Money the root of current issues.

Byline: Michael Kane

WEST BOYLSTON - Recent problems at Reservoir Motor Lodge are different from the issues that resulted in fines and two suspensions in 2007 and 2008.

In December 2007, the town issued a two-day suspension and fined the motel $300 - the maximum allowed by law - for a series of violations that included underage drinking, lack of information on registration cards - used by police when responding to incidents - and accusations that staff were intoxicated on duty and making obscene phone calls from business phones.

As a result, the Board of Selectmen created a "manager's policy" directing how guests were registered and when police were to be notified about incidents at the motel.

The license for the motel was transferred to Kirit Malaviya in January 2008 and, by summer, he was facing a license suspension for violations to the manager's policy and for health and safety violations discovered after firefighters responded to an emergency call and found a male living in filth and feces.

Selectmen ultimately reduced the days served on suspension after Malaviya hired an independent consultant to inspect the motel and provide a plan to clean up the rooms and common areas was presented.

Recent problems are financial in nature.

The Board of Selectmen have set a policy that prohibits the granting of any license to a property that has either outstanding violations or is in arrears for any money due to the town. Town records show Malaviya did not make a tax payment in 2008 until December, when it came time to renew his license.

He did the same thing in 2009, which Town Administrator Leon Gaumond Jr. said prompted him to develop with Malaviya a payment plan to "make sure the town got its money and to prevent what is happening now from happening."

However, on Dec. 31, 2009, the Sewer Department, with...