Pepperell Selectmen defer VFW license vote, demand written compliance procedures first

PEPPERELL — May 11, 2020 — Pepperell selectmen stall VFW full liquor license upgrade over surveillance video refusal. The Board of Selectmen met remotely Monday and declined to vote on upgrading the Pepperell VFW post's club license to a full liquor license, citing unresolved compliance concerns — chief among them the VFW board's March written refusal to provide surveillance footage requested by Police Chief Scott at Selectman Margaret Garsdell's direction, with the VFW stating it "does not feel the BOS needs access to this information." Town Administrator Andrew Tanny said VFW representatives Dave Walsh and Pam Christopherson had made substantial progress on December conditions by late February, including Serve Safe training, improved door security, and a risk analysis plan for large events, but that a final review meeting was canceled by COVID-19 closures. The board directed Tanny to formalize written procedures requiring video requests to come from the full board in writing and to begin the ABCC application process for the full license the following day. Also Monday, the board reviewed a $30,037,554.41 general fund budget for fiscal year 2021 and a 14-article town meeting warrant anchored by a $158,480 snow and ice deficit appropriation, deferring all warrant votes to the May 26 meeting; Town Accountant Bill Schlostein presented a clean, unqualified audit opinion on FY19 financials, with the town carrying a positive net position of $16 million and a combined free cash and stabilization balance representing 13 percent of general fund expenditures.