FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/20/02
CONTACT PERSON: JOHN BURKE, LEGISLATIVE AIDE
(617) 722-2040

(BOSTON)-STATE REPRESENTATIVE GALE D. CANDARAS (D-WILBRAHAM) HAS SECURED PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A BILL, WHICH SHE HOPES WILL CHANGE THE WAY THE SPRINGFIELD LICENSING COMMISSION DOES BUSINESS.

THE BILL CALLES FOR CHANGES TO THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THREE TO FIVE AND DESIGNATING ONE OF THE NEW COMMISSION SEATS AS THE “NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE” SEAT. THE CHANGE WAS LONG SOUGHT AFTER BY VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND CITIZEN COUNCILS IN THE CITY WHO FELT THAT THEY ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DISTRIBUTION OF LICENSES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY SHOULD HAVE A BIGGER VOICE THAN IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY UNDER EXISTING LAW.

SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE OUTER BELT CIVIC ASSOCIATION, WALTER GOULD, IS A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE FOR THE CONCEPT TO EXPAND THE LICENSING COMMISSION:

“THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD IS GETTING LARGER EVERY DAY AND HAVING THREE PEOPLE (ON THE COMMISSION) DOESN’T PROVIDE ADEQUATE OR SUFFICIENT REPRESENTATION GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE CITY’S POPULATION. THE COMMISSION SHOULD EXPAND TO INCLUDE A WIDER PERSPECTIVE, TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THE RIGHTS OF PROPOSED BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO THE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS,” GOULD STATES.

GOULD PRAISED CANDARAS FOR HER EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THIS BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE BY FURTHER ADDING; “GALE HAS BEEN THERE FOR US ON SO MANY ISSUES AND, ESPECIALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.”

THE IDEA OF A “NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE” ON THE LICENSING COMMISSION RESURFACED AFTER A SERIES OF CONTROVERSIAL LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED BY THE SPRINGFIELD LICENSING COMMISSION, DESPITE NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION.

THE “NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE” IDEA HAS GAINED MOMENTUM AND SUPPORT FROM OTHER CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS INCLUDING THE FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE EAST FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

CITY COUNCILORS WERE ALSO RECEPTIVE TO THE PLAN. “THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE, AT TIMES, FELT THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING IGNORED,” SAID CITY COUNCILOR DOMINIC SARNO, “IT’S ALWAYS A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO ESTABLISH EQUITY BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUSINESS CONCERNS.”

CANDARAS SAID “THE LIQOUR LICENSE COMISSION BILL IS INTENDEDTO PROVIDE A VOICE AND EVERY CONSIDERTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS’ VIEWPOINT ON THE ISSUANCES OF LICENSES IN THAT AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY AND IT ALSO CREATES A MORE DIVERSE AND RESPONSIVE DECISION MAKING BODY TO EXECUTE THE TASKS OF THIS COMMISSION.”

SARNO IS PLEASED THAT THE HOUSE HAS ACTED QUICKLY ON THE LEGISLATION. “THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR YEARS,” HE SAID. “I COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE CANDARAS FOR CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS AND OTHER ISSUES,” HE ADDED.

WITH SUPPORT FROM MAYOR ALBANO AND UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL (8-0; COUNCILOR SANTANIELLO ABSENT), THE LEGISLATURE RECEIVED THE GO-AHEAD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL LAST FALL. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECENTLY ENGROSSED FOR PASSAGE THE SPRINGFIELD LICENSING COMMISSION LEGISLATION AND THE BILL IS NOW AWAITING ACTION IN THE SENATE.