SALEM — The committee of the whole heard a request to expand the operational hours of the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in its meeting Tuesday.

Scott Larrick Owner of the OG Ltd. On Broadway Avenue asked the members of city council to expand the DORA hours, currently from noon through 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, to seven days a week. Larrick argued that if the DORA, which allows customers to buy alcohol from a participating bar or restaurant in a designated cup and freely walk around with it outside in the set DORA area which covers most of downtown, was every day, businesses would be able to utilize it more readily.

“I’ve had informal discussion with different people about the DORA and I’ve had both people feel that it hasn’t been used very much since it’s been instituted, like it hasn’t generated much in the way of extra business or activity, and people that are interested in trying to generate some activities using the DORA,” said Larrick. “I would propose that while lots of people are out when we currently have the DORA going on, there’s not really any reason I can see not to have it be every day. Even if it wouldn’t be used as much on those other days, there still would be opportunities for people to come out.”

Larrick said that expanding the days DORA was in effect would remove any confusion about when businesses and customers could utilize it.

“Not that there’s a lot of confusion, but many people actually don’t know which days are DORA and which days aren’t. If it’s every day it’s just simple, there’s no question about it in anybody’s mind,” said Larrick.

He also argued that being in effect all week would mean businesses don’t have to set up a specifically demarcated and separate space for customers to enjoy alcoholic beverages outside, a process which carries permitting requirements and costs.

“An establishment doesn’t have to set up a specific area outside and get a liquor license and have the state come and inspect, so if you have some little chairs and tables in front of your restaurant as long as people are in DORA they can go outside and sit there. Otherwise, you have to set up stanchions and get the liquor department to do another inspection, and it’s not terribly cumbersome but there’s a lot more work and expense in that,” said Larrick.

Councilman and Committee Chair Andrew Null thanked Larrick for his input, noting he was in favor of the proposed change and that council had previously updated the DORA in 2022 to allow it to operate year-round rather than only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Councilman Jeff Stockman asked what the process to update the DORA was as he wasn’t serving on council yet when the DORA was first approved in 2019, and Councilwoman Sara Baer said that she’d spoken with City Law Director Brooke Zellers and her understanding was that expanding the operational days and times within the already approved zone fell under the purview of city council.

Stockman also asked why the DORA had originally been restricted to only operating during certain days, and Null said that the days had been set in response to local feedback from both those for and against the DORA.

“There was blowback from the churches, especially regarding Sunday. I was on council at the time, I don’t remember all the details, but we were probably trying to satisfy people on both sides,” said Null.

The members of council all thanked Larrick for attending and offering his input, and no formal action was ultimately taken.