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The Town of Kensington will have a referendum on whether to allow limited carryout alcohol sales within town limits during its regular town election in June.

The referendum comes as the result of a request by town residents Rob and Suzy Cooper to be allowed to sell high-end carryout wine and beer at their Old Town Market convenience store, a converted former 7-Eleven that sells traditional convenience store items as well as homemade soups and baked goods.

Discussions of the proposal at town meetings revealed concerns of some citizens that allowing carryout alcohol sales would lead to public drunkenness, and that the Coopers' promise to carry only high-end alcohol may be overridden by a future owner of the Old Town Market property.

Rob Cooper said he's disappointed by the delay caused by the referendum, but feels that if all the restrictions he is willing to abide are included on the ballot language, Kensington residents will support the referendum at the polls.

"I don't think it hurts our chances, in fact I think it helps our chances, it's just now it's going to be another year and a half" before legislation could be introduced at the state level, Cooper said. "We're wanting to invest money into the market, but we can't do that until we know what we can be."

After the town attorney confirmed that a referendum could be put on the ballot by town officials, not just by citizen petition, it was decided that such a referendum would be placed on the June 7, 2010 ballot. The language of the ballot question has not yet been drafted, but will likely involve whether residents support the town backing state legislation to allow limited carryout alcohol sales in Kensington, and if so, under what conditions such legislation would be agreeable. Kensington's liquor laws are decided at the state level.