Pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2021 and extended again by chapter 2 of the acts of 2023, this meeting will be conducted via remote means. Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so in the following manner by clicking on the link provided
on the town website or contacting Steve McCarthy, licensing coordinator. No inperson attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. In the event we are
unable to do so for reasons of economic hardship and despite best efforts, we will post on the Ammerst website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. And with that done, we'll uh call to order at 5:33 p.m. and take a
roll call of attendance. Kurt >> here, >> Amanda >> here, >> George >> here, >> and I'm here. So, we are four here and one is absent. Heli Hughes is absent this evening. Um, all right. So, item three, introduction of our new member.
So, we're so happy to have our new member, uh, George Carris, who had a is a doctor. And [clears throat] welcome, George. >> Thank you. >> Happy to be here. I'm anxious to learn much about the licensing procedure and uh contribute what I can.
>> Thank you so much. And um uh Kurt and Amanda were new last year, so um it's nice to have some newer people on the board. Um okay, so now we're going to go into licenses. Oh no. Oh, sorry. We skipped public comment.
Back to item two. So, if there's anyone here for public comment unrelated to anything on the agenda, please raise your hand by pressing the hand button at the bottom of your screen, anybody? No. Okay, great. So, now we can go on to
licenses. And we have a new common victor's license application. And this is downtown Ammerst Foundation doing business as the Drake 44n North Pleasant Street. Are they do they have a representative here, Steve? >> Um, not to my knowledge. This is a
establishment that was um issued a liquor license last year. Um, and um they as we were going through renewals, it was noticed that they never had a common victual license. So, they went to correct that. >> Okay. So, this is just making up for something. All right. So, have they have
all of the has it passed all of the the checks that it needed to? >> Yep. They've provided um everything they need, same information as the [clears throat] liquor license and um should be good to go. >> Okay, great. Has anyone have any questions or comments about this?
>> Do they have a full kitchen? >> They do not have uh food at all besides just the required snacks. So, um I think our interpretation of the common vixor's licenses is that it's anywhere with food or drink is served on premises.
>> Okay. because yeah, they I mean I I've been in there when they brought in pizza and stuff like that, but it usually isn't the organization bringing in that food. So, what you're saying is that they should have a victual license even if the main thing that they're they're
putting out is drink. >> That's correct. Correct. Yep. >> But they have to have they have to have something available always, right? That's in our regulations like chips or something. >> Yeah. >> Do they have that? You know, I haven't seen that and I've been there a number
of times. Now, they may and I just haven't looked. Uh, but it's not obvious. The thing I've seen mostly is is people bringing stuff in, >> bringing people their food in. Okay. Because we do have we did write the regulation stipulating that if they're serving, there has to be food available.
Like they can't force people to eat, but it needs to be even just like a little packet of pretzels or something. Um, >> Steve, could we how would we go about finding out if they provide something like that? >> I can inquire with the um the operator to see if they do comply with that
liquor license regulation. >> Okay, great. Can you um Yeah, that would be really nice. Um and just remind them that that is a regulation. Um is that should we is that going to affect their common victim's license? I guess we should pass it just so that they
>> are able to provide chips, right? Yeah, that would be that would be a regulation under the the liquor license. So, >> okay. All right. >> Are there any other questions? Sorry. Go ahead. Yeah. Kurt. >> Um, >> do soft drinks qualify as food? >> They do not. No.
>> No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Because I know they do that much at least, >> right? I mean, I'm not terribly worried about it, but uh I do think it's important that they have something. Well, if we if we wrote the rule that way, we can't,
you know, we can't treat them differently. So, >> exactly. >> Okay. Um, so if there if there's no further discussion about this, um, or no questions, is there a motion
to approve the new common victual license application for the downtown Emer? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Amanda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, George. Um, we'll take a vote if there's no further discussion. Amanda,
>> hi. >> Uh, Kurt, >> no. >> No, >> not unless not unless we if we wrote a rule that says they have to serve food and they aren't serving food, how can we approve it? >> Well, that's a liquor license thing
though, not a common Vic thing. >> Is that right, Steve? >> That is a regulation of the liquor license. >> It's a regulation of a liquor license. This is kind of a strange catch 22, but okay. So, you have a common Victor's
license even though you don't serve food, but you >> We don't know. We don't know if they do or they don't, >> right? We're just trying to find out. >> Yeah. I you know, we we have a I mean, Steve, are they going to have any difficulties if we we push this off once
one round? >> Um, I wouldn't anticipate that. No. Then why don't we push this off to the next meeting and let Steve do a little bit of leg work >> and just make sure we're doing this right.
