Due to a bevy of complaints at the 24-hour McDonald’s at Twin City Plaza in Somerville, the aldermen's Committee on Licenses and Permits was scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide whether to yank the fast-food chain's permission to stay open all night.
    “There is no compelling reason in my mind for that McDonald’s to have a 24-hour license,” said Maryann Heuston, Alderman of Ward 2, where the McDonald’s is located.
    Three months ago McDonald’s hired Somerville Police to detail the large well-lit parking lot near the building as the franchise’s all-night license was under review.
    Since late June Police have responded to almost a dozen complaints, including two reports of drag racing and one very belligerent drive-thru customer.
    Still John Connolly, Ward 6 Alderman and Chairman of the Committee of Licenses and Permits, said the safety of Somerville residents is still at risk, and McDonald’s needs to make more improvements in order to keep its 24-hour license.
    “The burden of proof is really on McDonald’s to come forward with their best program, because public safety is the number one concern,” he said. “Nobody wants to be there when some knucklehead decides to take it out on you because his fries are too soggy or something.”
    Robert Martel, property manager of Brickbottom Studios, located behind the McDonald’s parking lot on Fitchburg Street, agreed. 
    “McDonald’s will say they’re servicing people who are on their way to or from work in the middle of the night, which is probably true, but they’re also servicing people who think they need some place to go after they finish drinking,” he said.
    Bob King, owner and operator of the McDonald’s said people coming to his restaurant after the bars have closed are not the majority of his late night business, they have just drawn the most attention. He welcomes their patronage as long as they’re not too rowdy.
“I’d much prefer have somebody leaving a bar coming by to get a coffee or some food rather than getting on the highway, but that’s not the most of our business by far,” he said.
    Heuston countered that the area is an attractive nuisance.
    “People don’t necessarily go there because they’re so hungry, but because they want another place to hang out and extend their evening,” she said.
    Connolly agreed.
    “McDonald’s has to go out of its way to provide a safe business,” he said. “I could care less if they’re making an extra half million dollars each year.”
    King would not disclose how much business those early AM hours represented.
    “It’s a sizable amount of business,” he said. “It’s definitely something we wish to keep. And we feel that it’s a great service to the people of the Somerville area.”