<p>A proposal to allow beer and wine sales at restaurants in Chilmark came under fire at a selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday. Several longtime residents gathered to speak out against the idea.</p>
A proposal to allow beer and wine sales at the Home Port and Beach Plum restaurants in Chilmark came under fire at a selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday.
Several longtime residents had gathered to speak out against the proposal.
Josh Aronie, representing the restaurant owners, presented a petition with 14 signatures to the selectmen, asking for a ballot question to determine whether to allow the change. He also hoped that a town meeting article prior to the ballot would help generate support for the proposal.
“There is obviously opposition, and generally opposition is more vocal than support,” Mr. Aronie said, alluding to the roomful of people waiting to speak.
Chilmark executive secretary Tim Carroll also encouraged a town meeting vote, as a way to explore the topic and decide whether to move forward. Several questions remained, including whether a beer and wine license would open the door to other restaurants in town.
“Some parameters would be better than roughing it at the last minute,” Mr. Carroll said.
According to state law, 10 signatures on a petition are enough to require an article to appear on an annual town meeting warrant. Bringing the item to the special town meeting this fall or winter, however, would require 90 signatures, or 10 per cent of the registered voters in town.
Selectman Bill Rossi sought greater clarity in the proposal, noting that a letter from Mr. Aronie last week asks for liquor licenses, while the petition mentions only beer and wine.
“This is a little light right now,” he said of the proposal. “You need more detail and you need to ask around and see how people feel about it.”
The selectmen hope to schedule a special town meeting for late October, but showed no interest Tuesday in having the beer and wine issue on the agenda.
“I think we’re going to have a normal October town meeting without this issue on it,” selectman Warren Doty said. “If you presented a petition that forces us to do it at the annual town meeting, then that’s your right. But it would seem that the sentiment in the town is not in favor of granting beer and wine to restaurants. And that would be my feeling also.”
Two years ago, following a similar request by Bob Nixon, owner of the Home Port, Beach Plum and Menemsha Inn, dozens of people turned out to a selectmen’s meeting to voice their opposition. Many of the same issues came up on Tuesday.
“The Home Port parking lot is full every single night,” said Jane Slater of Oversouth Antiques in Menemsha. “It’s silly to say that you need beer and wine to get people to come to the restaurant.” She added that the people in the room weren’t against drinking, but were business owners concerned about the consequences of allowing alcohol to be sold at the restaurants.
Mr. Doty noted that he would have also opposed liquor licenses in West Tisbury and Vineyard Haven, which gave up being dry towns in recent years. Chilmark is the last dry town on the Island.
Everett Poole, owner of the Chilmark Chandlery, then stood up at the back of the room.
“For over 300 years we’ve been dry in this town,” he said. “We get a few people from away move in here and we want to change it. We don’t need to change it. If they need a competitive edge, why don’t they improve their menu?” Mr. Poole, who is also the town moderator, advised the selectmen not to address the matter at a special town meeting.
Others pointed out that restaurant patrons in Chilmark may bring their own alcohol. Selectman Jonathan Mayhew somewhat jokingly agreed with Carlton Crocker’s assessment that Chilmark was already “the wettest little dry town in the state.”
Left to his own defense, Mr. Aronie argued that without beer and wine, the Home Port had no advantage over other Island towns. “It puts us in a different playing field,” he said.
He added that food is generally less profitable than alcohol, which has a longer shelf life and draws a different crowd. He added that not everyone who parks in Menemsha goes to the Home Port, and he believed the free shuttle between Tabor House Road and Menemsha Harbor could continue to alleviate the summer congestion.
Despite his opposition to serving alcohol at the Home Port, Mr. Doty expressed his appreciation for the restaurant. “I think the Home Port is a great asset to the town of Chilmark, even if we say no to beer and wine,” he said.
Mr. Carroll reported that ridership on the Menemsha shuttle was up 56 per cent over last year, with 2,070 riders in July and 2,775 in August. The seasonal service ended this month, but selectmen planned to extend the season next year.
The selectmen also granted a tentative filming permit to HGTV, which hopes to shoot scenes for an episode of Island Life, a lifestyle and real estate show, between Sept. 29 and Oct. 6. The producers had already agreed not to mention place names on film, and to allow continued access to public areas. Filming will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The selectmen planned to meet with Edgartown officials about Edgartown’s experience when HGTV filmed in town for their Dream Home competition last year.
Comments
Well, one thing's for sure:
Dean Rosenthal Vineyard HavenWell, one thing's for sure: you can make more money selling beer and wine than if you can't sell them. Let's wonder if we can discern why the proposal is being made – which surely is not connected to the aforementioned observation.
Avoiding change for the sake
William Native Edgartown, NYCAvoiding change for the sake of it?