>> What does everybody think about that? >> I don't agree with that. It's for the It's a liquor license thing. I think it's an overreach. We're just doing the common vic. I think we're trying to get our hands in health department stuff and liquor license stuff and that's where things get muddled in Ammerst and it takes forever for stuff to get done.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> May I respect that? Yeah, >> George, you might be a tie. Well, no, it's already two to one, I guess. Uh uh >> could be a tie. >> I can I can be voted down on this. That's all right.
>> Yeah. I mean, I'm not I don't know for sure whether they do or not, but I know that certainly people bring food in the place all the time, >> right? And um you know I think just from the little that I've read that that appears to be at least for now enough to
allow them to continue. But I think it would be important to find out if they do have snacky stuff and if they don't compel them to get it >> if that's required. That's that's the other thing we're getting in a little catch 22 about here. Amanda and Marian
are pretty confident that uh uh this is not a really a common Vic issue. And if that's the case, you know, I if we were that would probably mean that we shouldn't slow it down on this basis. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Yeah.
>> Regulation in question is the the alcohol food service regulations of the license commission which are um under the liquor license authority. >> Right. >> It doesn't have to >> if if it is the case that it's only under the liquor license and does not apply to this then I will change my
vote. >> Okay. Yeah. I don't It doesn't apply to the common victual's license, does it, Steve? >> It's only um applies to establishments with a liquor license. >> Yeah, just the liquor license. So, >> then then I will change my vote to a yes. I won't put you on the spot, George, in your first meeting.
>> Okay. [laughter] >> All right. So, we did Amanda is yes. Kurt is changed to a yes. George, how are you voting? >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent. their liquor license is approved and Steve check and
make sure that they are complying with what we call our snack law. So, um yes, Kurt, go ahead. >> The common vicular's license is approved. >> The common victor's license is approved. Thank you. >> Yeah, no problem. >> I made everything confusing. Sorry about that.
>> That's all right. [laughter and gasps] Common victor's license. Okay. So now we have another column in Victor's license and this is with the addition um they're adding the BYOB application to Lu Tong.
It's uh CV-101 Z&G restaurant Inc. doing business as Lau Tong 63 Main Street. So we know for sure they do serve food and um they just want to have table service for Bob. >> Yes, this is um Sorry, Mar.
>> Go ahead. I was just going to say this is a um a restaurant that already had a common vixel license and they're just looking to amend it to include uh Bob as well. >> Okay, great. Yes, Kurt question. >> Usually you ask if there's anybody here
from that organization. >> That's correct. >> Is there anyone here from that organization? >> Um not to my knowledge. I don't see anybody in the audience who I would know is associated with that this organization. Okay,
great. Um, if there's no one here, are there any questions from the commissioners? >> Yeah, Steve, do you have any sense that they uh they have uh a background in uh dealing with uh liquor laws? I mean, I
know it's Bob, but they still can't be having somebody underage drinking in their premises. Yes, I know this is the same ownership group that owns Ginger Garden and they may have um other restaurants outside of town, but uh that is a liquor license
establishment that they run there. >> Did you talk to them about this? >> Um I did I did exchange some information. Um they're looking it's a table service only um type establishment which under our regulations um would not
need a specific management plan. Um, I provided them with the BYOB regulations and um, it would be just expected that the alcohol is only served or not not served very notably not served but would only be consumed at tables
and as part of a sit down dinner type of um, type of setup. >> So, if somebody brings in a bottle of wine and they don't finish it, are they required to cork it so they can take it out in public? Um, I'll have let me pull up the
regulations just to see exactly what we have, but the um the establishment can never put their hands on the alcohol in any way. >> I think they can supply a corkcrew. >> They can supply a corkcrew, but yeah, they can't pour or um or charge a fee or
anything. >> That's right. They can't touch it. And they they can supply glasses. Correct. >> They can supply glasses. Yep. >> Right. So if somebody leaves with an open bottle of wine, that's on the patron then I guess and the the restaurant doesn't have doesn't have any
responsibility for that. >> That's correct. >> Yes, that's correct. Yeah, >> George, usually quite often, not I would say usually quite often somebody from the organization will come to this meeting and and we ask them this kind of
stuff directly just to make sure that they understand what they're getting into. We've had folks do uh BYOB type things that that don't have a lot of background with alcohol issues, >> right?
