[00:00:20]
>> I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 26TH, 2025 AT 9:30 AM.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESSES, WE HAVE OUR TEMPORARY LICENSES.
[Temporary Licenses]
FIRST ONE IS DENTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY MULTIPLE EVENT LICENSE.ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[Denton VFC Multiple Event License (10 Events)]
HOW YOU DOING? WHY COULD YOU JUST STAND AND WE'LL DO THE OATH HERE.>> I GOT. THOUGHT I HAD IT UNDER HERE. I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. WE'LL DO THE OATH, WHATEVER.
DO YOU HEREBY SILENTLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> RONALD WIEBER. THE ADDRESS, DO YOU WANT THE OFFICE?
>> MY ADDRESS 1300 TRICE MEADOWS CIRCLE IN DENTON, MARYLAND.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>> [BACKGROUND] YOU HAVE THE 2025 MULTIPLE EVENT LICENSE FOR DENTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
RON WIEBER HAS BEEN THE LICENSE HOLDER IN THE PAST AND WOULD BE THE LICENSE HOLDER FOR THIS YEAR AS WELL.
THIS IS FOR UP TO 10 EVENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR.
IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU HAVE THE SITE PLAN OF THE FIRE HAUL ALONG WITH MR. WEAVER'S ALCOHOL AWARENESS CERTIFICATION.
>> DO THEY JUST CONTACT YOU GUYS EVERY EVERY TIME?
>> FOR EVERY EVENT. YES, WHEN THEY HAVE AN EVENT.
>> IS THAT OKAY, CRYSTAL, WE REACH OUT JUST VIA EMAIL?
>> YES. THAT'S USUALLY WHAT ALL OF THE MULTI EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS DO IS YOU REACH OUT TO US AT LEAST A WEEK IN ADVANCE TO LET US KNOW WHEN THE EVENT IS HAPPENING, WHAT THE NAME OF THE EVENT IS AND THE TIMES AND WHO YOUR ALCOHOL AWARENESS PERSON IS THAT'LL BE PRESENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS HASN'T CHANGED.
>> TRAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT OR QUESTIONS?
>> NO. I'VE BEEN INSPECTED TO THE DENTON FIREHOUSE EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT THEY'VE HAD THE ANNUAL GUN BASH.
I'VE NEVER REALLY HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THEM.
>> YEAH. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ONE VERY MUCH.
THE SURF SAFE IS ONE THAT'S AUTHORIZED.
>> AS LONG AS HE TAKES IT WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, IT'S GOOD IN MARYLAND.
>> YOU SAID THAT HE GOT AWAY FROM TIPS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S WHAT TARRY OVER IS DOING A SURF SAFE NOW?
>> [OVERLAPPING] HE WAS DOING BOTH FOR A LITTLE WHILE TRYING TO FINISH IT UP A TIPS, BUT YEAH, HE'S DOING SURF SAFE MAINLY.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A ONLINE THING.
>> THEY DO HAVE THE ONLINE VERSION AND THEN THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STATE VERSIONS.
BUT THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
>> BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF IT, THAT'S ALL.
>> I SENT THE SAME THING, SO I EMAILED BOTH OF THEM AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS LEGITIMATE?
>> IT'S ONE OF THE CLASSES I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO AS WELL.
>> YOU WANT A MOTION? YOU WANT TO MAKE IT? GO AHEAD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR THE DENTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FOR MULTIPLE EVENT LICENSE FOR 2025?
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THIS MULTI EVENT LICENSE FOR DENTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FOR 10 EVENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025.
>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. NEXT TEMPORARY LICENSE IS GOING TO BE ST. BENEDICT CHURCH IN RIDGELY,
[St. Benedict Church, Ridgely MD – Bull & Oyster Roast – 4/26/2025]
MARYLAND FOR BULL AND OYSTER ROAST ON 4/26/25.[00:05:01]
>> WE'LL GET YOU BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN.
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> ANN HENDERSON 10950 HOLT COURT.
IT'S DENTON, MARYLAND. YOU NEED MY ZIP CODE?
>> YOU HAVE A TEMPORARY ONE DAY LICENSE FOR THE ST. BENEDICT CHURCH FOR A FUND RAISER, THEIR BULL AND OYSTER ROAST TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26TH, FROM 2:00 PM TO 7:00 PM, REQUESTING TO SELL BEER WINE AND LIQUOR VIA CASH BAR.
THERE'S NO PLANS TO HAVE ANY MUSIC.
MS. HENDERSON IS GOING TO BE THE LICENSE HOLDER.
APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, SIGNED BY THE LICENSE HOLDER, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER.
ATTACHED IN YOUR PACKAGE IS THE LAYOUT FOR, I BELIEVE, THE HALL WHERE EVERYTHING WILL BE SOLD.
ALONG WITH THEIR ALCOHOL AWARENESS CERTIFICATIONS.
ST. BENEDICT OBTAINS AT LEAST ONE TEMPORARY EVENT LICENSE PER YEAR FOR A FUNDRAISER, SO THEY'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE IN THE PAST.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THIS IS THE SAME EVENT.
> I THINK MAYBE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LAST.
>> YEAH, IT WAS OUR LAST. WE'RE TRYING TO SWITCH THINGS UP.
>> IS EVERYTHING HOUSED WITHIN THE BUILDING?
>> THAT'S YOUR WHOLE PREMISES INSIDE? TRAY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> NO ISSUES. I'VE DONE MOST OF THEIR TIPS CARDS.
MOST OF THEIR THE CERTIFYING PERSON.
THEY ASKED PLENTY OF GOOD QUESTIONS AT THE TIME, SO NO ISSUES.