You already allow drinking, in Chilmark Restaurants, BYOB. By allowing the Homeport restaurant to make the profit on a bottle of wine versus
Al's Pal's liquor store. You would help help the very establishment that is an attribute to Chilmark. Go figure :(
Chilmark doesn't owe the
BS Oak BluffsChilmark doesn't owe the Nixon's an avenue for more profit. The Nixon's owe Chilmark a better product.
If you have eaten at either
Island Mike MVIf you have eaten at either lately you can see that a better product is NEEDED. Fix your restaurants service and food first.
Dear BS from Oak Bluffs,
bob nixon ChilmarkDear BS from Oak Bluffs,
Bob Nixon here. Since you've only identified yourself by initials I don't know if we've met or if you are one of our patrons. If you are a customer i'd like to invite you and your family to join me for dinner at the Homeport ( I'll pay) so I can learn how our team is disappointing you.I have only gotten rave feedback this year.
If your not a customer i'd like to meet you for a cup of coffee (I don't drink) so you can explain why we owe Chilmark anything beyond our best efforts and business taxes we pay.
Even though its derby time I hope we can get together in the next week or two.You can reach me through Josh at the Homeport. If your a customer i'm sure he will want to join us for dinner.
best regards, bob
How would this be a tragedy
George Stein EdgartownHow would this be a tragedy to examine at a town meeting or be put to a vote? First amendment rights need to be respected. All politicians like to show leadership even to their own peril many times.
Chilmark, thanks for being a
tom hodgson wtChilmark, thanks for being a "holdout"! It's already stunningly expensive to dine out on MV. A restaurant bottle can often cost three to ten times retail. Nuff said.
It would seem to me that
Tyler Mainland for the FallIt would seem to me that allowing beer/wine in the future may effect the opening of other restaurants that are not present in Town now. Not Chilmark Tavern, Not Homeport, Not the Beach Plum. These are very established institutions. However, if they were to start serving alcohol, then any potential new restaurants that were looking at opening down the road, would have a serious argument (or a serious suit) towards also doing the same. Not even sure there is any place that could be a new restaurant in Town, but this is what what happen if there were.
I've had a second home in
Louise Olson Cambridge and ChilmarkI've had a second home in Chilmark for over 20 years and for the 1st time brought my brother and sister in law to the Beach Plum for dinner. It was wonderful, and, while we were able to afford a much better bottle of wine, due to the BYOB policy, I think it's true that restaurants that sell beer and wine are more profitable. To my mind, a business that has a shorter season should have more opportunity to be more profitable. I've see good restaurants come and go,clue to the inability to sell. Wine and beer, here, on the Vineyard, in Arlington, Belmont and other towns. I also see the benefit to other businesses nearby when licenses are allowed....good for everyone.
Belmont (next door to my
Christine WalthamBelmont (next door to my hometown) is no longer a dry town, and its restaurants are flourishing.
As are the Chilmark
BFAs are the Chilmark restaurants
Mr.Stein, we all need to
Dianne Smith ChilmarkMr.Stein, we all need to remember that everything written is not gospel. Mr. Poole was inadvertently misquoted. He simply suggested that this issue was inappropriate for consideration at the upcoming special town meeting. As the selectmen noted, it does not meet the parameters required. The last place first amendment rights would be disrespected is in Chilmark -- Hence the public conversation. Read literally at your own peril. Perhaps especially at midnight.
Thanks to the reader for
EditorThanks to the reader for pointing out the error. The story has been corrected.
At least there is one paper
George Stein EdgartownAt least there is one paper on the Island that admits mistakes! Remember this is the same town that has residents that brought drama to the new Coast Guard facility construction over such minimal changes that was properly ignored. I offer the same suggestion I gave our friends in Vineyard when they considered alcohol. More revenue creates more taxable income to pay for things like upgrading a town restroom. Rhetoric fearing multiple new business just coming out of no where is as preposterous as criticism of what time of day posts are made.
One does not need to be from
BFOne does not need to be from Chilmark to have an opinion on this.
NO NO NO...do NOT go "wet"!
The time to start saying NO is long overdue!
These people who come because they love it, need to leave it alone! Stop trying to bring what you left behind with you. We don't want it or need it.
Having a dry town, is part of the elusive, intangible magic.
It almost brought me to tears when Vineyard Haven caved in to the newbies..
If they have come just to take another chunk out of the proverbial goose...than let me suggest that you don't come!
We have not kept it how we like it all of these years just to get set up for you to make your fortune off of us.
...We have done it, because we like it just the way that it is!!
I still await an apology from
George Stein EdgartownI still await an apology from all those who saw the end of the world coming in Vineyard Haven. DWI arrests actually went down. The sky is falling! Still waiting kids.
and with twist off wine
vnydr from CT CTand with twist off wine bottle caps --- can't even charge an uncorking fee.......alas..... :)
Another thing, did the
BFAnother thing, did the existing Chilmark restaurants know when they went into business that Chilmark was a dry town?.....Yes....
