MERRIMAC — The Loyal Order of Moose, now meeting in Newburyport, will soon be relocating to Merrimac.
At a public hearing this week, selectmen unanimously granted an all-alcoholic liquor license to the Moose for their new lodge at 34 Broad St. (at the former Bosco's Theatre). Some abutters of the property attended the hearing but made no comments.
The Moose lodge was formerly located at 3 Cherry St. in Newburyport, but the building was sold and torn down several years ago to make way for an office building. The lodge, which has about 120 active members, has had no formal meeting place since then.
Selectmen withheld final signature, pending approval by zoning enforcement officer Phil Hagopian.
"It's a shot in the arm for the town," Selectman Rick Pinciaro said. "But I'd feel more comfortable approving a liquor application if I knew the Planning Board approved the use."
The lodge will serve alcohol seven days per week to members only but offered to be open during hours suggested by Merrimac officials, John Boothroyd, a member of the lodge, said.
Pinciaro found no statement in the town's bylaws that limit hours of operation.
"Whatever the liquor commission says is what we will do," Boothroyd said. "We don't want people out drinking and driving home." He also pointed out that the Moose organization's policy requires that all bartenders, waitresses and officers be educated through a Training for Intervention Procedures program to ensure they serve alcohol responsibly.
Boothroyd said they eventually want to add a Moose Family Center at the Merrimac site to better serve all age groups.
"The kids would not be there all the time," Boothroyd said. "They would not be present where alcohol is being served."
Boothroyd told selectmen the Moose are a nonprofit organization "dedicated to charity primarily. We work well with other nonprofit organizations. We work with the community all the time."
According to their Web site, mooseintl.org, "The Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888. Moose lodges conduct approximately $50 million worth of community service (counting monetary donations and volunteer hours worked) annually."
The lodge members plan no structural changes to the building. Exterior work will involve painting and cleaning only.
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