The Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to adopt policies regarding establishments applying for Keno licenses in Reading. There are two types of licenses that the state issues for Keno. The first is to businesses already licensed as lottery agents and the second is to restaurant-style businesses. Requests to offer Keno in a store or restaurant are submitted to the state Lottery Commission. This Commission then informs the town of the request, giving the town twenty-one days to object if desired. The policy in the past has been for the board to issue a “Blanket Objection” to all such license requests. The new policy would give the board the option to review the request, hold a public hearing, then decide if they wish to object or not. Most members of the board indicated that they do not take issue with a business offering Keno, unless it would inconvenience neighbors or other nearby businesses. The policy also requests that establishments offering Keno not be located within 500 feet of a school, church or other place where children typically gather.
The Board also reviewed options for revising its policies regarding entertainment licenses. Many of the current policies are antiquated and need to be updated. These policies cover entertainment machines and devices in businesses and restaurants, live entertainment, and other entertainment activities that businesses engage in. “I have no interest in nickel-and-diming our people,” commented board member John Halsey, “but these policies do need to be reviewed.” Town Hall staff will prepare a revision of the policies for the Selectmen to review and approve.
The Town Manager, Robert LeLachuer, reported that there will be an Economic Development forum at the library on October 4. The forum would present several options for growth and development in Reading, including the first opportunity for the public to see what might happen in a “Walker’s Brook Drive 2” development. The board quickly gave final review to the Town Manager’s goals for Fiscal Year 2018 and spent time finalizing a survey that the board hopes will inform them about decisions to be made regarding a potential Proposition 2 1/2 override on next April’s ballot. The electronic survey should be available on the town website in a couple of weeks and will be active until September 30.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.
