Selectboard unanimously approves liquor license change
SHELBURNE — The Selectboard on Monday unanimously approved a change to the liquor license for Hotfire Bar and Grill, which is moving from 24 Bridge St. to 10 Bridge St., the former home of Boswell’s Books.
Chad Flasinski, chef and owner of Hotfire Bar and Grill, asked the Selectboard for the on-premise, all-alcohol license for the ground floor of the building, with plans to eventually expand to the second floor, saying “when I build places, I expect them to be busy.”
Selectboard divided on surplus property declaration
SHELBURNE — Selectboard members disagreed over how to move forward with town-owned property at 49 Mechanic St. during their meeting on Monday night.
Selectboard member Andrew Baker proposed that the town sell the property to Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. Baker said representatives of Habitat for Humanity have indicated to him that they would be interested in the property as a site to build affordable housing. However, Selectboard Chair Rick LaPierre and members of the Finance Committee said they would like that in writing before declaring the property as surplus.
After lengthy discussion, the motion to declare 49 Mechanic St. as surplus property failed by a vote of 2-1, with LaPierre and Selectboard member Rodney McBride voting “no.”
“I’m very uncomfortable,” LaPierre said. “[It’s just] so much information, such a short amount of time.”
The board intends to discuss the surplus declaration again at its April 13 meeting.
Board of Health seeks input from Selectboard on nicotine-free generation initiative
SHELBURNE — The Board of Health sought input from the Selectboard on adopting the nicotine-free generation initiative in Shelburne in an effort to reduce nicotine use.
The nicotine-free generation initiative aims to mitigate nicotine addiction among young people. To be part of the effort, a municipality adopts a policy that sets a date, and anyone born after that date can never be legally old enough to purchase tobacco or nicotine products. The regulation is designed to phase out the sale of nicotine products over time, ensuring that individuals who are currently under the legal age to purchase such products will never be legally permitted to do so in municipalities that adopt the policies.
The general consensus among Selectboard members was that while they agreed that curbing the use of nicotine products is a good goal to work toward, they worried about the Board of Health’s ability to enforce these rules, with Selectboard member Andrew Baker saying, “Whether they can successfully regulate those [products] is a question I have.”
According to Board of Health Chair Fred Vohr, no towns in western Franklin County have signed onto the initiative yet, however, Amherst and Leverett have passed similar measures. Conway was the first town in Franklin County to adopt the ban, which took effect last summer.
“We’re a free country. When you’re 21, you should be able to do what you want,” Selectboard Chair Rick LaPierre said. “Cigarettes are not good, but it’s freedom of choice.”