Westfield may convert a seasonal off-premises alcohol license to annual

Westfield’s licensing authority may convert one seasonal license into an annual license for selling all alcoholic drinks to be taken off the premises. The license is held by SHIVA LAXMI INC., doing business as Pleasant Street Market, at 54 Pleasant Street in Westfield. The annual license must follow chapter 138 of the General Laws, except for sections 17 and 17B. The authorization concerns a license under section 15 for selling drinks that are not consumed on the premises. The act would take effect when it passes, and the conversion would apply when the authorized license is issued.

The licensing authority may not approve moving the converted license to another location, but may issue it to a new applicant at the same location. The restriction applies to the converted license at 54 Pleasant Street. A new applicant must provide letters from the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance showing the license is in good standing and that required taxes, fees, and contributions have been paid. These transfer and replacement rules apply after the license is converted and while it remains available for use.

The licensee must return the converted license if it ends, is not renewed, is canceled, revoked, or stops being used; the licensing authority may then reissue it at the same location for up to three years. The rule covers the converted annual license and its legal rights, privileges, and restrictions. A reissued license must follow the same conditions in the act. If the license is not reissued within three years after its return, it dissolves. When the annual license is issued, the licensee must physically return its existing wine-and-malt-beverages license for off-premises sales. The three-year reissuance period starts when the converted license is returned. The existing wine-and-malt-beverages license must be returned when the annual license is issued.