>> We just want to be friendly and make sure they they know what they're getting into. >> Sure. >> Were you >> Were you checking Steve? >> Yeah. So um so yep there is this in our regulations there is 10 that um they
cannot [snorts] leave with open containers. Um any open containers left on the premises have to be disposed of by staff. Um and patient patrons wishing to leave the premises with a partially consumed bottle must reseal it themselves before leaving.
>> Okay. [clears throat] >> All right. any and Steve, has this passed all of the the checks that it needed to? >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. So, there's nothing outstanding on this. Um, any other
questions? >> Nope. If there not, is there a motion to approve CV-101 Z&G Restaurant Inc. DBA as log to home? >> I'll I'll put forth for the motion. >> Thank you, Kurt. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Amanda. Um, there's no
further discussion. We'll take a vote. Amanda, >> yes. I Yes. >> Uh Kurt, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent and CB-101 is approved.
Okay. So, next up are our renewals and can we a lot of times what we like to do is if a lot of them can be done as a group instead of going through them one by one, we can. So, Steve, is there
are there any of these that have anything outstanding that we'd have to set aside? >> So, I should say for all the renewals at this point, I'm still waiting to hear back from the town collector's office as to whether there's any unpaid taxes or water sewer bills, etc. Um but besides
that um everything on the agenda today is fully paid up, submitted all the required information, provided everything needed and um as long as we get soon as we get the go ahead from the collector and approval from the license commission would be good to go. >> So this the motion would be contingent on approval from the town collector's
office. >> Yes. >> All of these for the annual liquor license applications. Um, so is if no one has any questions about the renew liquor license renewal applications, would someone like to make a motion that contingent on approval from the town
collector's office? Kurt, are you making a motion or do you have a question? >> I I um basically a point of of trying to give George a little more color. >> Yes. Um, sometimes George, if uh if Steve would make us aware and you know,
we'll ask Steve if he's aware of anything of any particular issues these folks are having, not just with paying their taxes, but also if they're having any issues with uh the police um uh or really any issues with the town, we
could conceivably hold off on it, ask somebody to come in and talk to us. Mhm. >> So it it isn't just completely just saying okay all the time. >> Yeah, that's correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I figured >> Yeah.
>> that you know somebody was doing due diligence on this stuff. So yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. So I I'll motion to do Do you want to do it in the groups, Marian, or you want to just do all of them? Well, let's
do let's just do um I I think we should just do them as the group. So, let's do the liquor license renewals first and then we'll just take one group at a time so we can do >> Okay. So, I'll motion for the liquor licenses. >> All right. Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Amanda. Um I'll we'll take a
vote. Um Amanda, >> yes. >> Kurt, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent and those licenses are renewed. And now we're going to do the common fiction fixers license renewal applications. And Steve, you said that
these are also waiting for approval of the town collector's office. >> That's correct. Yeah. So I I send um earlier in renew in the renewal season just a list of every every license issued and and they go through and um and review them all. [clears throat] Um
and um usually we get it back a little bit earlier in the year, but it's a lot for them to go through. Um and um so but everything here has gone through all of my my review checks for all the paperwork being filled out correctly, liquor liability insurance when
relevant, workers comp insurance, um so on and so forth. But um yeah, we do have a few stragglers left hanging out there, which is why we have that um December 29th meeting on the books, but all the ones here have no outstanding payments or issues or paperwork or these
are all good to go. >> All good to go. Okay, great. Um, if there are no questions about these common fictional license renewal applications, is there a motion to approve these renewals? >> Motion to approve.
>> Thank you, Amanda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, George. Uh, we'll take a vote. Kurt, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent and the common victual's
licenses are approved. Um, all right. Next up is live entertainment license renewal applications. And these are all good, Steve. >> Yes, same as the earlier ones. >> Okay. Um,
all right. Is there are there any questions about these sudas? >> Just taking a quick look at the list here. Mr. I >> I had forgotten that uh Massudas has one. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, they do. So, the America Oh, this is So, Steve, the American Legion
renewed their live entertainment license. Are they renewing their liquor license? Just >> They did. So, he had actually um he did sign his liquor license renewal form in the month of November. >> Okay. >> And had attempted to send it to me, but there was some technical issue, but he
was able to show me that. Um and they did um we did circle back after Thanksgiving and they provided again all of those renewal documents. So, >> okay. >> All right. Great. Thank you. Um, okay. Is there a motion to approve the live entertainment license renewal
applications? >> Sure. >> Thank you, Kurt. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Amanda. Um, if there's no further discussion, we'll take a vote. Kurt, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> George, >> yes.
>> And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent. and the live entertainment license renewal applications are approved. Um, so now we have auto dealers license renewal applications and we just have North Ammerst Motors and
so these George we barely we don't have a lot of they're pretty rare and we don't really deal with them too often, right Steve? They just kind of renew every year. Yeah, I [clears throat] don't think there's been a new application in quite a long time
for those. >> So, this is um so they can actually sell cars. >> Yeah. So, there's there are three classes of auto dealers licenses and class one is new cars, you know, the big big dealerships
>> um like you'd see and um we don't have any of those. Class two is used cars and class three is junk. And I believe all of our Amoris are class two. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Well, and I'm only aware of one other one. How many are there?
>> There are two others I could think of off the top of my head. So, Blute Motors on um Route 9 just by the Hadley line and um Loren Mobile. >> Okay. And the other one is uh I cannot pronounce his name uh even though I take my car there. Zibloot or
>> Zloot. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Belute. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I love the guy. Yeah. I didn't realize he could sell cars. >> I didn't either. >> He can. >> So, have they they haven't renewed
already yet, Steve? Correct. >> He submitted an application. I don't know exactly where it is in the process. >> Okay. >> They may not have come before the board yet. >> Okay. So, the other two are coming later. All right. Well, if there are no questions about this one, North Amoris Motors, is there a motion to approve the
auto dealer's license renewal application? >> Motion to approve. Thank you, Amanda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, George. We'll take a vote. Kurt, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is three, four to
zero with one absent. And the license is application renewal is approved. Approved. All right. And so now, secondhand sales license renewal application, uh, Morgan Memorial, Goodwill Industries, 183 University Drive. Wasn't there another one
like a newer one? I think it's closed. There was one in town on Right. >> Oh, did that close? That's too bad. >> I feel like I went by it recently and it did, but I could be wrong. >> Okay. >> Yeah, they were going to open up booze that they were going to put out to various different people. One of those
kind, >> right, >> places. >> So, um, so this is another thing that we deal with occasionally and we don't we had one a new one last year, but we're not sure if they made it. So, um, which is sometimes the case with business. Um,
>> would Salvation Army be something like this as well? Or >> Yes, >> I think they're outside of our town boundary. >> Oh, right. That's right. That's how >> about And how about uh Fiser House? You know, they have that store. >> Oh, yeah. By the um laundromat on
University. That one? Yeah, that one near uh near Wings Over Ammerst or whatever it's called now. Ammerst company. >> That's still there. >> ABC. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I forget what it's called, but it's it's
>> um >> the hanger. No, >> hanger. That's it. You don't have >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Do we ever Is there a license for that one, Steve? >> I'm I am not familiar with um what you're referring to. It's like there's green field savings and a laundromat.
That shopping where the UPS store is and >> Yeah. And I know the shopping center. I didn't know there was a some kind of thrift shop type thing. >> Yeah. I've dropped >> house is the you know they do awesome work in terms of uh end of life care. It's a hospice house basically.
And >> house of the Fiser home. That's what it's called. >> Exactly. >> University Drive. >> Right. And um >> and then there's the one >> you bring stuff there all the time for them too. >> Yeah, I do too. I forgot about that.
>> And do they do they make sales right there? >> It is. It's a nonprofit. >> Huh. I had never um noticed that. Yeah, they probably should have a license if that's what they do. >> And the other one is the is the closet
up um that's up in the Mill District, right? Oh, that Yeah. >> Is that a secondhand store, too? >> Yes. But did that move? But yes, that store is a secondhand store. Yes. >> It may have moved.
>> Yeah. But I think it's still in Ammeris >> 61 Main Street. >> I mean, there's other places that that I, you know, I don't know where the line is drawn. So, we've got some nonprofits here. There's also for-profit things like uh the place next to Al Salvador
and place trading post down in uh off of Pomeroy. >> Um I mean that's secondhand stuff but they probably are considered an antique store. So right >> I you know I don't know where the fine lines are on this.
>> There's that place where the d that restaurant breakfast restaurant used to be too but that's not clothing. It's furniture and stuff. >> Yeah. I mean, >> on Cottage Street, >> at one time it was suggested to me that that this this whole licensing came
about back in the distant past when the state was worried about pawn shops uh fencing things. >> So, I you know, I don't know where where Steve, you're going to have to help us on where the line is on some of these. >> Yeah, we'll have to review that statute. And it's interesting because some of
these some of those businesses seem quite squarely where Goodwill is. Um, but uh I guess I don't get out in the thrift circuit enough and I wasn't aware of them. So, >> right. >> You don't have a teenage daughter dragging you to thrift. >> I know, right? [laughter]
>> I do. >> So, there's it was mentioned the Fisher the Fisher home near the hanger. Um, one by >> the >> And then on the other side of the world, the trading post >> trading post. >> I think that's what that place is called. And then there's one where
Kelly's the the the restaurant used to be. It's called like Kitschy Kitschy Closet or Kitschy Corner or something. >> Oh yeah, there's an antique store there now. >> I will um I will take a look into those and take a look in the statute and they may need it's not a license that um particularly uh famous in the way the
liquor licenses are. So people may not have um >> have uh submitted for them. And it's not a particularly involved uh permitting process either. So it may not have come to my attention when they were opening. So, I will look into those. >> Is Goodwill in Hadley or Ammerst?
>> It is >> Ammerst. >> It [clears throat] might be one of those situations where the back of the store is in Hadley, but the front of the store is in Ammerst at least. >> That's what I've always been told about that big Y. >> Yep. There's like a line. There used to be.
>> Okay. Well, great, Steve. Thanks for doing that. That's going to be interesting to hear about. Um, so if there are no questions, if Goodwill is up to speed, then is there a motion to approve their secondhand sales license renewal application? >> Motion to approve.
>> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, George. Um, let's take a vote. Kurt, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is four to zero with one absent. And that license
renewal is approved. Okay, so we got through that and next up is discussion topics. So our annual report uh a draft was sent around to you and it is the yellow highlighted parts are the up some of the updated parts. Steve has added
some of the figures in. Um I just wanted to let you know I covered some of the hearings. I think Steve you may have added some more details and he can uh add any more that we think of today. Um, so I included the flammable license
approval that we did earlier and also mentioned that we have another one coming up in January. And um, I think we should probably try to do a little more. We can talk about this. Is it the next meeting that it's happening, Steve, or the one after?
So we will have the short meeting on the 29th to just finish up any stragglers with renewals and then right will be at the next um inerson meeting on the hearing will be at the next inerson. Okay. So could you um do you have the name of the contractor for this and can
you send that along and the type of because this is are we talk we're talking about propane right? >> Yeah. So this the full application packet will will be sent out. The contractor is George Propane. >> George Propane. >> And um I believe it's going to be 6,000
gallons of liquid propane. >> Okay. >> But these are going to be buried and they're part of that h the the co-op housing, right? >> Yeah, >> that's correct. Y >> it's a little different animal this time. >> Yeah. It's not the temporary thing. So, but we still might have people turning
up to the hearing with questions that we don't necessarily anticipate. So, um, it's good to be [clears throat] >> and George, if it's crossing your mind, you know, what the heck do we have saying whether or not, uh, propane tanks are okay? The fire department does do
their review, and that's the more critical one, >> right? >> Yeah. I assume that we'd be getting outside expertise on some of this stuff. >> Yeah. >> Yes. So we um we licensed the the land to have a tank
on it basically. >> Okay. >> That's what is going on here. >> Got it. Okay. >> Okay. So the other thing that came up that is in the annual report is that the Cannabis Control Commission voted on the 15th to approve social consumption
sites. And so, um, we are not yet, the the town council has not voted to let the board of license commissioners issue licenses or license places like this, but it should be something that we're talking about and are probably prepared to do. Um, would you agree, Steve?
>> I would agree. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, that should definitely go on a discussion, our agenda for discussion at the next in-person meeting. And then who goes about deciding um where those places should be? Who who
decides that? The zoning board. >> I think so. >> Yeah. There' be a number of processes that have to go through. The zoning board of appeals would be a big one. Um they'd have to get a host community agreement as well. >> It does sound to me like it's from
reading the news articles that it's probably at least 18 months away. >> Okay. from the first one popping up anywhere, but uh you never know. So um it's just we've done some work on this in the past and um we'll just have to
keep keep at it and we can probably review what we've done so far. Do we have do you still have any of that paperwork, Steve? Any of the >> Yeah, the drafts and everything. >> The draft. Okay, great. Um so if there are no Yes, Kurt.
>> Yeah. Um I Marian I think you did a great job on the report. Um I the only the only thing I'd say about this marijuana thing is um I don't think that that there should be even an a whiff of us leading this if you will. We'll do
our part, but uh maybe we should be saying the board will uh start researching for draft regulations uh something along the lines of, you know, after given some lead by the town council or >> Oh, right.
>> or the zoning board or, you know, we'll we'll do our part, but I you know, I don't I don't think we particularly want to be leading. >> I mean, [clears throat] the way I think of the liquor licenses is that we don't say where they can go. We don't set the major, you know, laws on it, but we're
sort of a checkpoint for the character of the of the people running the businesses, etc., etc. We're sort of a checkpoint, >> right? Well, >> I don't want to overcommit here. >> My suggestion, >> it's both No, I agree with that. I think
it's both a, you know, we are sort of a checkpoint and also kind of a venue for uh public discussion. >> Yeah. >> So, I think that works. Um so >> you know the board will start to prepare you know for you know for doing our part
of of the regulations or something like that >> instead of saying we'll start you know I I I guess I'm splitting errors. >> Uhhuh. >> Yeah. That could change also also start to draft regulations to um
prepare for um >> you could say in anticipation of >> there we go >> any lead taken by the town council on this issue. >> Oh, I like that. >> And where would that go, Marian? That would the board in anticipation of
>> Let me [snorts] see. I I don't have it in front of me right now. Um, >> I don't want to get too splitting of hairs, but I I think I think I want to make it clear to anybody reading this that that we're not on point, but we're
doing our part. the board will um start to um you could say start to discuss or investigate or >> I like investigate
>> investigate um materials with for regulations in anticipation of either of social consumption sites in Ammerst or in anticipation of town council action regarding social consumption sites in Ammerst something
like that. I >> think that's perfect. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. When I read this, I was sitting here and thinking, you know, where where do we even go to start to think I'm hoping the state gives us a little help, too, but you know, um
>> Yeah. Is this like indoor or outdoor? Are they >> question like the opium dens of the >> Yeah. >> last century where these kids going in they're like smoking weed till two o'clock in the morning. I mean >> I think it could be >> like Amsterdam.
>> Yeah. >> I think it could be both. I'm a little rusty, but I looked into their draft regulations a year ago and um it there was three categories and looked like probably the most major one would be as
addendums to existing dispensaries. Um and if they're indoors, they would have to have, you know, state-of-the-art filtration systems. Yeah. >> Like you'd almost, you know, see in a clean room or a gun range or something. Um, and they could also be uh an
addendum to a existing business. So if you had something like a movie theater or Dave and Busters [clears throat] or something like that, you could um have part of it be that way. And it seems like it the most common things may be drinks or edibles or something just
because those filtration systems would be very expensive >> um and hard to retrofit into existing buildings. Mhm. >> Yeah. I'm going to date myself, Steve, here, but you know, uh I I'm old enough that I remember distinctly what it was like when every restaurant, every bar,
every sport venue had a lot of smoking and and you didn't have to participate to uh get plenty. [laughter] >> I could see it something like a treehouse kind of thing where somebody wants an outdoor garden.
I think Gaston, former member Gaston Deos Ray said he had he had looked at one in um California or Colorado or something and they had kind of little chambers where um you know a group of patrons would have a booth that was sealed with its own ventilation and then
you know the the hallways would kind of be separate. Um >> so I don't think it'll be like the uh the bars of old. >> Interesting. >> Lot of money. >> Yeah.
Well, so that is something we can look forward to in 2026 and um to work on. So the annual report looks okay. >> Yeah, thank you for putting that together. Really, it really helped me. >> Oh, good. I'm glad. >> Better idea of what the committee does
and >> right, >> you know, I found it really helpful. I did have a question about under enforcement um something about the public house uh having repeated offenses. What what was that about?
>> That was last spring, right? It was >> March or April. And um >> that we they had a lot of reports. Police kept going in there and checking they kept find people with uh fake IDs or people who were underage. Is that right?
>> Yeah. They were serving a They were like the underage spot for UMass kids to drink at. >> Right. And they got they kept getting caught and uh there were people throwing up outside. Yeah. >> It turns out underage drinkers are really stupid and obvious. >> Yeah. And so
>> and even after the they were called for the disciplinary hearing, they kept getting offenses as I remember like some of them happened after they were notified. So um [clears throat] >> so that was a problem. And then we suspended their license and I think
Dylan argued that it should not be until everyone graduated. So we held it off. It was was it June or July, Steve? I don't remember. I think it was going to be served in September was the compromise. They served in September, but they closed. So they closed their down. They
left town. And then the people who ran Ammerst Public House also ran Savas. Correct. >> Oh. >> And that's gone, too. >> Yeah. >> It was a weird vibe. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They they also had a problem, George, with their uh back door and they
didn't want to have two sets of bouncers and so probably every kid in certain dorms knew dang well that the back door was available. >> Yeah. >> So, I mean, it it was just, you know, they just set themselves up for problems. You compare that to uh uh uh
what was it? Packards that's moving across the street now. um they came in here and they haven't had a violation in, you know, half a decade. Uh you know, it it's clear that you can do things pretty well. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, >> yeah. >> And then we had the lunch cart stuff. >> A lot has been resolved was resolved by just getting everything off of Kendrick Park. >> Got it. K the Kendrick Park location. Um uh your
wording here is totally fine. Uh just George, for your background on it, they were uh the carts were using uh local businesses addresses as their address to be able to do Door Dash business, uh which led to people parking in the
parking lots of those businesses. Uh and some of the people in that immediate neighborhood weren't very happy with the uh the ruckus. >> Right. Right. So, are so are the food carts required to go to certain places in town? Because
I noticed there are some at the common now and there's one, you know, the guy who parks downtown all the time in front of the Unitarian Church or there other >> he's been there for years and he's got a he's got a sidewalk cart. He's never been a problem. >> Right.
>> The ones u on the common were I think those were the two that were by by Kendrick Park. There were three there, but um and we do have certain designated locations, not very many. And there are certain locations that are going to be more attractive than others. So, Kendrick Park was very
>> popular because it was close to the bars and they catch all the students coming going back to UMass. >> Got it. Sure. >> Midnight. So, um but that just caused a lot of problems. >> Yeah. And then as Kurt mentioned, the Door Dash people were there was just a
lot of congestion and noise and it's a residential area and there were complaints. >> Yep. >> So tricky issue, >> right? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, but you know, you try something and sometimes it doesn't work, so you have
to change it and then >> Yeah. >> make it better. >> Um, anyway. Okay. Well, if there are any other questions about the annual report or anything else we should add to it. >> I think this is great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, okay, Steve. So, would
you be able to format that and >> Yes, I will. I will uh send that along tomorrow and thank you for putting that together. It was good. >> Thank you so much. Oh, thanks for doing that, Steve. I appreciate it. Okay, so upcoming meetings and agendas. And as Steve mentioned, we have a short meeting
scheduled via Zoom on the 29th of December. And this is to do some lastm minute renewals. So, um that's at 5:30. And then our next in-person meeting is January 8th.
>> Yeah, the um the 29th meeting. I didn't think I was going to be out of town, but I might be. Um, I am okay with doing the following, which is reviewing the materials uh when I pulled over my car and then uh
being on uh hands-free in the car while I'm driving, okay? >> Because that's what I'll [clears throat] be doing that day if I don't get back in time. But I might. I'll be driving back from DC that day. >> Okay. All right. meetings with people in the car before.
So >> when's the meeting, Marian? After the 29th. You said January 8th. >> It's the 8th. Is that correct, Steve? And that's in person. And that is we're going to have our flammable liquid storage license hearing then. And do you know which room we'll be in? Are we going to be in the big town room again? Do you think?
>> I believe so. Yes. >> Believe so. Okay. So, if there I thought and I don't know how you all think about this, but I found like with people that the distance was really hard to hear some of the people who'd come to the meeting and maybe um we could take a minute and just move people a little
closer or ask that they move forward. That would be good. >> Where's where's the meeting take place? >> Oh, so it's the town room. So, it's in town hall and then you go up to the second floor, right, Steve? Yes, >> it's the second floor and you're going
to see like a window where the offices are and then you kind of adjacent to that is the large room where the town council meets. >> Okay, >> George, we only do that when we think there there might be more people showing up. Normally, you go in the front doors
up those steps and you take a right and there's a meeting room, the first one down the hall, you know, when you go to that uh what's that counter there that that you can pay your bills and whatnot. You take a right there and there's a meeting room right
there. That's where we normally meet because normally we don't have much of of a crowd, >> right? [clears throat and cough] Okay. >> All right. And >> the 29th meeting is also 5:30. >> Yep. 5:30 on Zoom.
