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Council discusses codifying voter-approved wine-sales referendum, asks how food-sales rule will be enforced
Summary
Council members discussed adding an ordinance to codify a previously approved wine-sales referendum and questioned how the state food-sales percentage formula would be applied and enforced for local permits; the referendum passed but was not previously codified in the town ordinance book.
The board discussed an item to add an ordinance codifying a citizen-approved referendum that permits wine sales in town and examined how food-sales requirements and state licensing intersect with local permitting.
Council members said the referendum approving wine sales passed at the ballot but was never written into the town’s ordinance book. A council member noted that, although citizens voted in favor, the town lacks a codified ordinance implementing the referendum and that adopting one would put the change in the official ordinance code.
The board also discussed enforcement and eligibility for beer and wine permits. One council member said the state and the town look at a formula for food sales in determining eligibility for wine permits and asked how the town would verify the necessary level of food sales. The transcript records exchanges clarifying that the determination is based on space/square-footage or a formula in state records, and that applicants must still obtain state licensing and a local beer board permit.
No formal vote on a codifying ordinance is recorded in the provided segments. The discussion focused on drafting language to align the town’s ordinance book with the earlier referendum and on coordinating with state licensing rules and the local beer board.
