A large portion of the Board of Selectmen's Tuesday, Dec. 13 meeting was devoted to renewing year-round liquor licenses and permits for various establishments for 2012. While most of these requests were approved with ease, a few prompted further discussion.

Bay Pointe Country Club’s request sparked some confusion. According to Selectman Steve Holmes, Digital Credit Union has failed to contact the town about taking over the liquor license. The bank acquired the country club through foreclosure in recent months and has not opened the clubhouse bar. The Selectmen were unsure if there was anything to renew.

Town attorney Richard Bowen told the Selectmen that “liquor licenses shall be renewed unless cause is known.” He also said the board can handle the licenses however it chooses.

“My job is the carry out the policy you adopt,” he said.

A consensus was reached and the Selectmen unanimously approved the license for Bay Pointe. However, a representative of the country club will be asked to come in to clarify the matter during the January 17 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

Captain Al’s Restaurant in East Wareham raised concerns because of an e-mail sent to the Selectmen dated October 26, informing them that the restaurant would be closed for cleaning from October 11 to March 20.

The restaurant had acquired one of Wareham's limited number of "above quota" year-round liquor licenses, after previously holding only a seasonal license.

Wareham acquired eight "above quota" liquor licenses earmarked for specific businesses or locations in 2010 after officials spent years attempting to get the state legislature to issue additional liquor licenses for the town. The number of liquor licenses issued to a town is based on its population, and the town must request any licenses above the quota through legislation.

It appears that Captain Al's has gone back to opening just seasonally, but year-round licenses require require that businesses to be open and the licenses in use for stated hours.

“I don’t want to jump to assumptions with this establishment,” Selectman Ellen Begley said.

The Selectmen agreed to have a representative from Captain Al’s come before the board to discuss the situation at the January 17 meeting. The liquor license was approved.

A request from Pomodore’s Restaurant and Lounge was questioned because the restaurant, located on Cranberry Highway in West Wareham, currently appears to be closed, with a sign advertising the eatery will be opening under a new name.

It is not clear whether the restaurant will be opening under new ownership or management, but changing the name would be “a clear violation,” according to Bowen. He explained that if a business wants to alter its name, the proper paperwork has to be filed so it can transfer the liquor license.  If the name is changed without the proper paperwork being filled out, the restaurant could lose the liquor license.

The restaurant’s liquor license was renewed, with only Selectman Michael Schneider voting against it, but a discussion with a Pomodore’s representative will be held at the January 17 meeting.

The liquor license requests for Rosebrook Place Hospitality and Rosebrook Place Hospitality Inn and Conference Center were both questioned because the establishments have not yet been built. Those two licenses were earmarked for the establishments when Wareham received the eight "above quota" licenses.

Schneider requested the Board of Selectmen and the town get an update on the progress of the buildings at the January 17 meeting. The motion passed four to one, with Selectman Cara Winslow voting against it.