Neighbors of the Somewhere Else Tavern secured a temporary reprieve from late-night noise Wednesday as the Select Board implemented an immediate 9:00 p.m. curfew for outdoor live music. The decision follows a summer of escalating tension between the establishment and surrounding residents, culminating in a 4-1 vote to restrict hours until a formal public hearing on October 8 determines the future of the venue’s entertainment license. The board also set the stage for significant procedural shifts at the upcoming Special Town Meeting and announced a welcome decrease in local electricity rates.

The conflict over Somewhere Else Tavern dominated the session, following a weekend where town officials and the police department monitored decibel levels at the site. Sean Keegan reported that while he recorded compliant readings between 60 and 62 decibels, the situation apparently shifted once official oversight ended. The official reading I took was 62 and it was fine, but then we're told that it was significantly louder after we left, Keegan noted. Confusion also swirled regarding the tavern’s equipment after a rainstorm reportedly damaged the main PA system, leading to reports that a megaphone or handheld system was used for vocals. John Flynn pressed the tavern’s representatives for transparency regarding the previous Friday night’s events, stating, I'm just looking for a straight answer... whether it was shut down or it was not.

Attorney John Danahe, representing the tavern, clarified that owner Jason Cook had proactively stopped a band on Friday because they were too loud. In an attempt to find middle ground, Danahe proposed a voluntary concession to end music at 9:00 p.m. on weekends rather than 9:30 p.m. Our suggestion would be... that we move it back from 6:00 to 9:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, Danahe told the board. While Flynn viewed this as a legally defensible clawback compromise, Board Chair Dan expressed reservations that the reduction did not go far enough to protect the neighborhood. I personally still think that 9:00 is pretty late. I think a couple of weeks doing it earlier is pretty reasonable, the Chair said, advocating for an 8:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. cutoff. Resident Flashman added to the pressure by reading directly from the Business District A zoning bylaws, reminding the board that local businesses must not be noisy, injurious, noxious or offensive to the neighborhood.

Motion Made by J. Flynn to change the hours of outdoor live entertainment to 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Motion Passed (4-1), with Dan dissenting. Shortly after, the board moved to formalize a more permanent review of the tavern’s operations. Motion Made by J. Flynn to schedule the Somewhere Else Tavern for a public hearing on Wednesday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss a possible vote to suspend or revoke the outdoor live entertainment permit. Motion Passed (5-0).

On the financial front, Town Manager Bill Chenard delivered positive news for residential utility bills. A new mailer is being dispatched to residents regarding the town’s electricity aggregation plan, which will see rates drop from 14.75 cents to 13.99 cents per kilowatt. Our residential rates are going from 14.750 cents per kilowatt to 13.99 cents per kilowatt... just be happy rates are going down and not up, Chenard remarked. The savings come as the town also explores more cost-effective infrastructure maintenance, including a hot in place paving method on Pleasant Street designed to stretch capital improvement dollars further. Chenard also invited the community to a double-header groundbreaking ceremony on September 29th, starting at 4:30 p.m. for the new fire substation and moving to 6:00 p.m. for the public safety headquarters. It's not all that special, but it is kind of cool. It's a milestone, he noted.

The board spent significant time reviewing the warrant for the Fall Special Town Meeting, issuing favorable recommendations for several high-impact articles. Article 3 seeks to change the Town Clerk position from an elected role to an appointed one, a move aimed at professionalizing the office as the town grows. Article 5 would grant the Moderator the authority to declare two-thirds or four-fifths majority votes by quantum, streamlining town meeting procedures. Motion Made by J. Flynn to move Favorable Action on Articles 3, 4, 5, and 7. Motion Passed (5-0).

Community events and historical preservation also saw strong support. The board authorized a one-day liquor license for the Pembroke Foundation’s Sip and Support fundraiser at the community center on September 18th. Mr. Perry of the Pembroke Foundation explained the event is part of a broader effort to revitalize the Veterans Memorial Park project at First Church. The Pembroke Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of Pembroke residents, Perry said. John Flynn noted the event would serve as a litmus test for the town’s new bylaw allowing alcohol at the community center. Motion Made by J. Flynn to grant the one-day liquor license request for the Pembroke Foundation for September 18th, 2025. Motion Passed (5-0).

In a symbolic gesture of town pride, the Chamber of Commerce agreed to purchase the remaining stock of Pembroke’s 300th Anniversary books to donate them to the Historical Society. Fraser, representing the Chamber, offered a symbolic $300. It's a dollar for every year... we'd like to make that payment. Motion Made by J. Flynn to sell or donate 300th anniversary books as requested by the Pembroke Historical Society for $300. Motion Passed (5-0). Additionally, the board cleared the way for the Bryantville PTO’s annual bikeathon on September 23rd. PTO President Britney Dunn noted the event’s massive growth, with participation climbing from 200 students to nearly 300 this year. Motion Made by S. Keegan to approve the use of the town's roads to host the Bryantville PTO's bikeathon on September 23rd. Motion Passed (5-0).

Finally, the board finalized liaison roles for the 2025-2026 term. The Chair will take on Advisory, John Flynn continues with the Council on Aging, Rich remains the liaison for DPW and Water, and Sean Keegan will oversee Planning, Zoning, and Affordable Housing. Motion Made by S. Keegan to approve the liaison roles as discussed. Motion Passed (5-0). The session concluded with a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk, a local figure who passed away earlier that day.