Wareham's two new Selectmen came face-to-face with lingering town challenges Tuesday at the first meeting of the Board since the April 6 election. New board members Steve Holmes and Cara Winslow heard police voice support for interim Police Chief Richard Stanley, received advice from outgoing Selectman John Cronan, and discussed economic development.

Selectmen Jane Donahue and Walter Cruz were unanimously voted to become the Board's new chair and clerk, respectively.

More than a dozen Police Department personnel filled the room - and some of the hallway - in support of Chief Stanley. Officer Stephen Kearney said during the "citizens participation" portion of the meeting that the Police Department was "operating in spite of having no leadership" before Stanley was hired. Under the direction of Stanley, "We have a better trained, better equipped, and more professional department," he said.

Members of the Police Union met Tuesday morning and took a unanimous vote of confidence in the chief, Kearney said.

The Board of Selectmen announced March 30 that Stanley has been selected to become the town's full-time chief after serving as an interim part-time chief since August. He is currently the full-time chief in North Andover. The position is dependent on contract negotiations and the approval of a "lateral transfer" of the chief's Civil Service status from North Andover.

Former Selectman John Cronan, also speaking during citizens participation, offered some advice to the new Board.

He recommended that the Board allow the press to ask questions after citizens participation to get input from all Selectmen about issues. The information would also be useful for people at home watching the broadcast of the meeting, he said. He also recommended that the Board let Town Administrator Mark Andrews explain items on his administrator's report more in-depth so that citizens can learn more about the day-to-day operations of the town.

"Let's get the right stuff done at the table," Cronan said.

In the area of economic development, the Board approved several licenses for businesses.

It approved the transfer of a liquor license from Demetrios Kalkanis to the corporation doing business as Piper Beau's. The restaurant will continue to operate as usual. The Selectmen also approved two licenses that will allow Piper Beau's to offer live entertainment seven-days-a-week.

The Board approved a license that will allow a cafe to open on West Central Avenue in Onset. Owner Neil Lawson said he plans to open on May 1.

The Selectmen also approved an application that will allow a pawn shop to open at 298 Main Street and approved a one-day liquor license for Cosi restaurant for a Chamber of Commerce event.

Andrews announced that a Cranberry Commons Task Force has been created to assist the owner of the Cranberry Commons business complex on Cranberry Highway. A warehouse was destroyed during a March 26 6-alarm fire on that property. The task force aims to have the site of the fire rebuilt and attracting new business as soon as possible.

In other business:

• The Board approved the use of town roads for the Wareham Walk for Hunger, a partnership of the Church of the Good Shepherd and Project Bread, scheduled for May 2.
• Andrews said the town will receive $569,844 in local transportation aid funds for fiscal year 2011. The money is used to pave streets, fix potholes, and make infrastructure changes.
• Andrews said a firm has been hired to work on longstanding flooding problems in the Onset Beach Mobile Home Park.
• The Board approved conservation restrictions on land in the Marks Cove and Columbia Street area and the Great Neck area.