HARWICH Selectmen voted Monday night to renew the liquor and entertainment licenses for one of two Harwich Port restaurants that faced allegations they had violated state rules intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The board issued a written warning to Ember restaurant and rescheduled the hearing for The Port to 5:30 p.m. May 4. Both restaurants are owned by brothers Justin and Jared Brackett.
In a long and contentious hearing that lasted over three hours and tested the limits of video-conferencing technology and the patience of some board members, selectmen heard from attorneys representing Ember, from Harwich town counsel, Police Chief David Guillemette, patrons and employees of the restaurant and neighborhood residents.
HARWICH – The Board of Selectmen postponed a decision Tuesday night on whether to sanction two popular Harwich Port restaurants for multiple alleged violations of state COVID-19 restrictions on masking, social distancing and alcohol service over Memorial Day weekend and in mid-July of last year.
“We have been pressuring (Town Administrator Joseph Powers) to take action on this,” Selectmen Chairman Larry Ballantine said Tuesday. “Our feeling is this was very flagrant. They ignored the whole of Covid-19 regulations.”
Ember and The Port could lose their liquor licenses
The board decided Tuesday to wait until the liquor licenses for Ember and The Port come up for renewal next month to make a decision, which could involve anything from warnings to liquor license revocation. The board said it would likely devote an entire meeting to the hearing, and will also take into account noise complaints made against the establishments.