The penalties against the Colonial Hotel in Gardner were handed down shortly after Gov. But after the Saturday wedding, Gardner health officials were notified that there had been more than 100 people at the event and that a second event had taken place on Sunday, according to Rossi. Charlie Baker said the number of people allowed at outdoor events will be cut to 50 from the current 100-person limit, starting Tuesday, Aug. 11. In addition, the hotel was supposed to require masks except when guests were seated to eat and drink, but “very few people” at either event were wearing masks, the citations said. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Charlie Baker, at a press conference on Friday, pointed to its events as one reason his administration would begin cracking down harder on gatherings that flout coronavirus regulations. The increases have occurred since the Baker administration kicked off the third phase of its reopening plan exactly one month ago. The suspension stems from two August weddings held at the hotel that state officials said exceeded the mandated 100-person capacity limit, included bar service … Charlie Baker said Friday Massachusetts will indefinitely postpone entering the second step of Phase 3. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. The hotel faced state and local fines last month after it was found to have violated state COVID-19 regulations by holding two weddings over the first weekend in August that violated the 100-person limit. There have been calls for Baker to roll back the reopening, in part because people are gathering in large groups in violation of state regulations. Whitmer may never be known, Chipotle is killing one of customers' favorite ways to get free food, Colonial Hotel in Gardner fined $600 for hosting events exceeding state coronavirus guidelines. A venue’s maximum allowable capacity may be even less than 100 people, depending on its size and permitting. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. The hotel received the fine after it hosted one wedding and a second event last weekend. The Colonial was cited in each instance for hosting an outdoor event with more than 100 people. The hotel can appeal the fines, but it must do so before Tuesday, according to the citations. The Baker administration’s Covid-19 restrictions prohibit outdoor events of more than 100 people, in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus. “The hotel, as previously stated always has been and will continue to be in compliance with all local and state rules and regulations,” the statement said. The penalties against the Colonial Hotel in Gardner were handed down shortly after Gov. According to allegations made to state and local officials, the Colonial in Gardner hosted a 240-guest, 70-employee wedding on Aug. 1 and a 190-guest wedding reception the following day. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. If the Colonial is found to have flouted state regulations, officials have limited options for punishing the hotel: Under the Baker administration’s enforcement guidelines for Covid-19 violations, the next steps would be one or more $300 fines. Baker is also signing an updated gatherings order reducing the limit on outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 people starting Tuesday. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Please support high-quality local journalism. The Colonial Hotel in Gardner, which hosted an event of more than 300 people on Saturday, was fined $600 for exceeding the capacity limits under … The Colonial is a … Phase 3 has included the reopening of gyms, movie theaters and museums — as well as a greenlight for moderately sized outdoor weddings. She hopes to provide more information after the meeting takes place, she added. Subscribe to MassLive.com. On Friday afternoon, Gov. A written warning followed on July 24 that explicitly pointed out that weddings of more than 100 people, including staff, are forbidden. The hotel was also cited for broadly failing to follow the safety standards for restaurants and events. “We have requested a meeting with the local boards to discuss the fines at their earliest convenience. Charlie Baker says, ‘Please help correct this’: Hundreds of complaints poured into Massachusetts’ new COVID-19 business reporting line in the first week, Rhode Island no longer exempt from Massachusetts’ travel restrictions due to COVID-19 positive test rate, Baystate Health CEO Mark Keroack: COVID-19 may be making comeback in Western Massachusetts, East Bridgewater man pulled gun on man during argument over face mask, police say, Visit MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass. According to allegations made to state and local officials, the Colonial in Gardner hosted a 240-guest, 70-employee wedding on Aug. 1 and a 190-guest wedding reception the following day. In a statement sent to media outlets earlier in the week, Moorshead had referenced “misconceptions” and “inaccuracies” about the hotel’s recent operations without specifying what they were. There are NO COVID transmissions that we are aware of.”