Well, life is full of choices isn't it..
Does anyone knows the
Bob Nixon ChilmarkDoes anyone knows the correct history of our town banning the sale of spirits? Was the consumption of alcohol outlawed longer than prohibition or was it only the sale? The only facts I could find were in the History of Marthas Vineyard which details that at least until 1788 three Chilmark taverns were in the business of selling "strong drink". The book includes an impressive list of many of Chilmark's founding immigrant families who held licenses to engage in selling alcohol.
Fascinating to me that two hundred twenty eight years later three similar establishments are still extant but today they may only pour, not sell, alcohol.
Excerpt from HISTORY OF MARTHAS VINEYARD- Charles Edward Banks- 1910.
TAVERNS.
In 1715, however, Ebenezer Allen, and in 1722 William Clark and Lemuel Little were licensed as "innholders in Chilmark," and obtained a license as such. It is believed that these licenses cover rather the retailing of "strong drink," as three taverns in the town were not required for the convenience of wayfarers at that period. Situated as it was and is, the need of such houses occurred so infrequently, that private homes have always been ample, and at the service of the "stranger within its gates" temporarily.
The following named persons were licensed innholders in the town of Chilmark by the County Court for the years specified: Ebenezer Allen, 1715-16; William Clark, 1722-32; Zaccheus Mayhew, 1735-8; Bethiah Mayhew, 1738; Thomas Mayhew, 1761; Zephaniah Mayhew, 1746-7; Josiah Tilton, 1748; William Hunt, 1749-52; Uriah Tilton, 1749-51; John Allen, Jr., 1752-3; John Cottle, 1741-65; Cornelius Bassett1761-73; Salathiel Tilton, 1769; Abisha Cottle, 1772-7; Beriah Luce, 1781-2; Ebenezer Bassett, 1782, William Stewart, 1782-4; Benjamin Bassett, 1786-7; John Allen, 1786-7.
The date 1788 may be relevant because the temperance movement sparked to life in 1784 when Benjamin Rush wrote, An Inquiry Into the Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon the Human Body and Mind. Rush judged the excessive use of alcohol as injurious to physical and psychological health. But today with residents proudly proclaiming Chilmark " the wettest dry town in America" the debate is not about abstinence. Most striking in todays debate is that many expressing strident opposition to the sale of "strong drink" in Chilmark freely express that they enjoy bringing alcohol to consume in the towns three restaurants. They are equally upfront that their resistance is to one of our local business profiting from their consumption. Make one wonder if its not the Methodist revival but local history at play?
Does any descendant of one our first "licensed inn holders" know what went down in the Chilmark Taverns in 1788? Care to share? Did a rum fueled argument over the impending ratification of the Constitution lead to a brawl? Did you ever hear stories of Mr. Rush himself appearing with a copy of INQUIRY? Or that a regular, resentful over their high bar tab, conspired to strip your ancestor of their license? Was there ever talk of a neighboring business owner who sought success in killing the competition?
Ah, Chilmark!
I don't understand the
Noelle chilmark summer residentI don't understand the difference between allowing byob and allowing the sale of the very same alcohol by the restaurants themselves other than that the latter helps our Chilmark businesses remain in business.
The vocal opponents to a
Mark Williams ChilmarkThe vocal opponents to a reasonable proposal such as this have more in common with the Taliband than with responsible public servants in a representative democracy for a community which - like it or not - is a seasonal resort which derives significant revenue from the tourist trade. All change on the island isn't always a bad thing. It is possible to update and improve things while still maintaining the character and culture of the island and while respecting and preserving the environment. Frankly the class of service and quality of restaurants on the island as a whole is appalling and embarrassing this is not solely the fault of the restaurateurs. They are operating in a hostile environment. I salute those committed entrepreneurs who stick it out year after year who need to hire and pay a staff and contend with an extremely short season while the local government fights them at every turn. The pull the ladder up types who are ensconced in every town on the island will ensure that only the 1% hedge fund guys and their minions can enjoy a nice meal and a glass of wine up island - they'll put up a tent on their estate and bring in a caterer. The rest of us will have to live with bringing an overpriced bottle of wine or a six pack purchased after a 45 minute trip to Edgartown or OB. We don't have to be like Nantucket or Newport, RI, but check out the restaurants there you can get a decent meal with good service. Its not cheap but at least it exists. We are a world class resort and we need to act like one. For record I went to the Home Port twice this summer and the food was excellent each time although the service was bad and a skunk was wandering around the patio. I don't necessarily fault Mr. Nixon he is doing his level best with the hand he has been dealt.
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