Pepperell Selectmen Continue VFW Liquor Hearing, Place Four Warrant Articles

PEPPERELL — September 9, 2019 — Pepperell selectmen called in VFW leadership Monday over alleged liquor license violations at an August charity motorcycle event that drew roughly 300 people to a room rated for 30. Board member Margaret Scarsdale outlined a history of incidents at the post dating to 2006 and pressed senior vice commander David Walsh on why police were not called as the crowd swelled, why a satellite outdoor bar was operating in direct violation of the post's license, and how a single patron ran a $400 tab before allegedly threatening another attendee. Post commander Stuart Young apologized, saying the event was not representative of VFW membership and pledging that outdoor drinking had already been stopped. The board continued the matter to September 23 and directed the post to produce employee schedules, TIP server certifications, standard operating procedures, and a pending internal security evaluation before that date, with the VFW's year-end license renewal hanging in the balance. The board also voted unanimously to place four articles on the October 21 Special Town Meeting warrant, including two assessor exemption inflation-indexing measures, acceptance of the previously unadopted 2017 annual town report, and a Planning Board solar zoning bylaw.