

Selectmen said that punishment was not strong enough, and unanimously voted to continue the public hearing until last night.

Tuesday night, Selectmen unanimously agreed to suspend the liquor license for 30 days.

Railroad Six Sports Grill will lose its liquor license and its license to operate (common victullar) from Monday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

During the Suspension Period, a copy of agreement will be ”prominently displayed on the exterior front entrance door.”

During the “Suspension Period, Railroad Six shall undertake measures necessary fulfill its promises to create a family friendly establishment.”

Railroad Six also agreed to provide to the Town of Framingham, nolater than Jan. 22 a “written report describing the steps that it has taken to create a family friendly atmosphere.”

And the bar agreed to reimburse the Town for the cost of the investigation - $300 and agreed not to appeal.

Police said besides the drug arrest, a half dozen employees, including that bartender, did not have certified server identification cards from the Town of Framingham.

Lt. Harry Wareham told Selectmen his investigation uncovered the manager was not spending the required number of hours a week at the establishment, and Railroad Six had stopped serving food but was continuing to pour alcohol.

Bellone, who is the owner as well as the manager, said he was at the hospital where his wife gave birth to their second child the night the bartender was arrested.

He testified at the public hearing last month that the bartender was only on his 7th or 8th shift, when he was arrested.

“I don’t condone drugs,” said Bellone. “I fired him on the spot.”

“I wish I could go back in time and never hire the guy,” said Bellone to Selectmen.

Bellone, who owns two downtown Framingham businesses, said he cooperated with Police throughout the investigation.

Bellone said he didn’t realize the serve ID cards expire in 2 years, and that he thought he had 30 days for any employee to get a server card after being hired.

“I closed down for the week voluntarily,” said Bellone. During that time, he said he made sure every one of his employees was certified to serve alcohol, and then he re-opened.

Bellone also said he didn’t know it was a violation to not serve food, while keeping the bar open.

“It was stupidity on my part,” said Bellone, who said he appreciated Framingham Police educating him on the liquor license rules.

“It was negligence on my part,” said Bellone.

“Hard for me to accept the excuse that you were not familiar with rules and regulations. That is a poor excuse,” said Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky to Bellone at the first public hearing. “You should have been familiar with every one of them.”

Ironically the fist hearing was held on Nov. 3 with Selectmen.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Police responded to a Railroad Six for a fight between two patrons that resulted in one of the combatants being arrested for possession of a class B drug (cocaine).