Pepperell Selectmen Suspend Restaurant Liquor License, Appoint New Treasurer-Collector

PEPPERELL — April 22, 2013 — Pepperell Selectmen suspend a restaurant's liquor license five days and appoint a new temporary treasurer-collector at an emotionally charged final meeting for Selectman Joe Green. The board voted 3-0 to suspend The Depot's alcohol license from April 30 through May 4 after Police Chief Scott detailed incidents including two 20-year-old women served mixed drinks without being asked for identification, one of whom was found intoxicated at home — her mother having called police. "We have a concerned mother in the community who's saying that her daughter — this is what we want parents to do — now it's time as community leaders to respond to this," said Green, who was serving his final meeting after 16 years in Pepperell public life. The board unanimously appointed Debbie J. Nutter, a former eight-year assistant treasurer-collector in Pepperell most recently serving Harvard, as temporary treasurer-collector through the April 28, 2014 town election, filling a vacancy created by the departure of the 14-year incumbent. Separately, the board heard an EDAC community survey drawing 1,200 responses from roughly 4,700 households — a 26 percent return rate — showing residents' top priorities as new business development, retail food, and public safety, and formally received EDAC's recommendation that an independent planning consultant be hired to review all town zoning at an estimated cost of $40,000 to $50,000.