Weston Select Board seeks emergency state legislation to fix JST liquor license

WESTON — May 28, 2024 — Weston Select Board moves to repair Josiah Smith Tavern liquor license through emergency legislation. The board voted 3-0 Tuesday to authorize the town's state representative and senator to file replacement language for the special act after the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission rejected the existing structure, in which a JST Corporation would have held the license and sub-licensed it to an operator. Town Counsel Lauren Goldberg drafted the fix; Chair Tom Palmer called it "form over substance," keeping the Select Board as licensing authority. Town Manager Leon said he would brief legislators the next morning and pursue passage before the formal session ends in late July, acknowledging "we might have to do a dance for our friends on Beacon Hill." The board also approved an Eagle Scout fitness installation by Simon Shadeh on the Legacy Trail and raised the annual fire master-box monitoring fee from $300 to $500, the first update since 2003.