The first hearing pertained to an application for a Class B Victualler Liquor License by Midtown Café, located at 333 Main St. President Robin McGuigan was seeking the license and was present at the hearing.   “It would be terrific if I could get this license.  I think it would help business somewhat.  I think it would be a nice addition to at least have the facility to, for example, offer somebody a glass of wine or maybe a beer if they were to come in for lunch,”  McGuigan said.

McGuigan said he mostly serves breakfast and lunch with the possibilities of dinners in the summer. He said it would just be a nice addition for the possibility of adding that extra little bit of income. He also said despite today’s times they have had a great start and is very happy with the business.  “The food has been excellent and if this helps increase the volume a little bit that’s what we need downtown,” Councilmen Jim O’Neill said.

Council President Kathleen Fogarty explained that the second hearing was a public informational hearing relevant to the need for an additional liquor license in town for the café. The town has a set number of liquor licenses and must increase it to grant a new license.

There was no public comment and the council unanimously agreed to increase the Class B Victualler Licenses from 21 to 22. The council then unanimously agreed to grant Midtown Café a Class B Victualler License contingent upon certain regulations and paying of various taxes and fees.

The third public hearing was for a proposed amendment to the Town Code, Chapter 3 Animals and Fowl. This had to do with annual dog licensing and raising the fees from $4 to $7 for neutered dogs and from $9 to $12 for unneutered dogs. The fees were set in 1992 and had not been raised since.  “In all good conscience I certainly  just cannot increase these fees, not with the numbers I have seen in this economy and with the number of animals that are winding up in shelters and the excess costs there.  I just want folks to appreciate their animals and take care of them,” O’Neill said.

Councilwoman Carol Hagan McEntee said the three dollar increase, she believed, would allow the town to collect up to an extra $3,000 which is “sorely needed.”  The amendment passed four to one with O’Neill not agreeing with the rest of the council.

In another issue, Jonathan Daly LaBelle had sent in a communication to the council asking them to schedule a meeting with the local legislators for the purpose of discussing the budget. Vice President Mary Eddy explained they had been waiting to receive the budget from the state, at which time such a meeting would be scheduled
O’Neill said they needed to see the state numbers first but hoped that all the legislators could attend the meeting and said they would try and find a date everyone could attend.

McEntee said she felt it was a very good idea and hoped in would be done in a timely manner. Councilwoman Ella Whaley said the school committee had already met with the legislators and the council  would absolutely be pursuing a meeting with legislators, as they have in the past.

Daly Labelle said he was very encouraged by the council’s remarks about the meeting. He said he would like to see more public participation and engagement, even possibly a forum.  Fogarty confirmed it would be a public meeting where everyone was welcome to come and discuss matters and share their opinions just as it had been in the past.

"Hopefully it can be promoted in the best way and maybe you can present it in such a way that their opinions are valued, and there will be an opportunity to have some discussion with the legislators.  There hasn’t been the public participation that I have been hearing is wanted by the town council.  I am trying to come forward with a potential solution.  I think there needs to be a more earnest effort put forth to get people to come in and feel like their voices matter, that their opinions matter.  This is an incredibly well run town, we have incredible administrators,” said Daly LaBelle.