Council declines to approve Portuguese American Club licenses pending completed stair inspections

The Portsmouth Town Council declined to approve entertainment and victualers licenses for the Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club's St. Anthony's Feast after a debate over whether replacement stairs and other egress work had been fully inspected.

Resident Bonnie Break, speaking during public comment, urged the council to deny any fee waiver and withhold licensing while litigation and outstanding safety concerns remain, saying the town currently has no regular inspection schedule for event buildings: "I am respectfully asking that you deny this request due to ongoing litigation and safety concerns." Her remarks referenced the June 7, 2025 collapse that left one resident seriously injured and led to a fatality.

The club's counsel, attorney James DeAmbra, said the stairs had been rebuilt to engineering plans and that the club was willing to have licenses approved "conditioned upon the staircases being inspected by any member of the town to the town's satisfaction." Town Planner Leah Hitchin confirmed a building permit has been issued and said the facility is ready for a final inspection, while the town's fire chief said both front and rear staircases are required for means of egress and would be inspected.

Council members split over whether to approve the licenses tonight or require completed inspections before any action. Councilor David Gleason argued for conditioning approval on passed inspections and a fire marshal review; other members worried that inspection and modification timelines might not meet the council's next agenda. After discussion, a motion to approve the licenses contingent on completed inspections failed 2 to 5, with Gleason and Councilor Reese voting in the affirmative.

The council directed the club to return the clerk with proof of completed inspections; the clerk will place the item on the next available licensing agenda once the town confirms the work has passed inspection.