Select Board approves King J license transfer, new coffee shop
Select Board · Meeting of September 14, 2026
Northbridge Select Board hears homeless outreach briefing, weighs a local rat poison ban. Chief of Police Timothy Labrie brought in Day Shift Sergeant Brian Pacenelli, clinician Shannon McGinley, Advocates supervisor Lori Howe, Board of Health's Jenna Gowan and shelter director Leslie Reichert to detail services for the town's unhoused population after resident complaints about the town common. Selectman Pauls asked "are we doing too much," while resident Diane Metcalf said fewer than half the people at the common are actually homeless and proposed a portable toilet and storage lockers.
Separately, Save Northbridge Wildlife's Patty Corcoran asked the board to pursue a bylaw restricting rat poisons blamed for bald eagle deaths; the board directed the Bylaw Review Committee to examine Grafton's model bylaw. The board also approved a liquor license transfer for King J Restaurant, a new license for Stay-Away Coffee, and a $1,750 fundraising road race for January 1.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,642 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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