After public outcry, store employee's job is saved

NORTH CANAAN — A Stop & Shop Supermarket employee, suspended and expecting to be fired after selling beer to a minor, will keep her job.

The determination was issued late last week, after The Journal contacted the chain’s corporate headquarters in Quincy, Mass. Local Stop & Shop store manager John Richardson also spoke with The Journal, but declined commenting to any degree on the record, as per company policy.

He mostly confirmed the documented events of an Oct. 12 sting operation conducted at area liquor retailers. A 17-year-old girl, accompanied by an undercover state Liquor Control agent, visited 14 retailers. The teenager successfully bought alcohol at 13 of them.

Christine Diamonte, employed at the North Canaan supermarket for about eight years, is a friendly and familiar face to regular customers. She reportedly realized her mistake almost immediately. But company policy calls for termination of employees who sell alcohol to minors.

Word of her possible dismissal prompted a petition, which began circulating in Norfolk. It was signed by about 80 area residents, including many in Norfolk but also many from other area towns.

Dr. Robert Bumcrot drafted the petition, composed as a letter to the Department of Consumer Protection, Liquor Control Division.

In it he acknowledged the value of making compliance inspections, but termed Diamonte’s “punishment� as “excessive.�

Bumcrot described Diamonte as “cheerful, helpful and honest.�

He suggested a lesser punishment rather than “deprive both the customers and the store management of a valued long-term employee.�

At Stop & Shop headquarters, Robert Keane, of the Communications Department, said the matter had been investigated and Diamonte would be allowed to keep her job.

The reasons for the decision are proprietary; Keane would say only that word had come to him through the human resources department. He could not say if support for Diamonte from store management or petitioners had any bearing on the decision.

Richardson noted that in his 13 years at the store, this was the first problem with the sale of liquor to a minor. The store does frequent checks of alcohol and cigarette sales procedures.

That Diamonte, described as a well-trained, experienced and ethical worker, made such a mistake offers a clue to a puzzling dilemma for retailers, who said they thought they were doing everything possible to prevent underage purchasing.

They cited risks to their businesses, as well as concern for their communities, as reasons for not  trading ethics for profits. Some agreed complacency may be at work.

Diamonte’s supporters say it’s a mistake she’s hardly likely to make again — and that’s certainly a goal of the liquor commission.

Meanwhile, as retailers wait to hear about informal meetings and potential hearings before the state liquor commission, as well as fines and possible license suspensions, those who sold to minors will be required to attend training sessions to refresh their knowledge of laws, IDs, criminal and civil liability for violators and the mechanics of a compliance check.

The lone complying retailer, Trotta’s Supermarket in Sharon, is exempt.

In a press release, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell called the outcome of the compliance sting “not acceptable by anyone’s standards.�

“I have the commitment of the State Police at Troop B that they will partner with us in correcting this situation, beginning immediately.