By Carol Britton Meyer

During a nearly three-hour meeting June 24, the select board decided not to participate in a pilot program to extend the hours of liquor licenses and to allow for public consumption until July 31; approved a replacement registrar for a recount of votes in a Hull Redevelopment Authority race in the recent town election; and decided to continue holding its meetings on Wednesdays rather than switch to Tuesdays as suggested by a board member.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey recently signed a bill approved by the state Legislature that temporarily extends last call at bars and restaurants this summer. The bill allows – with local approval – alcohol service until an hour after an establishment’s current cut-off date under its current alcohol license and to establish “outdoor drinking zones” until July 31. All drinks must be purchased from licensed establishments within the space.

Advocates behind the bill were attempting to help the Boston-area economy “cash in on the expected tourism boom for the World Cup, Tall Ships, and other events this summer.”

The board voted 3-2 not to opt-in. If members had decided to opt-in to the program, the next step would be to hold public hearings with any establishments wishing to participate. That is now a moot point. Chair Brian McCarthy and Vice Chair Jerry Taverna voted to opt-in.

The board members who voted against noted the number of objections and concerns often voiced by neighbors during regular liquor license hearings.

Member Irwin Nesoff referred to “walking the fine line” between businesses’ and residents’ rights.

“This is not a directive, but an opportunity,” he said.

In other business, the board supported the request by the chair of the Republican Town Committee to appoint Paul Gratta as temporary registrar to ensure Republican representation during the planned June 27 recount of votes cast for the three-year seat on the HRA in the recent town election.

Republican Registrar Catherine Mahoney is unable to attend. The recount is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Memorial School, 81 Central Avenue. The Democratic party will also be represented.

Candidate Susan Vermilya, who lost to incumbent Charlie Richardson, 876-863, filed the recount petition.

Vermilya expressed concerns about the appointment before the vote was taken because of comments she said Gratta made about the HRA property.

“We’d be hard-pressed to find someone in town without an opinion about the HRA property,” Nesoff noted. “I don’t see how [comments would] have any impact on whether we should appoint him.” The vote was unanimous.

There will be space set aside for the public to observe the process.

The board on a vote of 4-1 also decided to keep its meetings on Wednesdays after Susan Short Green suggested at the last meeting to move them to Tuesday to avoid being on the same night as the planning board; to meet every other week unless an additional meeting is needed (Green proposed meetings every week if possible); and to move the start time to 6:30 from 7:00 p.m. Green was the only “no” vote.

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