By Sharron Luttrell
The Select Board voted Wednesday night to opt-in to a state program that extends last call by an hour through the end of July. In Mendon, this means bars and restaurants may stay open until 2 a.m.
The state Legislature approved a temporary pilot program June 8 that allows local licensing authorities to extend the hours of liquor licenses by one hour up until 3 a.m., and allows public consumption of alcohol in designated districts.
Proponents of the new law say it will help bars and restaurants meet the demand created by the FIFA World Cup matches and statewide events around the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Police Chief David Kurczy told the Select Board Wednesday that the Fine Line requested permission to stay open until 2 a.m. last week for its one-year anniversary. The request came too early for the Select Board to act on, but Kurczy said he supports the town opting into the pilot program.
The Fine Line and the End Zone are the only two businesses in town that stay open until Mendon’s 1 a.m. cut-off for serving alcohol, but the town will notify all liquor license holders of the Select Board’s decision.
