Milford selectmen move to keep liquor-selling businesses from hiring illegal immigrants

milforddailynews.com
By Brian Benson/Daily News staff
Milford Daily News
Posted Nov 29, 2011 @ 12:03 AM

MILFORD —

Selectmen said last night they support modifying the town's liquor licensing rules to forbid businesses from knowingly using illegal immigrants as workers.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to set the process in motion to change the rules. A public hearing now needs to be scheduled, and license holders must be notified and given an opportunity to provide comment on the changes.

"I think it's a good first step," Chairman Dino DeBartolomeis said.

The proposal, written by Town Counsel Gerald Moody, would add a condition to liquor licenses that establishments comply with all federal laws and Department of Homeland Security requirements when hiring workers.

The town would not have independent authority to investigate if businesses complied, but the board may be able to take action against businesses that sell liquor if violations are uncovered with help of federal immigration authorities, Moody wrote in a letter to selectmen.

"The goal here is that there be a new level of pressure upon liquor licensees not to take the risk of utilizing undocumented workers and facing then not just fines through (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) but also the possibility of revocation of their license," Moody wrote.

In response to calls for immigration reform following the death of Milford resident Matthew Denice, selectmen in September asked Moody to look at ways the board can ensure businesses to which it issues permits hire only legal workers.

Denice was riding his motorcycle in August when he was struck and killed by a pickup truck. Nicolas D. Guaman, 34, of 10 Cherry St., Apt. 1, Milford, is accused of driving the truck that hit Denice's motorcycle. Guaman, who police have said is in the United States illegally, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, among other charges.

Selectman William Buckley said the changes would make it clear that by hiring an illegal immigrant, a business is putting its license at risk.

Selectman Brian Murray said that could be "very persuasive" to businesses.

"I think it's a good idea," Murray said. "It gives us another tool."

DeBartolomeis said town leaders are doing everything they can to address immigration-related issues.

In other business, selectmen said they supported an $800,000 Community Development Block Grant application to improve roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure in the Church Street neighborhood, continue a housing rehabilitation program and fund grant administration expenses.

The application is for a fiscal 2012 grant and must be submitted by Dec. 16, Community Development Director Susan Clark said.

"This is a great neighborhood to get into," Murray said of the Church Street area. "There's a need there, and I hope you will have success there."

The board also approved changes to voting locations as a result of redistricting that will take place in 2012. Precincts 1 and 4 will vote at the Senior Center; 2 and 3 at the Italian American War Veterans Hall; and 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the Portuguese Club, Town Clerk Amy Hennessy Neves said.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-634-7582 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com.

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