Licensing chairman won't talk on scandal

''My reputation's been savaged, savaged'' was the only comment Daniel F. Pokaski had as he left yesterday's Boston Licensing Board hearing. Pokaski was speaking about the fallout from the FBI case against state Senator Dianne Wilkerson. (Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff)

Daniel F. Pokaski, Boston Licensing Board chairman, declined to discuss accusations of backroom deals in the awarding of a liquor license when he appeared publicly yesterday for the first time since the FBI's arrest last week of state Senator Dianne Wilkerson on federal bribery charges.

Pokaski was in Ireland and did not return repeated telephone calls last week as the Wilkerson arrest gripped the city and Beacon Hill and engulfed the licensing board in controversy.

Yesterday, he presided over a routine Licensing Board hearing. Afterward, he would not answer any questions about the case. Approached by a reporter, Pokaski pursed his lips, shook his head, and said only, "My reputation's been savaged, savaged."

A lawyer retained by Pokaski later stated that the chairman did nothing wrong in awarding the liquor license that is a key element of the case against Wilkerson. But he would not discuss the specific actions attributed to Pokaski in an FBI affidavit released at the time of Wilkerson's arrest Oct. 28.

"Dan Pokaski has been a public servant for over 30 years, and he has done nothing wrong," said the lawyer, Howard Cooper. "Chairman Pokaski intends to cooperate with all appropriate inquiries from law enforcement."

Without being specific, Cooper also said Pokaski's reputation had been unfairly tarnished.

In the FBI affidavit, Pokaski is said to have promised a liquor license for a cooperating witness who was allegedly paying Wilkerson bribes to secure the coveted license for a nightclub in Roxbury. The affidavit says Pokaski met privately with Wilkerson and other politicians in August 2007 at the State House, where he agreed to provide the nightclub with a liquor license.

Federal authorities also say they recorded a conversation with a lawyer representing the nightclub who contended that Pokaski called to say the license had became available and said: "I have one for 'em. I promised it to them and I have one for 'em."

Also, according to the affidavit, Wilkerson called the Boston Licensing Board's public proceedings "smoke and mirrors."

The Licensing Board, which is based at Boston City Hall but appointed by the governor, is responsible for issuing and regulating liquor licenses in the city. The number of licenses is strictly capped, making them valuable commodities that can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars on the open market.

The three-member board is composed of Pokaski, former secretary of state Michael Connolly, and former City Council candidate Suzanne Iannella, who was appointed last month by Governor Deval Patrick.

A spokesman for the governor said last week that he planned to review the board's actions in the case of the Roxbury nightclub, called Dejavu.

"If there are findings of misconduct, we will take appropriate action, including removal," spokesman Kyle Sullivan said.

Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com.