SPRINGFIELD — The city’s License Commission has shut down Graham’s Package Store downtown after learning the manager of record has been dead for more than three years.

The commission learned of the death Thursday night during a hearing at City Hall when it wished to speak with the manager about a recent disturbance at the store, commission Chairman Peter L. Sygnator said Friday. The manager of record, as listed with the city and the state, is Roger F. Dialessi.

When the lawyer, Julie Dialessi-Lafley, was asked at Thursday’s hearing where the manager was, she responded that he was dead, Sygnator said. Roger Dialessi died Oct. 26, 2015, according to a published obituary.

The commission, upon hearing that information, ordered the license suspended immediately, Sygnator said.

The license will not be reinstated until a new manager is submitted with background information and is approved by both the License Commission and the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, he said. A sign on the door at Graham’s Friday said, “Closed until further notice.”

Julie Dialessi-Lafley did not return repeated phone calls from The Republican. It was unclear if she and Roger Dialessi are related.

Liquor store licenses are renewed and signed annually, Sygnator said.

“For an attorney to submit a renewal for three years knowing the Manager of Record is deceased and not submitting a change of manager application is truly unconscionable,” he said. “While short lapses of an appointed manager of record are understandable as employees leave, I can’t recall a licensee allowing a lapse of three years in my 16 years of the Board of License Commissioners.”

Sygnator said the role of the manager is “extremely important.” That person is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business and is answerable to the commission for any license violations that may occur at the business, Sygnator said.

The package store is located at 1649-1651 Main St., at the intersection with Taylor and Hampden streets.