09/14/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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*DRAFT BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES AUGUST 24, 2020* 6 Board of Selectmen Minutes August 24, 2020 Public He9jpgLAdqpfi,o1n of a Lo,cal c, 138 d of Selectmen Polict#0( ......................................... Alcoholic Beverqgps�,gns��s Section III-- tore All Alcohol B the Sale of Alcohol Ni 50 s....................a.................condition" of a4y_NPALBe��r Transferred-License for Establishments Licensed Pursuant to G.L. c. 138,.§15 Based on CgIn' siderations of Public Health Welfare andj$afet,�,., (continued) Dena Rymsha, Liberty Liquors expressed appreciation to Bryan Anderson and to the others who have made comment regarding the banning of the sale of alcohol nips. Ms. Rynisha reiterated that it is a difficult time because of the COVID virus and the town needs to be supportive of the local community and businesses. She asked why the Board of Selectmen is considering a ban for one specific item based on the environment. Why one business, and what about Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and other like businesses? Why would we want to send people to other towns to purchase these items? During the pandemic, may local townspeople do not want to shop at five stores to buy all of their items. As a business we could possibly lose the entire sale. Ms. Rymsha asked why the town can't implore more people to pick up trash. This is not the proper solution to ban nips in order to clean up the littering in the Town of Mashpee. With limited attendance at meetings, hundreds of people may have attended this meeting rather than call over the phone to make comment. Mohammad Shafique of The Barn commented as a local business owner in the Town of Mashpee for the past 22 years. Mr. Shafique indicated he has been struggling because of the pandemic. It was recommended the Board institute a deposit to solve this problem. Another citizen working in the liquor industry in the Town of Falmouth stated he does not feel the Board of Selectmen has the right to take away the freedom of choice. If the ban goes into effect it may end up costing the taxpayer. To ban nips may also create a black market for availability. For clarification it was disclosed the Board of Selectmen brought this matter up in 2017 and again last year as a possible point of discussion and as a clean-up initiative to limit the littering in the Town of Mashpee. The littering of alcoholic nips is highly visible on the public road areas, on walking trails and at the schools. This is setting a bad example for the town and for the children. The Board of Selectmen related concern with respect to the unnecessary comments made in the local paper. This is an important issue to address and to solve. Loss of revenue to businesses is a concern. Of the emails and letters received,, not all are in support, and not all are against the proposal. This issue in Mashpee within social media applications is reflective of an estimated majority in support of the ban. The ease of drinking alcohol nips while driving is also a major concern. As the Board of Selectmen continued to discuss this matter it was agreed the issue would remain on the table. The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce and the Mashpee business community is challenged with the task of developing a proposal for littering that would preserve the liquor sales and the quality of life in the Mashpee community. For the record Selectmen Thomas F. O'Hara indicated he is opposed to any ban at this time. Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to continue the Public Hearing to Monday, November 2, 2020 to give the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce and the broader business community time to address this issue, to develop a plan, and in the absence of a plan it is the objective of the Board of Selectmen to move forward on November 2, 2020. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. Roll Call Vote.* Selectman Cotton',yes Selectman O'Hara, yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb, yes Selectman Weeden, yes Opposed, none