Select Board approves home rule petition to lift restaurant liquor license seating limits
The Belmont Select Board unanimously approved a home rule petition removing seating restrictions on restaurant liquor licenses to enhance the town's competitiveness for new dining establishments. Chair Matthew Taylor and Town Administrator Patrice Garvin explained the measure would eliminate only
Select Board · Meeting of January 5, 2026
BELMONT — The Belmont Select Board unanimously approved a home rule petition removing seating restrictions on restaurant liquor licenses to enhance the town's competitiveness for new dining establishments. Chair Matthew Taylor and Town Administrator Patrice Garvin explained the measure would eliminate only seat-count limits from existing Home Rule legislation while preserving the Board's discretion during licensing review and maintaining all other Chapter 138 provisions. The Board also unanimously renewed The Friends of the Benton Library license agreement with expanded public access language, accepted a Beech Street Center donation, and received the FY2026 Q1 financial report and an ice rink rates analysis indicating insufficient data yet to support pricing changes.
The Board deferred action on proposed revisions to alcoholic beverages policies pending additional refinement and public input.
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Source: the Select Board meeting of January 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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