Selectmen Table Liquor License Decision, Take Positions on Warrant Articles

Couldn't make it to last night's Board of Selectmen meeting? Don't worry, Patch has you covered. Here's a look at 5 things you missed from last night's meeting.

1. Changes Location. Selectmen continued a public hearing to May 2 for The Wine Rack for a change of location on their liquor license. Attorney Angelique Eliopoulos told selectmen John DiSilva, the owner of the business, was unable to keep his lease at 210 Boston Road and has found a new location on Alpine Road.  Since the town has a limited number of liquor licenses, selectmen said they try to spread out the liquor-selling establishments across town. With the Wine Rack leaving its Boston Road location, a neighborhood would be "underserved," according to selectmen. There are also two establishments with liquor licenses in the immediate area, according to selectmen. Eliopoulos told selectmen if they don't approve the change in location, it quite possibly put The Wine Rack out of business. "He can’t stay," she said, "it’s possible he’ll have nowhere to go and be put out of business."

2. Selectmen vote against recommending Nashoba Tech stabilization fund. Selectmen decided not to recommend Town Meeting vote to establish a stabilization fund for Nashoba Tech. "I'm not support this because of the vote last week. There's no appetite in this town for spending money where we don’t absolutely need to and I don’t think we need to be funding the stablization for Nashoba," said Selectman Pat Wojtas.

3. Selectmen have mixed feelings on Town Clock repair. Selectmen agreed to recommend Town Meeting approve one of two warrant articles dealing with the repair of the Town Clock, which is located in the in the center of town. Community Preservation Act money will be used to pay for the repairs which total more than $100,000. A few selectmen noted they think the town should contribute to repairing the clock, but the church should offer to pay more than the $45,000 they have offered. "I have concerns about this one because I'm not sure that the funds are going for a purpose that, in my own mind, is necessary for the town," said Selectman Jon Kurland. "I think we should (repair) the clock and the exterior and interior but I'm not convinced the church is coming up with their fair share."

4. Selectmen Support Recall Changes, Electronic Voting and the Town Budget. Selectmen agreed to recommend  changes to the town official recall procedure which will require the lead petitioner to collect 15 percent of all registered voters within 20 days. Currently the bylaw requirement for recall is signatures from 10 percent of all registered voters within 14 days. Selectmen also recommended Town Meeting Reps OK electronic voting and the town's $104 million "level service" budget.

5. Grand Marshals Named. John and Linda Chemely will be the grand marshals of the 2011 4th of July parade.