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Selectboard puts parks-and-rec alcohol-permit changes on next meeting’s agenda after legal review
Summary
A member urged repeal of a 1979 selectboard policy and removal of a 'drug and alcohol free zones' sentence from the parks-and-rec ordinance so the board can re-establish a process for event alcohol permits; the board agreed to discuss it on a noticed agenda.
A Selectboard member reviewed the town’s 1977 open-container ordinance and a 1979 policy that limited alcohol permits to airport property and proposed reversing that 1979 policy and removing language in the parks-and-recreation ordinance he said created confusion about whether special-event permits could be issued.
The board discussed that the 1977 ordinance contains an exception allowing permits for special events if a written permit is obtained; the 1979 policy effectively removed that carve-out for all town properties except the airport. The member proposed repealing the 1979 policy and amending the parks-and-rec language to remove a sentence listing multiple town properties as “drug and alcohol free zones,” which some residents have interpreted as a total ban on event permits.
Members agreed the topic requires a noticed agenda item and legal/policy review, and they scheduled further discussion at the next meeting rather than changing ordinance text on the spot. Staff noted the board can issue a permit as an administrative variance for a one-time event regardless of the standing policy, but formal repeal or amendment would be handled at a future, noticed session.
