O'Brien: No Liquor Served After Hours at Lavender

Sudbury Board of Selectmen Chair Larry O'Brien has denied allegations that he and others were served liquor at after hours after Town Meeting concluded the night of May 8.

O'Brien admits he and about nine others entered the Asian restaurant that night and lost track of the time, staying past closing time.

Management received a warning from Police Chief Richard Glavin that morning for a licensing violation.

"The important thing is that this was not a liquor violation," O'Brien said. "A warning was issued because the restaurant was supposed to be vacated."

O'Brien said at about 1:30 a.m., a Sudbury police officer did respond to the restaurant and the crowd exited shortly after. Despite allegations, O'Brien also said he was the lone selectman there that late and that Town Manager Maureen Valente had left hours before.

"Maureen and John were not there at 1:30," O'Brien said. "They left many hours before and stayed for about 35 to 40 minutes. We lost track of time ... nothing more, nothing less."

Selectman Bob Haarde said after Town Meeting concluded he went home, but received a voice message from O'Brien about the incident the following Sunday.

"Maureen advised him to tell me he was there, but he didn’t say the time he was there," Haarde said.

Haarde was upset the situation ever occurred.

"We were on the stage at Lincoln-Sudbury (after Town Meeting) at 10:41 p.m. and Lavender closes at 10," he said. "I don't know how people could have been in there."

According to Lavender's website, the restaurant's hours are:

• Sunday - Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Thursday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. (kitchen closes at 12:45 a.m.)

Valente said despite what the hours of operation states on Lavender's door and its website, that does not mirror what is stated on the Board of Selectmen regulation, which was passed in 1982.

"Patrons are not allowed on the premises beyond 15 minutes after closing time," she said, reading from the regulation. "The closing hour is the hour after which alcoholic beverages cannot be served as the beverage license states."

The Sudbury Board of Selectmen is the sole authority for issuing and enforcing liquor licenses in Sudbury.

The liquor license is from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Mondays to Thursdays, she added.

O'Brien said he regrets the mistake and the consequences Lavender may face.

"I feel bad this might look poorly on them," he said. "It was a group of 9 or 10 that just lost track of time. When management cleaned up, we should have left and been more attentive (of the time). We apologize to management per our error."