Selectmen Rescind Bar Hours Limit After Neighborhood Complaints-September 8, 1971

Acting upon a mounting series of complaints received from neighborhood residents concerning disturbances centered around Dundulis’ Lunch, the Board of Selectmen officially voted during a public meeting to rescind their previous action that had curtailed the operating hours of the South Norwood establishment back to 11:00 p.m. and required a police patrolman to be stationed on site at the owner’s expense.

Public Hearings, Hearings on Potential Violations, and Denials

Town Counsel Walter J. Gotovich explained to the board that if selectmen truly believed a formal violation of local liquor laws had occurred, they were legally obligated to issue formal written notices to the business owners citing specific infractions and conduct an official public hearing. Selectman Joseph W. Wall strongly asserted that he did not want the matter swept under the rug, stating, “I want to get to the core of all this. Is this going on or isn’t it?” Wall cited ongoing reports of neighborhood disturbances, loud noise, and patrons walking out of the establishment with alcoholic beverages in hand.

Co-owner Mrs. Maria Gil strongly denied the allegations leveled by residents, revealing that she had personally placed several calls to the police department herself regarding loitering around the premises. “One thing I would like is to have those kids cleaned off that corner. They’re not an asset to my place; they’re costing me money,” Mrs. Gil stated, adding that she had previously requested a police detail during the busy pre-Christmas season at her own expense, only to have her request refused by authorities. Selectman Walter J. Dempsey noted that police would monitor the situation moving forward, while Selectman Wall assured Mrs. Gil that her reports regarding neighboring disturbances would receive proper administrative follow-up.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger