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Middleborough Select Board approves emergency one-day beer-and-wine permits for Alley Theatre events
Summary
The Select Board convened a special meeting and unanimously approved two one-day beer-and-wine licenses for events at the Alley Theatre after town staff confirmed a catering license (12C) does not cover ticketed public events, leaving the venue at risk of missing weekend dates.
The Town of Middleborough Select Board on Thursday approved two one-day beer-and-wine liquor licenses to allow events at the Alley Theatre to proceed this weekend.
Town Manager Jay told the board he had contacted the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for clarification after a complaint raised whether the venue’s prior reliance on a 12C catering license covered ticketed public events. "When it's a ticketed open to the public event, a 12 c license does not cover it," Jay said.
The board convened an unscheduled meeting after staff concluded the previously provided guidance to the theatre was incorrect and two events were at risk of being canceled without immediate action. The motion approved bartending services by Bartending Services of New England for events at the Alley Theatre, Burwood School of Performing Arts, on Feb. 7, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Feb. 9, 2025, from noon to 4 p.m., at 133 Center Street, Middleborough.
Resident Richard Stewart said he had heard about a "problem" and asked whether a formal complaint had been filed. "I was under the impression that someone made a complaint that they weren't doing something legally," Stewart said during public comment. Town officials said a concern had been raised and staff followed up with the ABCC by phone; there was no written ABCC determination in the record at the meeting.
Diane Stewart, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the town to document the ABCC guidance in writing. "It's possible we received that information from the ABCC," she said, noting that written confirmation would help future boards and staff.
Board members repeatedly framed the issue as an inadvertent town error in prior guidance rather than misconduct by the venue. One board member said the town had "made a mistake" and that approving the licenses would prevent the theatre from losing events this weekend. The board approved the motion by unanimous voice vote.
Town staff said the topic will be on the agenda at the board's regular Monday meeting to consider options going forward, including whether the theatre will apply for a full beer-and-wine license or pursue additional short-term permits. The Select Board did not record a roll-call vote count in the meeting transcript; the clerk announced the motion "passes unanimously."
