Select Board Approves Center Cafe Liquor License

In this report: Key decisions · Full report · Sources

What happened

The board unanimously approved a liquor license for Center Cafe at 432 Boston Road, enabling operations until 1 a.m. with daily live music under new operator Michael G. Herrick. It unanimously accepted six state and federal grants worth roughly $1.45 million for police, fire, planning and public works departments. Deputy Chief Matthew Badcock was announced as the next fire chief, taking effect in January.

Key decisions

• 📋 All-alcohol restaurant and entertainment license. The board unanimously approved all-alcohol restaurant, common victualler, and entertainment licenses for Center Cafe at 432 Boston Road, allowing operations from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily with live music permitted except Sunday, under incoming operator Michael G. Herrick. (Vote unanimous). Read case details
• 💰 Accept six state and federal grant awards. The board unanimously accepted six state and federal grants worth roughly $1.45 million. Funds supported police dispatch and training ($169,825 and $75,199.64), traffic enforcement ($52,579), firefighter breathing apparatus ($297,995.45 requiring $29,799.55 local match), a Tech Park redevelopment study ($101,000), and sewer upgrades for MBTA Communities housing ($750,000). (Vote unanimous). Read case details
• 👤 Appointment of Matthew Badcock as fire chief. Deputy Chief Matthew Badcock will become fire chief in January, succeeding retiring Chief Cole. Badcock has served in the fire department since 1998 and became deputy chief earlier this year. Read case details

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 2,544 words, for members.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

Correction (Nov. 2, 2026): An earlier version of this story attributed Select Board member Dina Favreau's questions about state grants to Secretary Daniel Darris-O'Connor, attributed to Favreau a view she did not express, and attributed a remark about grant totals to Vice Chair Jillian Pavidis that the recording does not tie to her.