Greenfield Recorder – Because taxes were not paid, the Whately Selectboard reinstates the Club Castaway police unit requirements

WHATELY – Because taxes had not been paid by Tuesday evening, the Selectboard voted to reinstate the requirement for police presence at Club Castaway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

The decision at Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting came after club owners failed to appear for a continuation of a hearing that would have limited police deployment to Friday and Saturday evenings.

At the June 10 meeting, it was revealed that the club owed about $3,000 for police records and about $2,200 in back taxes, leading the Selectboard to demand payment of those bills before this week’s meeting.

“I see no reason to be accommodating,” Selectboard member Joyce Palmer-Fortune said Tuesday, stressing that the Castaway club has a “track record” of enforcing the conditions of its liquor and entertainment license. The club was briefly closed in early 2020 for violating the conditions because a stone wall intended to serve as a noise barrier was never built.

“I think we made it clear last time that you have to pay your taxes,” Palmer-Fortune added. “I am not in favour of relaxing the conditions under the current circumstances.”

Club co-owner Nick Spagnola said Wednesday morning that the club would take care of the payments this week.

“We have determined that we are unable to receive mail in our mailbox on our property and will need to install a new mailbox across the street. We will be addressing the issue this week,” Spagnola said. “Club Castaway does not intend to negatively impact the Town of Whately’s financial planning.”

He said the payments to the police came from the winter, when business was much quieter than it is today.

“Regarding police bills, the issue has arisen due to the quieter operational months of January and February. The city is aware that payments will be made in full this week,” Spagnola added. “It is important to note that police officers are normally paid on a nightly basis, a practice that has been consistently followed for several months.”

While the Selectboard voted to require police details to be provided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Police Chief James Sevigne Jr. reiterated his opinion that there should be no requirement to provide police details at all.

“If we continue to work Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it will be a burden on the police department. … I don’t think we necessarily need to be there,” Sevigne said, noting that it is hard enough to fill shifts, let alone work weekends, and he cannot ask outside departments for help. “To ask for something that is not paid for anyway will hurt the city.”

The Selectboard will continue to communicate with police on this matter, but in the meantime, Club Castaway is free to continue to cooperate with police forces on the weekend.

“We are committed to presenting the best in adult entertainment and are pleased to announce an expansion of our hours to Monday through Saturday,” said Spagnola. “In addition, we are expanding our entertainment offerings to include more inclusive events to meet the diverse preferences of our guests in Western Massachusetts.”

You can reach Chris Larabee at [email protected].