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Select Board approves Ferncroft liquor‑license conversions after neighbors raise noise, hours concerns
Summary
The Middleton Select Board unanimously approved manager changes, a conversion of a seasonal Members Lounge liquor license to annual status and new operating hours for Ferncroft Country Club while residents pressed for limits on outdoor entertainment and late‑night activity.
The Middleton Select Board voted unanimously to approve several license changes at Ferncroft Country Club, 8–10 Village Road, including manager changes to Stephen John Kohr and converting the Members Lounge liquor license from seasonal to annual with new hours (Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–12 a.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–12 a.m.). The approvals followed a consolidated public hearing after the board opened comment for multiple related license requests. "We want to be good neighbors," Attorney Jill Mann said while representing the applicants and describing site plans and managerial changes.
Several neighboring residents urged the board to limit outdoor entertainment and late‑night activity because the property abuts residential streets. "This is a residential neighborhood, and not a commercial area like Route 114," abutter Mike Gurska said, recounting a recent Friday when a band performed outdoors and expressing concern about noise, traffic and impaired driving. Select Board member Brian Cresta acknowledged the board has authority to set hours as a condition of the license and encouraged the applicants and abutters to collaborate; Attorney Mann agreed to restrict outdoor evening activities. The board left discussion of an entertainment license to a future agenda item on July 21 to resolve specifics about outdoor events and hours.
Votes on the Ferncroft items were recorded as motions by Brian Cresta, seconded by Debbie Carbone, and carried unanimously. The board approved: (1) a change of manager and seasonal renewal for the Halfway House Snackbar; (2) a change of manager for Ferncroft Country Club; (3) conversion of the Members Lounge license from seasonal to annual, alteration of the licensed premises, a DBA change to Member's Lounge at the Bath and Tennis Center and the stated hours; and (4) a seasonal license renewal for another location on the property, with Stephen John Kohr named manager. The board closed the hearing later in the meeting. "Someone is always on site to speak with neighbors," Attorney Mann said, emphasizing channels for communication between the club and residents.
