SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic Sarno sees changing the closing time for the sale of alcohol as something that might be temporary but could affect establishments throughout the city, rather than just the Entertainment District.

Sarno spoke to Reminder Publications on Nov. 10 several days after a shooting on Worthington Street that took place the previous weekend.

He said that he has asked Police Commissioner John Barbieri, Department of Health & Human Services Director Helen R. Caulton-Harris and Fire Commissioner Joseph Contant, among others, to prepare a presentation why making the switch to a closing time of 1 a.m. could assist in preventing the type of crime that took place this weekend.

“We’ve got to make it the right way,” Sarno said.

Until a possible change in closing time moves forward, Sarno said “a strong police presence” would continue downtown, as well as undercover operations. Unannounced visits by police and fire officials as well as members of the Board of License Commissioners would also take place, the mayor added.

Sarno said if necessary he would seek to close establishments that do not cooperate. He said currently there are some bars that are not working with the city to improve safety.

Sarno said food establishments that are open past 2 a.m. would also be examined. In 2007, Former Police Commissioner Raymond Flynn advocated about the need to close those restaurants in order to give bar patrons one less reason to stay in downtown after closing. On Jan. 1, 2007, an incident at the former Kennedy Fried Chicken left one person dead and five wounded. The restaurant was denied a common victualler’s license and was forced to close.

This is not the first time Sarno has spoken of closing bars an hour early. During his administration he has required entertainment at bars to end at 1 a.m. unless the business is granted a special license. He has also eliminated the possibility of age 18-plus events at city bars.    

When asked if any alteration to the closing time would affect MGM Springfield if it were still in place in 2018 when the casino is open, Sarno said that would fall under state control. According Elaine Driscoll, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, “The [gaming] law prohibits any alcoholic beverage service between the hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. So it’s not tied to the closing times established by the host community, though Plainridge Park Casino has actually voluntarily agreed to stop service at 1 a.m. (which was made a condition of their license) to keep in line with the Plainville town rule.”