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Date: 12/19/2023
WILBRAHAM — The Wilbraham Select Board discussed several new policies at its Dec. 11 meeting, including a potentially controversial one that had already been approved.
Select Board member Michael Squindo requested the board reconsider a Dec. 4 decision regarding a request to raise a flag on town property. He was not present at the meeting. The request had come from the Pro-Life Legal Defense Fund for a flag supporting its cause. Town Administrator Nick Breault had explained that after research, it was determined that Wilbraham did not have a policy on whether private flags could be flown on town property. He suggested the board approve the request, but also said it could be denied “based on past practice” because the town has traditionally not flown private flags.
Breault also asked the board to adopt a policy that town-owned flag poles are for “government speech” only. The draft policy he presented stated that the flags displayed on town-owned land should be limited to the American, municipal and state flags, the MIA/POW flag and those representing the armed services. To allow third-party flags at the board’s discretion would be “opening the town up to legal challenges based on perceived bias.”
Both Select Board Chairman Theresa Goodrich and Vice Chairman Susan Bunnell agreed with Breault’s recommendation and allowed the Pro-Life Legal Defense Fund to raise their flag for up to 24 continuous hours before the end of the calendar year. The proposed policy was also adopted.
Squindo argued that the agenda had not made clear what would be the topic of discussion and a vote. He objected to there being “zero public comment” on such a “hot button” issue. Further, he asked that the board slow its decision-making process by requiring discussion at least two meetings before voting on agenda items. No action was taken to reconsider the vote.
Breault presented two new policies for the board to consider. The first was a document codifying the town’s financial policies into one location. The consolidation and documentation of the policies was completed in November 2019 with Community Compact Grant funding; however, approval was sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic and the compendium has been shelved since then.
The second is a draft food truck policy. Breault said he had made significant changes to earlier proposals, but the document is in keeping with guidelines from the Health, Police and Fire departments. Under the policy, there would be an annual food truck license for vendors at designated locations and businesses in town and health inspections would be required each year.
A temporary permit would also be available for “one-off” happenings, such as the Hill Climb, block parties and school events. A health inspection would be required for these licenses to be issued, as well. An annual license does not preclude a vendor from obtaining a temporary license because they are tied to the locations or events at which the truck will operate. The annual license would cost $200, while each temporary license would cost $25.
The board members said they will review both policy documents and a vote was scheduled for the Dec. 18 meeting.
Goodrich asked that the board examine updating the website to be more user friendly. “Our town website is lacking,” she said, citing the fact that she could not locate information, and noted there were many people in town who were less computer-savvy than she.
Bunnell said much of the issue is due to the website not being updated regularly. She noted that putting that work in will take time and money. Breault said the town can confer with CivicPlus, the platform the hosts the website. He pointed out that the website had been updated about five years ago. He encouraged the public to share what challenges the site poses and any municipal websites they think work well.
Daniel Belanger was approved by the board for a transfer of liquor license from Gregory’s Restaurant and Pizza Pub at 2391 Boston Rd., to Posh Eastern Fusion.
Before the new restaurant can open, he and his business partner plan to refurbish the building and bring it up to code. “It definitely needs an overhaul,” he said, noting that his grandparents used to take him to Gregory’s. In the future, he said he would like to build an addition onto the rear of the building.
Belanger, who is also the manager of record for the restaurant, described his vision for an “upscale” restaurant that serves Asian cuisine and will “bring some pretty cool technology … that we don’t see out here. My goal is to be the nicest restaurant in the area,” he said.
Customers will have to wait before they can experience Posh Eastern Fusion, however. Belanger said the amount of work that must be done in the building will mean its doors will not open until late 2024 at the earliest.
The Select Board approved a request from another restaurant in Wilbraham to allow dancing. Christopher Arillotta, owner of The Local Table & Tap, had received an entertainment license on Nov. 27, but the board wanted to seek input regarding dancing from the Police and Fire departments. Fire Chief Michael Andrews asked that a relay be installed to shut down the sound system if a fire alarm trips, to which Arillotta agreed. The owner also told the board that his managers would be certified in crowd management by the end of the week.
“There’s no issue with … allowing dancing” at the 2039 Boston Rd. eatery, Andrews said.
Goodrich responded, “I guess we’re going to be dancing.”