Town Meeting Article to Request More Liquor License on Hold

A town meeting article to give the town permission to request more liquor licenses from the state will remain off the town meeting warrant this May.

Reading a report during Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Ginny Coppola said the town should wait until at least town meeting in the fall to ask for more liquor licenses due to Feb. 13 deadline for articles and many unanswered questions

“There are many issues to be worked out for a warrant article before the town can feel comfortable supporting it and I think that’s important. It is my opinion that such an article cannot be prepared for the May meeting,” Coppola said.

Questions that came out of a recent meeting with Town Planner Sharon Wason included how many licenses should be requested, the purpose of the licenses, and if they should be restricted to certain areas similar to Chestnut Green and Patriot Place.

In addition, Coppola said the implications of the failed request for bids for the old fire house at the common should be considered.

The legislation for the requests is also changing. During a conversation with State Rep. Jay Barrows, Coppola was informed that the state is imposing more restrictions on such bills. In recent legislation that gave Mansfield more liquor licenses, licenses not issued after seven years will be returned to the state.

“There was a general bill where you just plugged in the name and number, they’re not doing that anymore,” Coppola said.

Coppola is expected to continue to work with Wason and the Planning Board on an article for the fall’s town meeting. In March, the Planning Board is expected to have an open house to discuss and seek input from residents on the topic of liquor licenses.