Selectmen Serve East Dedham Liquors Three-Day Suspension

The Dedham Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday evening to suspend East Dedham Liquor's liquor license for three days beginning Aug. 22.

Police officers present at the meeting alleged that an clerk sold alcohol to a minor without checking his identification.

Jim MacDonald, chairman of the board, excused himself because of his position with the state treasurer's office, which oversees the state's alcohol commission.

Selectmen reviewed video footage of the sale, and concluded the clerk never asked for a license to a person "visibly close" to age 21.

On July 8, police arrested two minors for possession of alcohol after the purchased a 30-pack of Bud Light, Sgt. Michael Buckley said at the meeting.

"The police narrative and the video coincided," selectman Michael Butler said. "There was nothing observable that showed the clerk asking or receiving photo ID."

Selectmen also voted to give East Dedham Liquors owner Robert Renzi a warning following a separate incident where police said a clerk sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.

arrested a man in June that they saw walk in and walk out of the liquor store. The man then allegedly harassed a female in the parking lot of the Delapa Plaza.

Police alleged that the man was unsteady on his feet, uncooperative and had a strong order of alcohol on his breath. Officers said the man continued to be uncooperative when he was returned to the police department.

Selectmen reviewed video from that incident, and all four said the man looked steady on his feet when he made his purchase from the store.

They did, however, find Renzi in violation and issued an official warning.

"It is time to tighten up the ship a little bit and realize what is going on," selectman Carmen Dello Iacono said.

Clarification: A previous version of this story reported chairman Jim MacDonald works for the state's alcohol commission, he in fact works for the state treasurer's office, which oversees the ABCC.