Whitman Approves Liquor License Transfer, One-Day Beer Garden for Whitman Day
Select Board also adjusts senior tax work-off program wage to help participants reach maximum benefit
WHITMAN - April 22 - The Whitman Select Board has approved the transfer of an all-alcohol packaged goods store liquor license for a local convenience store and granted a one-day liquor license for a beer garden at the upcoming Whitman Day celebration.
During their recent meeting, board members unanimously approved both liquor-related items along with an adjustment to the senior citizen property tax work-off program.
The business, located at 183 South Ave, will change from Whitman Convenience Store to Whitman Market and Liquors under new ownership.
"The applicant is going to be purchasing all of the assets, including the liquor license from Jai Maruti, LLC, which is currently doing business as Whitman Convenience Store," an Attorney explained. "They're going to continue to keep selling the same products, same footprint, same hours and everything."
The board approved three requests: the license transfer to the applicant, appointment of a new manager of record, and the change of business name.
The Select Board also approved a one-day liquor license for Dennis Nash of Old Colony Brewery to operate a beer garden during the Whitman Day 2025 event. The beer garden will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in the Whitman Town Park.
Board member Shawn Kain expressed enthusiasm for the beer garden, which was also held last year.
"I think it's outstanding. I think it's something that we should look to expand and potentially do more of," Kain said. "I think it's really good for the community. I think it works in a lot of ways for local businesses. It's a win-win."
The approval is subject to a $50 license fee and certificate of liability insurance showing Old Colony Brewery has general liability and $1 million liquor liability coverage for the event. The certificate must list the town of Whitman as an additional insured.
In other business, the board approved changes to the senior citizen property tax work-off program. The adjustment increases the hourly wage from $15 to $16 while maintaining the same 125-hour limit, allowing participants to reach the $2,000 cap.
Board member Justin Evans explained the reasoning behind the change: "I think what the seniors were looking for was not necessarily the ability to work more hours to hit the cap, but to be able to hit the cap."
By adjusting the wage rather than the hours, the board created a more flexible system for future changes. Evans noted that if the state raises the cap in the future, "we can adjust the wage by a vote of this board rather than a town meeting vote adjusting the hours."
The board also discussed the upcoming override vote and budget concerns. Kain provided an update on the recent budget forum and addressed key areas of frustration expressed by residents.
"Our goal is not to debate the override one way or the other," Kain said. "We want to encourage citizens to come to the forum and ask questions, even difficult questions, or to seek answers to something that's been bothering them. Our goal is to be informative and transparent."
Kain emphasized that the proposed $2 million override is a "shared override" affecting both town and school budgets. He noted that even if the school assessment were reduced to 5 percent, the town would still face a $1 million deficit.
The Select Board scheduled two upcoming meetings: April 29 at 7 p.m. and May 5, the night of town meeting, with the time to be determined.
Other items discussed at the meeting included:
• Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter announced that the Department of Public Utilities has approved Whitman's municipal aggregation plan for electricity. The town will go out to bid for electricity rates in June, with information expected to reach residents by late summer.
• A sharps, needles, and drug turn-in day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whitman Police Department parking lot. The drive-through event is for Whitman residents only and will accept needles, diabetes supplies, fertility treatment supplies, cancer hospice supplies, EpiPens, auto-injectors, and old or unused medications.
• The Whitman Little League Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. and will go through the center of town.
• The Board of Health will conduct a drive-through rabies clinic for cats, dogs and ferrets at the Whitman VFW lot on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon. The fee is $20 per animal.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.