Selectmen Split Over Amusement Game Permits at Sport Center and Local Restaurants-August 6, 1980

Despite concerns expressed by some municipal officials regarding the potential creation of a “penny arcade” environment in town, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 last night to permit 10 electronic and amusement game machines at Norwood Sport Center Inc., effectively rescinding a previous denial.

Norwood Sport Center owner Charles Kuietauskas appeared before the board to explain that the entertainment devices serve to keep young patrons occupied while waiting for open bowling lanes. He noted that he currently operates four such game machines at the facility, which fronts on the municipal parking lot at Cottage Street and Broadway.

Selectman Martin J. Lydon voiced concerns about creating an unwanted arcade atmosphere but ultimately voted to support the expansion request alongside Selectmen Walter J. Dempsey and John F. Kinnaly. Selectman Mary J. Fox and Board Chairman William J. Plasko cast dissenting votes, citing concerns over the high number of coin-operated machines requested. Fox expressed worry regarding the precedent the vote might set for future commercial requests, asking her colleagues: “Where do we stop?”

Both supporters and opponents on the board publicly praised Kuietauskas for his management of the bowling center. Kuietauskas assured officials that he would be the first person to remove the devices if they attracted public disturbances or trouble. The board’s approval was made contingent upon the Norwood Police Department raising no official security objections.

In a related licensing action, the selectmen voted 3-2 to deny a request from Papa Gino’s, located in the shopping plaza at Star Market and Nahatan Street, to install a single “Space Invader” video game device. On this vote, Selectman Kinnaly joined Fox and Plasko in opposition. Kinnaly explained his vote by noting that the Norwood Sport Center functions primarily as a dedicated recreation establishment, whereas Papa Gino’s operates as a commercial dining eatery.

In other business, the selectmen voted 4-1 to approve the town’s first commercial club liquor license for Factory Mutual Engineering‘s new corporate conference center on Route 1. Selectman Lydon provided the sole dissenting vote. Town Manager John J. Carroll recommended issuing the specific license type to prevent casual drop-in patronage, explaining that under standard common victualer regulations, non-members could be denied alcoholic beverages but could not legally be turned away from purchasing food. Factory Mutual Vice President and General Counsel Joseph R. Olshan noted no objection to the private designation, despite it requiring the firm to form a separate non-profit corporate entity. Olshan confirmed that the $8 million corporate facility along Route 1 is scheduled for full completion by October 1.

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