Reunion granted entertainment license; Briggs’ role on Board of Health questioned

Reunion Tap & Table’s entertainment license was renewed by the Select Board Tuesday night — not that it will have a chance to use it any time soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covid restrictions, of course, were the reason why that license renewal was the only one in town that the Select Board delayed. 

“We have every intention of following the rules,” said Shawn Briggs, who owns the restaurant with his brother Josh and former Selectman Sargon Hanna.

It was a much more conciliatory tone than Briggs had adopted since last week, when he at times challenged the Select Board about statements they made about emails exchanged about the business between the Board of Health, Worcester Health Alliance and the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards. Briggs has since been forwarded those emails — more than 180 in total.

Briggs said he realized the restaurant was coming across as uncooperative in the wake of the Covid complaints, which centered around live music inside their temporary parking lot dining tent.

Also at issue: Josh Briggs’ position on the Board of Health, which had health officials hesitant about Reunion’s complaints.

Select Board member Mathew Often said he researched entertainment licenses in other towns and suggested that Grafton consider a refresh on its entertainment standards. Grafton’s entertainment licenses do not address outdoor performances, but do, for example, prohibit “muscle dancing.”

“Something we could contemplate is to ask Mr. Briggs to step down from the Board of Health,” he added.

“I don’t feel comfortable about making a music license condition on someone’s status,” Select Board Chair Peter Carlson objected. He added that any license changes should be done across the board — not just to one restaurant.

Select Board member Ed Prisby agreed, suggesting that they simply approve a license renewal with the stipulation that the restaurant remain compliant with all state Covid guidelines.

“I don’t think these guys are looking for trouble,” Prisby said. “I just think they’ve had a hard time avoiding it.”

Select Board member Colleen Roy was the sole vote against the license.

Also receiving an entertainment license was Grafton Griil & Crust, which the town did not realize was occasionally featuring live music without a license.

Owner Steve Belfiore blamed it on a misunderstanding with the building inspector while the restaurant was undergoing pre-opening electrical work. He said the restaurant had occasional live music at Sunday brunch and featured more when, like other restaurant, they opened their outdoor dining tent last summer.

“We’re not a music place — it’s not really a part of our business — but if we have to go outside this summer, we’d like it,” Belfiore said.