Pepperell Selectmen Renew VFW Club License, Delay Full Permit Pending Review

PEPPERELL -- December 16, 2019, Pepperell selectmen renew VFW club liquor license on probation, withholding full-premises upgrade. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously at its December 16 meeting to renew the Veterans of Foreign Wars post's club license with a change of manager to Pam Christopherson, but declined to forward the post's application for an all-premises license to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission pending a performance review in approximately three months. The action followed a violation review triggered by an October 19 incident in which an intoxicated woman was found asleep in the VFW foyer, and a subsequent investigation by Police Chief Scott that identified multiple apparently over-served patrons on video, outdoor drinking in violation of license terms, and a sign-in logbook containing fictitious entries including Elvis Presley and the Joker. David Wall, Senior Vice Commander, acknowledged the deficiencies and said new daily-inspection and bartender-discipline policies were already in place. One selectman said the deciding factor was Chief Scott's written warning: "I am very concerned that a tragedy may occur."