 Good morning. Again, we just met for our gender setting meeting. So we've had our, our little bit of our chit chat and our good morning. So we'll get right started, but I do need a roll call again. Commissioner Cameron. Good morning. I. Good morning. It's still morning. Yes. I am. I am here. Okay. Commissioner Brian. I am here. Thank you. Commissioner Zuniga. Here. Good morning. And commissioner Stevens. Good morning, everybody. I'm here. Okay. And again, as I've noted each, each of our, each of our meetings, we are conducting this remotely because so the relief governor Baker offered in the executive order. To accommodate needs during the pandemic. This relief from certain provisions of the open meeting law. And we've been meeting virtually since March 14. So thank you, everyone. We'll call to order today that it is Wednesday, November 25th. It is now 1049 and it is public meeting number 328. And we'll get started with our only item on today's agenda. Item number two, Loretta, do you want to take it? Hi, hi. Good morning. Again, this is a, this is a matter that I'm bringing to your attention at the request of Boston Harbor, specifically on core has requested that it's gaming beverage license be amended so that three of the restaurants located on the casino's premises be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages with takeout food orders. And this request would be consistent with COVID related emergency legislation passed by the legislature on April 3rd and July 20th of this year, allowing restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages with food takeout orders subject to certain conditions. And those conditions are that the buyer be over 21 or over that the product be in a sealed container and sealed container is a defined term in the legislation and I should point out that our gaming agents team is right now in the process of working with on core food and beverage to examine the containers. Another condition that's part of the legislation is that the sale be part of a food transaction. There are specified limits to the amount of alcohol that can be applied in the legislation and the sales are limited to the hours of operation of the restaurant, which right now under the governor's order and the commission's COVID requirements that track the governor's order is until 9.30 PM. A legal reading of the emergency legislation may indicate that no specific action by the commission is required, but it is required to be approved by the commission's broad regulatory oversight and particularly its responsibility regarding COVID protocols. I am bringing on course request to you for a vote. And again in summary, the request is that the alcohol beverage license, which the commission issued to on core be amended. We'll allow rare steakhouse red eight. And we'll also allow the commission to approve the recommendation of the recommendation of the commission's recommendation of the recommendation of the establishment to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages with takeout food orders. Subject to the specific conditions set forth in section 13 of chapter 53 of the acts of 2020. And Senate bill 2812. Which amended section 53 of the acts of 2020. So that those are my prepared. Questions for the commission. Ms. Crom is here if there are specific questions for, for me or her or Mr. Band, who's well versed in this request, we'll try to answer them. And in our packet, we did have the, um, the PowerPoint that, um, on Corbos and Harbor provided. And you have the actual application for the request for the amendment. And I think that's a good point, uh, which gives a description of the three restaurant premises and locations and so forth. Um, it does seem to be, um, obviously consistent with the earlier executive actions from the governor's office. The question I have in terms of. Us voting to approve it, which I do think is appropriate for us to look at under these circumstances is. So, um, I would like to make a point of my concerns with crowding or queuing up or anything like that, with take out or anticipating that this would in any way cause a problem. Um, just adding this to the services that they can provide. Particularly as they access at the 9 30 time. Yeah. Whether there's any discussions, issues, anything like that that you want to bring to our attention. And I will, uh, discussions earlier, Jackie did indicate that the practice of patrons has been with the earlier closing time to call in an advance of closing for takeout orders. So that process has been happening and as Bruce and I have been reporting, you know, regularly there have not been any significant issues. You know, I don't know whether this additional amenity will have that much of a impact on the takeout orders that are already being placed as people are, you know, leaving at this earlier hour, leaving the, you know, the gaming activity. But Jackie or Bruce, I am trying you to address it. So frankly, we wish we actually did have more people picking up to go orders. We're hoping that this will will help facilitate that. But we do have marked areas where people stand that are six feet apart leading in and out of every restaurant. So that's something we would continue to monitor. We have not had any issue with that going in the past. Well we hope that it does that if this votes positive that it does drive some business. I know that I've heard that restaurants that have this available to them, you know, in Back Bay for instance, you know, are pleased to be able to have this extra bonus during the Thanksgiving time. So I had a question, but it's really just logistics. If we vote for this, does this require a change in the certificate because I would want to get that done immediately so that Encore could enjoy this benefit for the Thanksgiving break? It would, Kathy. And I have been in touch with Lisa Brookner in the licensing division and we're prepared to make the adjustment right away. Yeah, okay. Questions for Jackie and Loretta, Todd, Bruce, our experts? I have one mostly out of curiosity. I think first of all I mean agreement with the notion that this is a very appropriate request and one that is consistent with what everybody is doing around the state as per the legislature. But out of curiosity, what do you anticipate Jackie perhaps to be, you know, the orders that can