AMHERST — A board responsible for reviewing and issuing many of the licenses related to commercial activity in town, including businesses that want to serve food and alcoholic beverages and have live entertainment, needs at least one new member.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said Tuesday he is seeking residents interested in serving on the Board of License Commissioners, a committee created with the adoption of the new town charter in 2018.
Bockelman said Paul Musgrave, who was appointed to a one-year term in January 2019, recently submitted his resignation. Another member whose term ends later this year, Hallie Hughes, is expected to reapply to remain on the board.
In addition to the alcohol licenses and common victuallers licenses for restaurants, the board can issue licenses for live entertainment, innholders, auto dealers, second-hand sales, coin-operated machines and lunch carts.
During its first year, the board’s actions were mostly focused on issuing permits, though last spring it held hearings before suspending and then revoking the liquor license for Porta. Porta was a downtown bar that the board determined repeatedly violated state alcohol laws by allowing underage patrons to consume alcohol, serving alcohol after closing time and having intoxicated staff provide alcohol to customers.
Anyone interested in serving on the board must be a registered voter with no financial interest, directly or indirectly, in the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages, marijuana or any regulated substance that may come under its purview.
There are also positions available on several other committees, Bockelman said, including the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission, Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, the Amherst Redevelopment Authority and the Shade Tree Committee.
Anyone interested can fill out a community activity form at www.amherstma.gov/caf. Those with questions should contact a community participation officer by sending email to getinvolved@amherstma.gov.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