Okay. So, anything else for the agenda? I guess we'll stick on some discussion items if we've got time. And are there any other licenses coming up for the ETH that you know about, Steve? >> Yes, we will have an application for a new liquor license, Tilted Orbit Arcade,
um, at 113 Kohl's Road, the former provision space. Oh, okay. And >> is that the paintball place? >> Yes. >> The former what site? I >> provisions. >> Oh, [clears throat] okay. >> Did they leave? >> They moved um
>> the parking lot. >> Yeah. >> So, this is in the barn, the building. It looks sort of like a barn, right? >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Yes. Yep. And um I know we don't have a coin
operated m game license anymore, but do you know what kind of I guess we can talk to them when they they come what kind of pinball machines they have? >> They'll have a number of pinball machines. I don't know the types. The um the owner is a a big enthusiast of pinball in particular,
>> but they'll also have a golf simulator and other arcade games. and um kind of going for a familyfriendly approach. >> Okay. All right. >> When are we supposed to open? >> Um I believe in the win, you know, before the spring.
>> Okay. Well, that will be interesting to hear about. So that's the is that the only other license or >> uh I believe it will be the only one then. Yep. There there will be another um another um common Vic looking to add
BYOB. >> Okay, great. >> Were we uh planning was Halley gonna be ready to uh talk about that appeal process by the by that next meeting or >> Yeah, that's what we're shooting for. >> Okay,
that's another one. George, we uh we're somehow the the last appeal on on a landlord that's get runs a file some of the uh the rental rags. Am I doing that right, Marian? You want to correct me or Amanda? >> No, I think that's right. I think it's a
yeah, a rental appeals process that we are the sort of the appeal, the people that they appeal to. So um because I don't remember why they settled in the board of license. I guess because we'd done that sort of thing repeatedly.
So um we're working on kind of guidelines for the rental appeals process we have and I guess also for any appeals process because we also do liquor license appeals, >> right, >> and hearings. So um
so we'll see. um it's going to sort of be kind of they were based off of we had a former commissioner [clears throat] and he worked was sort of trying to did a draft I think based on the appeals process in East Hampton and I think he worked with Halley a little bit so it
will be interesting to see what she comes up with and hopefully that material will be sent around before the meeting on the 8th so that everyone will have time to review it. Um, I don't know if uh anybody else noticed it, but there was an article in
one of the papers about uh Belchure Towns thinking of expanding their food truck offering. >> And uh they they've assigned somebody down there to work on uh how they can get uh uh you know, how the town is uh
uh recuperates their cost. Uh so I'm going to be very curious to see how that plays out. I I might uh uh unless you want to do it as the chair, Marian, but uh I might reach out to they gave the name of the guy who's gonna look into it
and I might reach out to that person in Belchuretown and go, "You want to share notes?" >> Oh, absolutely. That would be great. Yeah. >> Okay, >> that'd be great. Great. Thank you, Kurt. >> Sure. >> Yeah. They they seem to be concerned about how the town is properly uh uh uh
gets paid back for it and and about the impact on their local businesses, which I suspect that'll sound familiar to you since you went through that already, Marian. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's that should be interesting. Well, I look forward to hearing about that. When is that happening? Oh, I I
saw the article I think about a week ago and they're just they're they're kind of in the let's look into this and poke around phase. So, who knows how quickly they're moving, >> but they wanted to offer more food carts in town. They're trying to figure out how to do it, >> right? Okay. Huh. That'll be
interesting. Yeah, I I Yeah, that'll be interesting to hear about. Um Okay, great. So, if there's nothing So, we have our next couple of meetings. We have some idea of what we're going to be talking about. Um, we know what licenses are coming. Um, how about let's go on to
topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours prior to the meeting. Anything? >> Sorry, I feel like I already did that. >> I Oh, that's all right. So, Kurt will do research, perhaps share notes on food trucks.
Um, anything else? No. If not, um, is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. >> Thank you, Amanda. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Kurt. All right. And we'll
take a vote on this. Uh Kurt, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> George, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. That is 4 to zero with one absent. We are adjourned at 6:21 p.m. Thank you everybody. >> Happy holidays. >> Happy holidays. >> Happy holidays.
>> Thank you all. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Steve. See you next time. >> See you next time. So,