The Select Board on Tuesday voted to renew licenses for several businesses. But it cautioned that those that have delayed in completing requirements will have to face the board at the next meeting on Feb. 3 to explain why.

This is the third meeting where the board discussed common victualer (CV) and other associated license renewals. The following businesses were granted renewals in a 4-0 vote because they completed all licensing requirements:

• 110 Grill (approved for CV, alcohol and entertainment licenses)
• Pan Thai (approved for CV, alcohol and entertainment licenses)
• Woodville Rod & Gun Club (approved for club all alcohol license)
• Muffin House Café (approved for CV license)
• Crust & Company (approved for CV and entertainment license)
• The Vin Bin (approved for package store all alcohol license)
• Hopkinton Wine & Spirits (approved for package store all alcohol license)
• Main Street Service Center (approved for Class 1 and Class 2 auto dealer licenses)
• Able Limousine (approved for livery license)
• Bulldog Fire Apparatus (approved for Class 1 and Class 2 licenses)

Lazarus noted that some other businesses have had their initial inspections but not their follow-up ones. Two others have not yet been inspected. She said the town is working with the business owners to complete the process.

Extensions granted with warning

The board voted 3-1 to approve extensions for the remaining venues. They must submit completed applications by no later than Feb. 4. Kizner voted no, while member Brian Herr was absent.

Restaurant all alcohol and associated license extensions were approved for Cornell’s Irish Pub, Hopkinton Country Club, Ko Restaurant, Rapscallion, Hopkinton Center for the Arts and Arcos Hospitality. A farmer brewery permit was approved for Start Line Brewing Company.

CV license extensions were granted for Aramark at Dell’s two locations, Blue Square Pizza, Starbucks at Price Chopper, Starbucks Coffee, Red Barn Coffee at Angel’s Cafe, Domino’s Pizza and Hop-Yo.

Lazarus added that the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) has a Feb. 6 deadline for submissions of local inspection and compliance documents for alcohol licenses. The board does not meet again until Feb. 3, leaving a short window for compliance to be finalized.

“They’ve always had a deadline,” she said of the ABCC. “But we’ve never had an issue with meeting the deadline before.”

If the licensees do not complete their applications by the next meeting, they will need to reapply, Lazarus stressed.

Kizner pointed out that the license renewals are supposed to be completed by the end of the calendar year. That is why he cast the dissenting vote.

“I think at some point there does need to be a level of accountability,” he added, “to say nothing of respecting the time and efforts of town staff.”

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan added that the town “instituted a new process” that included Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks. He questioned if this may have caused delays for some applicants.

Lazarus pointed out that the only new procedure this cycle is a “90-minute test that’s required now by code.” This has to do with Fire Department access, she explained.

Clark pointed out that the town’s growth, combined with the impact of the holidays, may have increased the burden on business owners to meet deadlines.

Said Lazarus: “Everyone is aware of what needs to be done.”

“I think we need to stress to applicants that these are important,” she added. “And they shouldn’t wait until the last minute.”

She suggested that outstanding applicants appear at the Feb. 3 meeting to explain why they are not ready. Board members agreed.

TIF agreement does not make ATM warrant

The board discussed the articles it intended to submit for the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Members agreed to advance all but the one on a proposed tax increment financing (TIF) agreement for a new pickleball/padel facility.

Warrant articles are due to the town by Feb. 1, Lazarus explained. Residents can submit citizens’ petitions until that time to Town Hall. Town departments face the same deadline.

While many articles are routine submissions, the potential article that split members 2-2 was the proposed TIF agreement with Open Play Pickleball and Padel Club. The owner of the  facility at 124 East Main Street is in negotiations with the town for a TIF. The facility is near completion and already is accepting applications on its website.

Clark and Kizner did not support a warrant article for the TIF because it was not proposed up front. Ritterbusch suggested that an article be submitted as a placeholder. It could be removed before ATM if negotiations stalled, she said.

Mannan said he did not support the TIF as proposed, noting it was sought after the building was under construction. But at the last meeting, he recommended adjustments that would allow him to support it. The major one was a “clawback” policy for the town to recover money if Open Play was successful in the TIF’s initial years.

He added that TIFs would “incentivize” more businesses to come to Hopkinton. Clark countered that the money raised by the local meals tax is going toward economic development and would achieve the same result.

Other articles approved

The remaining articles were approved 4-0. Several items for submission had generated discussion over the past few months. Topics included e-bike regulations, amending the CV license bylaw to include civil fingerprinting for business owners and managers, and establishing revolving funds for municipal aggregation funds and electric vehicle charging.

Ritterbusch said she would like to see Town Meeting members discuss civil fingerprinting and wanted to see the article on the warrant. Clark said he was in favor of it, while Kizner wanted to balance the need for privacy with safety concerns. Mannan agreed about balance, but he wanted to hear how residents and businesses felt about the proposal.

There also were articles for proposed utility and driveway easements for the new Charleswood School and a few proposed town land acquisitions, including the Carbone’s Restaurant property at 280 Cedar Street.

Kizner suggested that the Open Space Preservation Commission appear before the board to explain the intended uses for the properties it is seeking to acquire.