Orono gives pub more time to comply

ORONO – Town officials have decided to extend the public hearing on the operating licenses of a local restaurant and bar to give the owner more time to comply with local and state health and welfare regulations.

Bear Brew owner Matt Haskell was found in violation last month of a number of health and safety regulations during an inspection of the facility by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

According to town statute, Haskell’s licenses can be denied if he fails to comply with state “life safety, food and liquor” regulations.

The Bear Brew’s special amusement and victualer’s licenses with the town aren’t scheduled to expire until March 31, but the business’ liquor license was set to run out March 3.

A public hearing on all three permits was scheduled for Monday’s council meeting, but has been moved to March 27 to give Haskell more time to meet the state’s requirements.

“I appreciate the council’s gesture in giving me more time,” Haskell said Friday.

Town Clerk Wanda Thomas wrote a letter Feb. 9 to the state Liquor Licensing & Inspections Unit requesting Haskell’s liquor license be extended to March 31 “to give the owner time to resolve existing issues both with the town and the State of Maine Department of Health.”

“They are willing to work with us,” Town Manager Cathy Conlow said Friday of the state.

After being found in violation of several state health and safety codes after an inspection last month, Haskell continues to operate on a 30-day conditional agreement with state Department of Health and Human Services.

He is working to fix violations at the restaurant that included:

. Improper or lack of hand-washing sinks in food preparation areas.

. Leaks in the plumbing in the second- and third-floor bar areas, as well as the pizza preparation area, making the areas “wet and dirty,” according to the inspector’s report.

. The walk-in refrigerator was reported to have been kept at 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

There also was the fact that the business has been expanded to seat 300 from the original 30 for which it was licensed back in 2004.

Haskell now is allowed to serve food out of his brick oven pizza kitchen, and has expanded the menu from solely pizza to bistro-type sandwiches, appetizers and casserole dishes.

The conditional agreement also allows the full bar to be open.

“Things are kind of the same,” Haskell said. “Obviously business is down.”

The pub owner isn’t satisfied with some of the state processes and recently met with DHHS officials in Augusta to discuss the issue.

“I still have a lot of questions that I need answered,” Haskell said.

For now, he is continuing to operate the business as routinely as possible. Haskell said he continues to have activities at the establishment.

“Eventually I’m going to build a new kitchen, hopefully, and get back open again,” he said, noting that his goal is to come back bigger and better than before.

“I’m not the type of person that’s just going to lay over and die here,” Haskell said. “I’m going to do everything I can to save my restaurant.”