LITTLE COMPTON — Thomas R. Roos, though not in person, has figured prominently in license application proceedings before the Little Compton Town Council since the middle of February.

Early last August, records show, Mr. Roos purchased the Stone House from Rockland Trust for $1.75 million (it's currently assessed for tax purposes at $4.2 million). Back in 2007 it sold for $5.4 million, and the purchasers over several years thereafter invested an estimated $12 million in renovations.

Mr. Roos is attempting to breathe new life into the venerable property by proposing to operate it as a restaurant, bar, hotel and venue for high-end weddings.

He identifies himself in his all-in-one application for the Class BV liquor, victualing, holiday and entertainment licenses as the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, the sole director and board member, and the sole-holder of 8,000 shares of common stock in a corporation known as StoneHouse Resort, Inc., now doing business as the Stone House.

Mr. Roos has not appeared before the council at any of the Stone House meetings.

Asked to help the Times contact Mr. Roos, his lawyer, Kevin Ventuoli, said: "Mr. Roos lives seasonally in Florida and has been out of state on the dates during which the hearings were scheduled and thus unable to attend. I will try to facilitate an interview on your behalf but please understand that I do not give out people's contact information without their permission.”

Florida arrests

Allegations and questions about Mr. Roos have appeared in a number of the several hundred e-mails filed with the Little Compton Town Clerk's Office regarding the Stone House license application.

The application form asks whether any of the applicant's officers, board members, or stockholders have ever been arrested or convicted of a crime.

To which Mr. Roos's application states:

"The applicant was arrested in 2015 in Florida on charges unrelated to the conduct or operation of the alcohol beverage license which is the subject of this application. Adjudication has been withheld on a charge of criminal mischief pending, inter alia, completion of court-ordered community service, which is ongoing. Under the laws of Florida, the applicant is not considered to have been convicted of such charges as adjudication has been withheld."

The application for the licenses was signed by Kevin Vendituoli, Mr. Roos's lawyer, not by Mr. Roos.

Booking information from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office shows three arrests in 2015 of Thomas R. Roos (DOB 1/17/63), of 529 S. Flagler Dr.,  Apt. #21H, West Palm Beach, Florida. Two charges were filed against Mr. Roos on April 30, 2015, at 10:08 p.m. (Booking Number 2015016164) for "resist officer — with violence," and (Booking Number 2015016167) for "Burgl — unoccupied structure unarmed."

On Oct. 15, 2015, at 1:03 a.m., Mr. Roos was charged again (Booking Number 2015038099), this time for "cocaine possess."

Asked about the outcome of these three charges, Mr. Vendituoli said, "The charges were modified and consolidated by the prosecutor, and ultimately, adjudication was withheld, which does not constitute a conviction under the laws of the State of Florida."

Asked whether he thought the charges should be considered by the Little Compton Town Council in its licensing process, Mr. Vendituoli said, "I firmly believe the [Little Compton Town Council] needed to be informed of this in addition to the final disposition of the matter. That is why I included information pertaining thereto on the application that was filed and answered their questions related thereto prior to the hearing at which our victualing and alcohol licenses were granted. The charges were not related to the conduct of the licenses applied for and, to be clear, Mr. Roos was not convicted of any crime as a result thereof."

Under Rhode Island law, said Little Compton Police Chief Buzzy Marion, background checks for liquor licenses are limited to the State of Rhode Island, "and do not fall under the category for a national search."

The granting of licenses for alcoholic beverages, however, gives authority to the license-issuing body: "it may also deny applications of persons who have criminal records, or who have records of repeated violations of this title."[Title 3, Alcoholic Beverages, Rhode Island General Laws].

The Little Compton Town Council, in the first five minutes of its March 24 meeting, granted a Class BV license, a Victualing license, and a Holiday Sales license to the Stone House.

On March 31, however, it denied the entertainment license, without prejudice, suggesting that the Stone House more fully develop its overall long-range plan, resolve conflicts between its plans and zoning regulations, and propose solutions to parking and access issues..

A caution

Mr. Vendituoli closed his e-mail response to our questions, with this comment: "Should you report on this matter, I am sure you will use the utmost care in tending to accuracy, as there are a substantial legalities involved."