EASTHAMPTON — The attorney for the Polish Pulaski Club of Easthampton said Monday a dispute with state alcohol regulators is resolved, but he may have spoken too soon, the alcohol agency’s executive director said.
The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission in June said the club’s liquor license would be suspended 32 days starting next month, after investigators said there was illegal gambling at the club and that the club’s president, Scott Vishaway, hindered their investigation.
Wayne Peereboom, the club’s attorney, in a statement said the ABCC “rescinded the suspension” and charged a fine, the amount of which he did not disclose.
He also said Vishaway has left his post — per the state’s request — and has been replaced by Robert Moszynski. Vishaway had no comment when reached by phone Monday.
“We are very pleased with the decision and the cooperation of the ABCC,” said Peereboom, of Dunn & Phillips, P.C.
But a call to ABCC Executive Director Ralph Sacramone showed Peereboom may have gotten ahead of himself.
“They (club officials) are in the process of filing a fine in lieu of suspension,” Sacromone told the Gazette Monday, saying they have until Friday to deliver necessary paperwork to the agency.
After that, officials would still have to process and approve the filing.
Sacromone said he did not have the fine amount in front of him, but said the amount is determined by a number of factors including the club’s revenues. He said the payment-in-lieu-of-suspension system is allowed under state law.
The agency notified the club of the 32-day suspension on June 13 after investigators in November uncovered the gambling scheme, where gamblers would insert money into two video gaming machines and cash in their winnings behind the bar.
While investigators were at the bar, Vishaway called the Easthampton Police on the investigators, denied them access to the club’s back office and gaming systems, and told other club officials to stop talking to investigators, investigators said.
In addition to the suspension, the ABCC said the club would have to get rid of its gaming machines and replace Vishaway as president.
In his Monday statement, Peereboom mentioned Vishaway’s ouster but did not say anything about the gaming machines.
Jack Suntrup can be reached at jsuntrup@gazettenet.com.