Hamilton Select Board elects Farrell chair, grants brewery license exception

HAMILTON -- April 19, 2022, Hamilton Select Board reorganizes and grants craft brewery a policy exception to hold concert series at Patton Homestead. Sean Farrell was elected chair, Jamie Knutson vice chair, and Caroline Bullio clerk at the April 19 meeting, replacing outgoing members Rosemary and Darcy. CLA principal Jim Patrowski presented a clean fiscal year 2021 audit showing a $9.7 million general fund balance, with $6.4 million unassigned, about 20 percent of expenditures, and no material weaknesses. The board voted 5-0 to approve one-day liquor licenses for Essex County Brewing Company at Patton Homestead on May 5 and May 12, waiving the policy's 12C caterer's license requirement that members acknowledged effectively bars all mobile brewery vendors. A $100-per-event fee, described by the brewery's representative as triple what comparable towns charge, and a cumbersome hearing requirement also drew criticism from board members, who pledged to rewrite the policy within two meetings. Corey Beaulieu was appointed associate member of the Planning Board 4-0-1 to maintain quorum continuity on a pending 236 Essex Street project. A contentious flag-policy discussion ended without a vote, with the board aiming to resolve the question before June.