Article 36 was a citizen petition aimed at tightening the town's control over alcohol consumption on public land. Petitioner Diane Jordan explained that the current bylaw contained illegal or mismatched language regarding 12C licensed caterers and was being used to potentially open the door for for-profit corporate events on town beaches and parks. The article was amended to explicitly state that no commercial events would be eligible for special one-day liquor licenses.

The debate centered on whether the Select Board should retain the discretion to rent out public spaces for private, for-profit functions. Resident Steve Lynch spoke in favor of the restrictions, stating, private companies coming in and renting out our beautiful resources so that they can make a profit... is out of the question. Town Counsel Robert Galvin initially expressed concerns that the bylaw might conflict with the Select Board’s executive authority, but ultimately stated the proposal was legal and votable. The approved bylaw limits one-day licenses primarily to nonprofit fundraisers and community fellowship events.

Motion (as amended): Diane Jordan moves that the town vote to amend the alcohol beverages bylaw to strike catering language and add: No commercial events or activities shall be eligible for a special license under this section.

Vote: Passed by Majority