Before restaurants in Lenox can re-open for outdoor dining, town voters have to approve some changes to bylaws at a special town meeting next week.

“We’re going to have to modify our bylaws to have use of outdoor, town-owned property, like sidewalks and streetways, and also modify our outdoor beverage laws to allow for the consumption of adult beverages.”

Select board member Marybeth Mitts says these changes will be necessary to allow restaurants to reopen for as many customers as possible.

“Many of these restaurants are very small, so they probably wouldn’t be able to maintain the six feet social distancing and, you know, being in an enclosed space just makes it that much more difficult.”

The meeting will be held in the parking lot of the Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, in order to ensure proper social distancing.

Mitts says she realizes some people may still be uncomfortable gathering in public, but this in-person, socially distanced gathering is their best option.

“It would be great to do these meetings virtually, but town bylaws, and actually state guidelines, do not provide for that with the town meeting laws.”

Lenox relies on tax income from restaurants during the tourist season to help fund their annual budget. Mitts says reopening restaurants is the first big step in the road to economic recovery.

“We’re hoping that these town businesses can get their feet off the ground again and begin to recover a little bit in the summer months.”