Board comes down on pub

By Ed Burns, Sun Correspondent

DRACUT — Closing time will come a little earlier for a local pub after selectmen voted to punish the establishment for repeated complaints.

Selectmen voted, 3-1, to move back the closing time of the Rally Cap Pub on Pleasant Street to midnight for 30 days. It presently closes at 2 a.m.

John Zimini was the dissenting vote — but not because he was seeking to give the pub a break. He recited a laundry list of recent police calls to the pub, including nine for assault and battery, four for malicious property damage and two armed robberies.

“We’re lucky there hasn’t been a murder down there, but I guarantee there will be if this continues,” said Zimini.

But Roland Milliard, an attorney for pub owner Edward Morgan, told selectmen that the claims were exaggerated, and that Morgan shouldn’t be held responsible for what happened at neighboring businesses.

Milliard said 20 of the 82 incidents to which police responded between September 2005 and March 26 of this year were called in by William Kaltsas, owner of a neighboring business, Dracut Auto Butler. Kaltsas has reported multiple incidences of damage at his business.

“I find it odd that someone would say they spent $1,500 out of pocket to repair damage,” said Milliard. “If there are all these problems, a $900 chain-link fence would solve the problem.”

Milliard also presented the board with a letter from an individual charged in one of the related offenses stating that Morgan and his establishment had nothing to do with anything he was charged with.
But Zimini wasn’t satisfied with the defense, and questioned Morgan’s dedication to solving the problem.

“It’s insulting for this gentleman to come here denying all the incidents and hand us what I consider to be a bogus document,” he said. “When is this gentleman going to stand up and take responsibility? He’s shown no remorse.”

Zimini was in favor of a much harsher punishment, including having the pub close at 11 p.m. for the next six months. But the rest of the board was concerned that that would go too far.

Selectman Joe DiRocca agreed there is a problem, but shutting down the pub at 11 p.m. for six months would essentially put it out of business, he said.

“It’s pretty alarming the number of times we’ve been there,” said DiRocca. “I just think we have to look at what we do.”

The board voted 3-1 to close the pub at midnight for 30 days, beginning June 19.

The decision is still subject to appeal by Morgan to the state-run Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.