complement a dinner, certain wines that are sealed or perhaps mixed drinks that then have to be evaluated how to be put in a sealed container. Just help us understand what you anticipate. Sure. So the primary impetus for the request was we'd like to include sort of wine dinners and so we come up with a specific, you know, maybe a three-course meal and rare and then pair it with maybe two different wines because I think that that's consistent with the legislation. So it's mostly to do wine dinners or add sake to an order as appropriate and mystique. Right. And those would be again out of curiosity, you know, mostly bottles that would then be taken completely sealed and on court at people's homes. Absolutely. It's good to know. That is good to know. Can we just step in? Do you have questions? I had some questions earlier with Director Lilios and just kind of talk through what the containers themselves look like. And I'm all set and appreciate the work of our team on site looking at those before before getting the green light. Patricia Cameron, I do not have questions. I too wondered who who ordered takeout from the casino, but it sounds like guests that are leaving the casino will order before they leave and take the food and beverage with them. So I have no issues with this. This request. This is an opportunity to for patrons to may not be going into the gaming establishment right now or new comers to encore to maybe do a different Thanksgiving and and go to rare and have a different experience. So I'm delighted with the timing that we are able to accommodate the timing. And then I and I hope that it's an opportunity to perhaps just enjoy something different for those who might be looking for that tomorrow. Commissioner Brian, any further questions? No, no, other than I guess two comments to make one would be my understanding of the governor's orders are that, well, that you can't sell full bottles of wine. This would allow those establishments to do mixed drinks as well. Jackie, I know you said that's not what you envisioned, but if somebody did want to put one in an order, am I correct that that's allowable under this? It is allowable. My understanding is it is allowable on our two restaurants that we have proposed. We don't have any intention of doing mixed drinks. We're going to stick with bottles of wine or bottles of beer. That's also permissible. But you know, we would like to reserve that for our mystique if it because they do have specialty cocktails provided, of course, that they have the appropriate containers. I'm sorry to say that I know I'm not aware of instances where there have been issues with establishments that have followed us and had them properly sealed. So I don't see an issue that requests myself. And you mean in terms of this has been available to to restaurants since July and we don't have any evidence, Loretta, correct that there's been any widespread abuse of this takeout option? That's right. In fact, the the beer and wine portion has been available earlier since April. The cocktails came online with the later emergency measure in July. And by all the information I have, the rollout has been smooth. It's been a successful piece that restaurants have been able to rely on. And if we took action today, it would cover the the option of the mixed drinks for the future, correct? Or would we want to consider that? Or is it more narrow today? The way it's been presented today is all the all the pieces today have been presented. You know, of course, you're not bound by by that you could, you know, choose your menu, so to speak, but it's been presented with all three options of the beer, wine, and the mixed drinks today. Any further questions? Thank you. Then I understand that that you're recommending that we do take formal action commissioners. If you would like to do so, we could entertain a motion and have just for the discussion as as warranted. Certainly, Madam Chair, I'll make a motion that the Commission amend Encore Boston Harbor's gaming beverage license consistent with Section 13 of Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020 and Senate Bill 2812 amending Section 53 of the Acts of 2020. I second that. Any further questions for our team here? Okay. I'll take a vote. Commissioner Cameron. I. Commissioner O'Brien. I. Commissioner Zunica. I. Commissioner Stevens. I. And I vote yes. My only follow-up would be Karen and if we could have this be part of our update at the December 3rd meeting. That's a good idea. Thank you. And we do wish you Jackie and your team at Encore the very best over the next few days. And happy that you're able to accommodate this request today. No, thank you so much. We really appreciate you. Appreciate you accommodating this request prior to Thanksgiving to allow us to enhance our offerings. And happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the Gaming Commission. I can see lots of people here. Yeah. Yeah. How many do we have from our team? And we have actually 59 participants right now. So that could be members of the external world as well. But we do have a lot of our team members right here. So thank you for the good wishes and and pass them on. We have my colleagues to everyone over at Encore. Okay. Well, thank you. Commissioners, do you have any further updates that you'd like to provide or anything that you'd like to say at this moment? We did have our good wishes at the last meeting. How's that? Well, it's the same with wishes to everybody who was not able to join the last meeting. Happy Thanksgiving to everybody and have a safe holiday season. Yes. Thank you. Commissioner Stephens. Safe and happy and healthy and great Thanksgiving for everybody out there. Commissioner O'Brien. Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Enjoy the weekend. Commissioner Cameron. Ditto. Ditto. And let's treasure, as I said in the last meeting, the meaning of Thanksgiving this year because it seems pretty relevant. Okay, everyone be safe. Thank you so much. We'll be doing a motion to adjourn. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner O'Brien. Hi. And Commissioner Cameron. Hi. Commissioner Zuniga. Hi. And Commissioner Stephens. Hi. I vote yes. And thank you, everyone. Thank you to the team. We appreciate your attendance. Thank you. Thanks, everyone. Thank you. Hi. Thank you, Jackie. Bye-bye.