. at www.masslive.com. The Colonial was cited in each instance for hosting an outdoor event with more than 100 people. The Gardner Board of Health verbally warned hotel management against hosting large weddings on July 15, according to state records. The hotel, in a brief statement to the Globe on Friday, denied any violations. The Aug. 1 wedding was for a member of Moorshead’s family, according to Lauren Saunders, Gardner’s director of public health. Both the Department of Labor Standards and the city of Gardner are considering how to respond to the allegations, according to officials. The hotel then “provided the city with written acknowledgment of the guidelines and an assurance that they would adhere to the best of their ability,” according to a statement from Gardner Assistant Director of Public Health Rick Rossi. Please support high-quality local journalism. The Colonial is a popular wedding destination in central Massachusetts, scoring high ratings at wedding websites like The Knot. Then on the following day, the hotel hosted a second event, which had 190 guests, according to a summary of allegations against the Colonial. The general manager of the Colonial Hotel is disputing allegations made to government officials about the size of two events over the weekend that led local authorities to fine the popular wedding venue for violating Covid-19 restrictions. The Business Journal obtained the summary through a public records request. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. If the high attendance numbers are proven true, Gardner could hit Colonial with a fine of up to $300 per event, Rossi said. Another Colonial employee directed all questions to Moorshead. Complaints identified the event as a wedding reception for unrelated guests, according to Saunders. The Colonial Hotel in Gardner, which hosted an event of more than 300 people on Saturday, was fined $600 for exceeding the capacity limits under the Massachusetts coronavirus guidelines, according to the Boston Globe. He noted that at this point it has not received a formal, written complaint about the alleged bar, dance floor and mask violations. Moorshead was seeking a meeting with local officials about the allegations, she said Friday. He told the Business Journal “a lot of people” have complained about the hotel’s actions. Gardner city officials had fined the wedding venue $600 on Thursday.. Baker had signaled the additional penalties were coming when he said during the press conference that he expected additional fines against the Colonial to be “significantly into the thousands of dollars.”. All rights reserved (About Us). The hotel put on the events despite receiving warnings from authorities tipped off to the plans. The updated order will apply to all types of gatherings on both public and private property. The Baker administration’s COVID-19 restrictions prohibit outdoor events of more than 100 people, in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus. GARDNER — The state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has suspended indefinitely the liquor license of the Colonial Hotel for COVID-19 executive order violations earlier this summer. All rights reserved (About Us). The Colonial had been on notice not to run afoul of virus-related restrictions. Complaints identified the event as a wedding reception for unrelated guests, according to Saunders. Colonial Hotel General Manager Nicole Moorshead said in an email on Friday morning that the attendance figures reported to authorities were incorrect, though she would not specify what the figures were. one wedding and a second event last weekend. One of the people who got married on Aug. 1 is a family member of Nicole Moorshead, the general manager of the wedding venue, the Colonial Hotel in Gardner, according to Lauren Saunders, Gardner’s director of public health. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). “If we receive other complaints, we will certainly investigate those as they come in,” Rossi said. The wedding included 240 guests and 70 staff members. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Why full evidence of the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Still, it’s unlikely such fines would add up to more than a few thousand dollars. A Massachusetts hotel hosted back-to-back events last weekend that far exceeded the state’s 100-person capacity limit on outdoor events during the pandemic, despite multiple warnings from government officials tipped off to the plans, according to complaints received by state and local officials. The citations pointed to four violations at both events. The Department of Labor Standards’ summary of the allegations against the Colonial mentions that the Gardner Board of Health could revoke the hotel’s licenses if they break the rules again. “In some respects we’re entering a new phase in our battle against COVID-19,” Baker said during a news conference at the Massachusetts State House. The Colonial has now been fined a total of $3,000 for the events. Baker said on Friday that going forward, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission would play a greater role in Covid-19 enforcement because it has authority to take away licenses and impose larger fines in response to violations. There were no specific citations for operating a bar, as the hotel was alleged to have done. The limit on indoor gatherings will remain at 25 people. They had warned the Colonial beforehand to adhere to state restrictions, but the hotel still allegedly put on an Aug. 1 wedding featuring 240 guests and 70 employees, and an Aug. 2 wedding reception featuring 190 guests. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Both the state Department of Labor Standards and Gardner health officials had received complaints about the expected size of the Saturday wedding before it happened. Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson told the Business Journal that prior to these latest allegations, Gardner officials had “absolutely no issue” with the hotel. State and local officials received complaints about the size of the events both before and after they took place. According to the summary of the complaints, both events featured dancing and the use of a bar, as well as at least some guests not wearing masks. One of the people who got married on Aug. 1 is a family member of Nicole Moorshead, the general manager of the wedding venue, the Colonial Hotel in Gardner, city officials said.

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