Joe Angelo's Hearing Moved to April 27

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON-A Brockton License Commission hearing Thursday April 14 to discuss rolling back Joe Angelo's Cafe and Deli's closing hours has been postponed until April 27.
Joshua Wood, a member of the Licensing Commission confirmed during a telephone conversation at about 9 p.m. tonight that the hearing had been rescheduled to ensure proper notification to establishments scheduled for those hearings had been made under the Open Meetings Law.
"Whenever there is a possible revocation there has to be two weeks notice," Wood said.
The meeting included hearings for CJ Beer and Wine for allegedly selling alcohol to a person under 21; Tamboo Bistro for allegedly covering windows facing a public way and Crystal Restaurant for allegedly exceeding its 50 person occupancy limit.
Joe Angelo's was expected to defend itself against numerous charges of violations of state and city liquor license rules stemming from several incidents beginning last October 23 when two Brockton firefighters were brutally beaten and another, Jaime Barbosa faces trial for alleged possessing a firearm while intoxicated.
On March 12, Brockton Police said the entire shift--16 officers and 12 police cruisers-were sent to Joe Angelo's for a melee at about 2 a.m. Four people were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest to disturbing the peace.
Wood said he could not say which establishment is facing a revocation of the license.
He said any license holder facing violations of the license could receive a minor punishment such as a written warning all the way to revocation of the license.
"It all depends on what the city is recommending based on the evidence," Wood said.
Wood said he does not yet know what the city's recommendation for Joe Angelo's is.
The agenda for Thursday night's postponed meeting regarding Joe Angelo's Cafe notes the downtown bar could have its closing hours rolled-back but does not mention revocation.
Wood said he was informed the meeting was rescheduled at about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Wood said something could have changed within the city's legal department, such as more evidence that could have required two weeks notification for a revocation hearing.