Playing politics
Jun. 7th, 2010 10:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bex77I had the interesting task of going to a Town of Belmont Selectmen's Meeting tonight. Ah, the things I do for art!
Theatre@First is having a "gala" prior to the Saturday night performance of "The Margaret Ghost" on June 19th. We'll have wine and the director and playwright will mingle.
In order to serve wine for about an hour, we've had to jump through all sorts of hoops. The latest thing was a "one day liquor license" that usually takes at least 30 days to get, but we only found out about 10 days ago we needed. It involves filling out papers, paying a $50 fee, naming the Town on our insurance, and showing up at the Selectmen's meeting to answer their questions!
Despite my familiarity with meetings of all kinds, this was not something I was excited to do. I am not from Belmont, have never been to a Selectmen's meeting anywhere, and I don't even drink liquor! It felt fraught with peril. But I am a grown-up and it had to be done. So off I went.
I am pleased to report that the Town Hall is easy to find, right in Belmont Center, less than 15 minutes from Davis Square. Free parking. Whee!
The third door I tried was open, and there was a helpful white board listing of the evening meetings. I wandered to the sound of voices, and found the board room at the 7 pm time I'd been told to appear. The doors were closed, but there were several folks milling about. I looked at the various handouts in the slots on the walls, and then found the "Calls to Meetings" binder. I thumbed through until I found the agenda for tonight's Selectmen's Meeting. It said they'd be in executive session from 6:30-7:15 pm, and then various other reports and then "8:30 - 8:35 pm Theatre First." My heart sank. I really did not want to sit there for 90 minutes for my five minute item.
Right about then, an older gentleman (looked like a real wheeler-dealer) breezed up to a woman sitting typing on a computer and asked, "I'm not on the agenda but I need to get their signatures on a water bond so can you put me first?" She told him she didn't have much pull, but she'd try.
I gathered my courage and as he finished, I asked if I could go second. She asked me some questions about the event, which gave me a chance to hand out post cards to everyone milling around! She said she wasn't sure, but she'd try.
They opened the doors and we filed in. The water bond guy trotted right up to the front and plunked down at the table with the selectman (yes, they are all men. All white, 50ish, business-suited men) and started passing his papers around.
He stepped back, and they called the meeting to order and asked if there were any questions from residents. A couple of people motioned to me to go forward. I sat down at their table and said that I was on the agenda fo 8:30 pm but it should be quick so I'd like do it now. I felt like Dorothy petitioning the Wizard of Oz!
"Oh, you're the Theater First lady?"
"Yes."
"You just need a signature on a one day liquor license?"
"Yes."
"Ok. We have all the papers, looks good. Do I hear a motion? (so moved) Second? (second) All in favor? (Ayes).
Fine. You're all set."
"Thank you. Please come see the play!" They chuckled.
Hooray! So I was out of there by 7:20 pm. So much relief!
So Theatre@First has it's one day liquor license. Let the gala proceed!
Theatre@First is having a "gala" prior to the Saturday night performance of "The Margaret Ghost" on June 19th. We'll have wine and the director and playwright will mingle.
In order to serve wine for about an hour, we've had to jump through all sorts of hoops. The latest thing was a "one day liquor license" that usually takes at least 30 days to get, but we only found out about 10 days ago we needed. It involves filling out papers, paying a $50 fee, naming the Town on our insurance, and showing up at the Selectmen's meeting to answer their questions!
Despite my familiarity with meetings of all kinds, this was not something I was excited to do. I am not from Belmont, have never been to a Selectmen's meeting anywhere, and I don't even drink liquor! It felt fraught with peril. But I am a grown-up and it had to be done. So off I went.
I am pleased to report that the Town Hall is easy to find, right in Belmont Center, less than 15 minutes from Davis Square. Free parking. Whee!
The third door I tried was open, and there was a helpful white board listing of the evening meetings. I wandered to the sound of voices, and found the board room at the 7 pm time I'd been told to appear. The doors were closed, but there were several folks milling about. I looked at the various handouts in the slots on the walls, and then found the "Calls to Meetings" binder. I thumbed through until I found the agenda for tonight's Selectmen's Meeting. It said they'd be in executive session from 6:30-7:15 pm, and then various other reports and then "8:30 - 8:35 pm Theatre First." My heart sank. I really did not want to sit there for 90 minutes for my five minute item.
Right about then, an older gentleman (looked like a real wheeler-dealer) breezed up to a woman sitting typing on a computer and asked, "I'm not on the agenda but I need to get their signatures on a water bond so can you put me first?" She told him she didn't have much pull, but she'd try.
I gathered my courage and as he finished, I asked if I could go second. She asked me some questions about the event, which gave me a chance to hand out post cards to everyone milling around! She said she wasn't sure, but she'd try.
They opened the doors and we filed in. The water bond guy trotted right up to the front and plunked down at the table with the selectman (yes, they are all men. All white, 50ish, business-suited men) and started passing his papers around.
He stepped back, and they called the meeting to order and asked if there were any questions from residents. A couple of people motioned to me to go forward. I sat down at their table and said that I was on the agenda fo 8:30 pm but it should be quick so I'd like do it now. I felt like Dorothy petitioning the Wizard of Oz!
"Oh, you're the Theater First lady?"
"Yes."
"You just need a signature on a one day liquor license?"
"Yes."
"Ok. We have all the papers, looks good. Do I hear a motion? (so moved) Second? (second) All in favor? (Ayes).
Fine. You're all set."
"Thank you. Please come see the play!" They chuckled.
Hooray! So I was out of there by 7:20 pm. So much relief!
So Theatre@First has it's one day liquor license. Let the gala proceed!
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Date: 2010-06-08 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
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