Fieldstone Farm Market’s application for a license to sell beer and wine was discussed in a favorable light during Tuesday night’s public hearing, Marion’s first since the coronavirus pandemic forced public meetings out of municipal buildings and onto remote-access platforms.
Owner Arnie Johnson, known to some in the tri-towns as chairman of Rochester’s Planning Board, did his own planning for Fieldstone with an abiding desire “to promote regional agriculture whenever possible.
“We’ve greatly expanded our cheese department since we opened three years ago,” he told the Board of Selectmen, which hosted the hearing as a dry run of sorts while other Marion boards anticipate holding necessary public hearings in advance of the June 22 Town Meeting.
Town Administrator Jay McGrail and Board of Selectmen Randy Parker were safely spaced apart operating on a dedicated phone line at the Police Station, while Johnson, selectmen Norm Hills and John Waterman and any other attendees participated via Zoom.
Facing no controversy, the town did not see through the full operating function of the continued hearing, as no one accepted the invitation to the public for comment on the matter. Johnson told the board that a license to sell beer and wine would augment Fieldstone’s developing assortment of fine cheeses and meats.
“This would be an extension to go with that,” said Johnson, who plans to major on locally produced wine. “My intention is to only have a couple of local wineries that would be in line with our (land-use) goals … and possibly some craft microbrews.”
Johnson reported that two cheese-tasting events held last year at Fieldstone drew approximately 150 customers. “That got the thoughts brewing toward maybe expanding like this,” he said. Johnson told the selectmen he will attend the board’s next meeting on Tuesday, June 16, at 4:15 pm that will close out the hearing.
Waterman asked the other members if anyone saw a negative side to the issuance of the license, prefacing the question by admitting he regularly does business at Fieldstone. There were no dissenting comments, and the hearing was officially continued and Johnson left the meeting.
McGrail had one action item for the board’s consideration, seeking authorization to approve requests from Marion restaurants for outdoor seating in keeping with Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan that went into effect on June 8.
The expedited process does not require the approval of the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) or appearance before the Board of Selectmen, but it is a temporary order (through November 1) and subject to any pending orders of the governor.
McGrail will work with Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer Scott Shippee to “make sure we’re doing it safely,” he said. “Honestly, for me it’s a way to reach out to local businesses to get them up and running.”
This authorization will not apply to new licenses, only to existing ones in order to take the drag out of Phase 2. The board approved.
McGrail told the meeting that so far Marion has 60 residents signed up to attend Town Meeting.
The Marion Board of Selectmen next meets on Tuesday, June 16, at 4:15 pm.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo