Selectboard approves Lions Club tree‑burn permit and authorizes liquor‑commission letter for Moose Mountain event

The Brookfield Selectboard voted to approve a temporary‑event permit for the Greater Wakefield Lions Club’s annual tree burn at the Moose Pond/107 Moose Mountain Road site and agreed to generate a signed letter for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to allow one‑day outdoor alcohol service in a defined area.

The permit application, read into the record by staff, lists the event on Jan. 11 with a rain date of Jan. 18, estimated attendance of about 300 people, and planned activities including sledding, tubing, live music and food service. Police, fire and code enforcement officers reviewed the submitted site plan, and the application states the burn will follow safety guidelines provided by a named official. The applicant told the board the burn is typically 20–90 minutes and that restaurant operators on site may serve food in permitted outdoor areas.

Applicant representatives asked the board to provide a selectboard‑signed letter for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s extended area of service application so the liquor commission can define and record the approved outdoor area for that one‑day event. The board reviewed draft wording that would authorize 107 Moose Mountain Road to obtain a one‑day service license for outdoor service "as long as those events are not a disturbance to the peace" and agreed to prepare and sign a dated letter covering the requested date and the rain date.

On the permit vote, the board moved, seconded and approved the temporary‑event permit by voice vote (ayes), and members instructed staff to draft the liquor‑commission letter consistent with the map supplied by the applicant. The board emphasized the letter will be event‑specific (one date plus rain date) and that the approval does not represent a permanent change to local alcohol regulations.