By JAMES MADDEN

CHARLESTOWN – Despite being non-compliant with new state fire codes, the town council extended the liquor license for the General Stanton Inn Restaurant through the month of December -- so they’ll be able to generate business during the holiday season.

The liquor licenses for all establishments in town end Dec. 1 and the General Stanton Inn was the only establishment to receive an extension from the town council.

The Inn has yet to install a new fire alarm system in all their rooms and hallways as well as in the Night Watch Tavern.

Karilee Dahl from the General Stanton Inn asked the town council at their Nov. 13 meeting to approve the restaurant’s liquor license.

“The only thing we have to do is the fire alarm system, which is a very big job” said Dahl. “It’s only the fire alarms, everything else is in compliance.”

At the town council meeting, Dahl said that the owner C.J. Evron had talked to the Rhode Island Fire Safety Board of Appeals that day and they said they’d give the General Stanton Inn an extension to keep operating.

The fire safety board mandated the General Stanton Inn have the new fire system install by Oct. 31. Dahl said General Stanton owners will be meeting with the fire safety board today to ask for the extension.

Town Solicitor Robert Craven suggested two options to the town council: to extend the liquor license to Dec. 31 or to hold a special meeting to approve the liquor license once the Inn was in compliance.
“I don’t think it would be in the best interest of the townspeople and the owners to deny them their license during the holiday season,” said Town Councilor James Mageau. “My position is that if we can extend them a month or two than maybe we should… We’re making an exception in this case.”

When the council asked Dahl if the General Stanton Inn would be up to code by the end of Dec. she said, “I don’t know.”

“C. J. has always had a tough time getting compliance,” said Town Councilor Katherine Waterman.  “I think holding his feet to the fire is the way this is going to go from now on… I don’t want to see the General Stanton Inn close.”

Waterman said that Evron has been looking for money from state agencies to help pay for the cost of fire code upgrades.

Craven pointed out that if an extension were given it would no pose any liability threat to the town.  
Aside from the General Stanton Inn, the town council renewed the following liquor licenses at their Nov. 13 meeting:

- Charlestown Package Store 4625 Old Post Road

- Rippy’s Liquor and Market Place 4158 South County Trail

- The Foster Pier Restaurant 5310 Old Post Road

- The Cove Restaurant 3963 Old Post Road

- The Meadow Brook Inn 168 Carolina Back Road

- The Nordic Lodge 178 East Pasquisett Trail

- The Wilcox Tavern  5153 Old Post Road

- The Gentleman Farmer Diner 4349 South County Trail

- Famous Pizza  3968 Old Post Road

- The General Stanton Inn  4115 Old Post Road

- The American Legion 20 Wipple Drive