After listening to Police Chief Walter Warchol’s concerns about possible problems with an expanded area, especially in regard to large turnouts for musical events, selectmen postponed a decision until the next meeting, when Selectman Charles Ampagoomian’s presence will make it a full board.

Cyr noted only three events are scheduled at the American Legion Post this summer. Berkowitz explained the post is broke and needs the money from renting out the premises to outside events.  

Warchol was leery of a crowd he said might reach 500 at a rock concert. New Selectman Jay Athanas suggested extra, private patrols might be needed, and Warchol agreed. The chief expressed concern that youths would get alcohol and could cause violence. He also said people could carry their drinks into the parking lot.

At the south end of the area is a Little League Field fenced all around. Some of their games are played under the lights well past 7 p.m.

Selectmen had no problem with veterans getting together and having a drink, but they were more cautious about outsiders using the premises and having a space expanded by 75 feet to take drinks.

Warchol also cited noise as a problem in the past. Selectmen Chairman Thomas Melia, a former police chief, said the board had to think of the neighborhood. Warchol was concerned about controlling the scale of events.

“The Legion does not take complaints lightly,” Cyr, a former helicopter pilot in Vietnam, said. “They are discussed at post meetings.”

Warchol said all the complaints from the past had been in response to effects of an open bar.

“We tried being open full-time,” Berkowitz said of the bar, “and it didn’t work.”