Reunion: ‘This pandemic has created a difficult environment for our restaurant’
The Select Board delayed a decision on Reunion Tap & Table’s entertainment license for another week, saying they were trying to balance support for local business with alleged flaunting of COVID-19 regulations.
Reunion was the subject of multiple complaints to the town about its live music inside its parking lot dining tent, with neighbors complaining about the volume and health inspectors flagging the lack of distance of bands from the audience and each other.
But Shawn Briggs, who owns the establishment along with his brother, Josh, and Sargon Hanna, emphasized to the Select Board Tuesday night that no cases of Covid have been traced back to Reunion since the start of the pandemic and pointed to their efforts to prevent viral transmission, such as increased cleaning and plexiglass barriers.
“This pandemic has created a difficult environment for our restaurant,” he said, noting that relying on takeout business and limited seating in the tent has forced Reunion to cut staff down to just nine people.
He acknowledged that the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards issued a cease and desist order on live entertainment at Reunion in November, which was later rescinded. He referred to other complaints as “hearsay,” even when Select Board members referenced video on the restaurant’s own Facebook page.
“I’m upset and sad for you,” Select Board member Ed Prisby said. “I like you. I like your restaurant…. I think the community values Reunion. You bring something we didn’t have in town.”
But Prisby said he became aware of complaints about Reunion made to the Board of Health and the Worcester Health Alliance, along with “somewhat of a hesitance” to address them due to the owners’ political connections. Hanna is a former selectman; Josh Briggs is a current member of the Board of Health.
“I want you to succeed,” Prisby said. “Everyone on this board wants you to succeed…. if we put restrictions on this license, I want you to comply.”
Shawn Briggs, the only owner in attendance at the meeting, reminded Prisby that the state has instituted fines for not following regulations.
“We checked with the state,” he said. “It said loss of license is not part of the Covid mandate.”
Select Board member Mathew Often noted that Reunion was advertising both live music and trivia nights in June before either were allowed to resume by the state. He added that correspondence indicates that then-Town Administrator Tim McInerney was going to discuss the issue with Hanna, but there is no written information on those conversations.
Shawn Briggs reminded the board that Reunion was not the only restaurant featuring live music over the summer. In fact, he said, one restaurant with outdoor musicians didn’t even have an entertainment license.
Technically, the town of Grafton’s entertainment licenses don’t even allow outdoor music, Select Board Chair Peter Carlson said. The licenses only describe the indoor areas where musicians can play.
“I love the idea of outdoor music,” he added. “This town needs to take a hard look at how these licenses are structured.”
By April, when outdoor dining will likely spring up again, Carlson said he wants to have clear guidance on what the town will allow.
“I don’t think it needs to be rocket science. But there needs to be some notice of where they will perform,” he said. “And I want to hear some assurances that they are going to comply.”
Shawn Briggs wryly noted that it’s a nationwide issue. “When we went outside, restaurants took their entertainment licenses with them.”
Discussing the issue following the hearing, the Select Board was leaning toward delaying the license renewal until April, but Town Counsel Ginny Kremer pointed out that the law requires the board to come to a decision within 30 days of a hearing.
Select Board member Colleen Roy motioned to deny the license.
“It’s hurting them more than it’s helping them,” she said. “It’s getting them into trouble.”
Carlson suggested that the board table the discussion until the January 5, 2021 meeting.
“We need to use a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer here,” he said.