>> NEITHER DO I. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ST.
BENEDICT ST. ELIZABETH'S BULL AND OYSTER ROAST FUND RAISER FOR APRIL 26TH, 2025 FROM 2:00-7:00.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THIS TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR ST.
BENEDICT CHURCH BULL AND OYSTER ROAST FOR APRIL 26TH, 2025.
>> ALL OPPOSED? SO MOVED. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO AMEND THE AGENDA,
[Action Items]
AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF THE SHOW CALLS HEARINGS AND MOVE TO THE ACTION ITEMS TO GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY REAL QUICK.THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE IS THE WRITTEN DECISION FOR CAROLINE'S AND DENTON,
[Written Decision - Carolines in Denton - Show/Cause Hearing]
THE SHOW CALLS HEARING.IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THAT?
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION? IF NOT, THEN IT'S READY FOR THE BOARD'S SIGNATURE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN DO THEM AND THEN WE CAN SIGN IT.
>> THE NEXT ONE IS THE WRITTEN DECISION FOR RED LIGHT LIQUORS,
[Written Decision - Red Light Liquors – Show/Cause Hearing]
THE SHOW CALLS HEARING.>> YOU ALSO HAVE THE LETTER FROM RED LIGHT LIQUORS FOR THE DATES OF THEIR SUSPENSION.
>> DO I NEED TO ENTER THIS IN AS EXHIBIT OR NO? WE HAVE A LETTER FROM RED LIGHT LIQUORS STATING WHAT DAYS THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE TO SERVE THEIR SUSPENSION.
IT'S MONDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2025, THROUGH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2025 TO SERVE THEIR THREE DAY SUSPENSION.
IS EVERYBODY IN ACCORDANCE, OKAY WITH THAT?
>> WAIT A MINUTE. ARE THEY CLOSING TODAY?
>> THEY'LL BE CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY. NO NEXT WEEK.
>> THE 31ST, THE 1ST, AND THE 2ND.
>> I DIDN'T SEE THAT. I'M FINE WITH IT.
>> DOES THAT REQUIRE A MOTION?
>> YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE WRITTEN DECISIONS AND THE SUSPENSION.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RED LIGHT LIQUORS THREE DAY SUSPENSION FROM MARCH 31ST THROUGH APRIL 2ND WITH THE SURRENDERING OF THE LICENSE.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT THE DATES FOR THIS THREE DAY SUSPENSION FROM MARCH 31ST THROUGH APRIL 2ND.
>> ALL OPPOSED? SO MOVE. THANK YOU.
[Bargain Beverage – Death of License Holder – Request for Certificate of Permission]
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS BARGAIN BEVERAGE, THE DEATH OF A LICENSED HOLDER, REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION.DO YOU WANT JEFF TO COME FORWARD?
[00:10:01]
>> YEAH, JEFF CAN COME UP IF HE'D LIKE.
>> THAT WAY IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MR. HASTINGS UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY.
>> SHOULD I GET HIM TO DO THE OATH?
>> IT CAN WAIT. MR. HARRIS, WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, REACHED OUT TO ME AFTER RECEIPT OF THE RENEWAL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAD TO DO BECAUSE MR. HASTINGS IS THE SOLE LICENSE HOLDER FOR BRAMBLE BEVERAGE INC.
LOOKING INTO THE STATE CODE, FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, IT STATES THAT ON THE DEATH OF A MARRIED LICENSE HOLDER OR A LICENSE HOLDER THAT HOLDS A LICENSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CORPORATION, A NEW LICENSE SHALL BE ISSUED TO THE SURVIVING SPOUSE, THE SENIOR OFFICER OF THE CORPORATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CORPORATION.
IN THIS CASE, HE WAS THE SOLE OFFICER IN THE CORPORATION.
THERE'S NOT A SURVIVING SPOUSE.
IN LIEU OF THAT, WE GO BACK TO THE STATE LAW WHICH STATES THAT CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION OR RENEWAL LICENSE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUSINESS.
IN THERE, IT STATES THAT ON APPLICATION TO THE LOCAL LICENSING BOARD AND PAYMENT OF A FEE OF A DOLLAR, THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OR SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF A DECEASED LICENSE HOLDER, THE LOCAL LICENSING BOARD MAY GRANT A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUSINESS IN THE NAME OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED LICENSE HOLDER.
YOU DO HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WHERE CROSLEY DOWNES HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE.
IT SAYS THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION CAN BE GRANTED FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 18 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE GRANTED PERMISSION UNLESS THE LICENSE EXPIRES EARLIER.
IN THIS CASE, IT WILL, IT'S DUE TO EXPIRE APRIL 30TH, WHICH SAYS IF THE LICENSE DOES EXPIRE EARLIER THAN 18 MONTHS, THEN THE LOCAL BOARD MAY ISSUE A RENEWAL LICENSE ON APPLICATION BY THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 18 MONTHS.
IN THIS CASE, THE BOARD CAN GRANT A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS LICENSE YEAR UNTIL APRIL 30TH TO CROSLEY DOWNES.
THEN YOU COULD ALSO RENEW THAT LICENSE FOR NO LONGER THAN 18 MONTHS WHILE THEY WORK OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE BUSINESS.
MR. HARRIS CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ON WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE FOR THAT.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION FIRST? IT'S A TWO STEP PROCESS.
ONE IS IF WE APPROVE THE RENEWAL, THEN WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT TO APRIL 30TH 2026?
FIRST THING IS A LICENSE EXPIRES UPON THE DEATH OF A LICENSE HOLDER.
THE LICENSE IS EXPIRED, BUT YOU CAN GRANT A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION FOR [BACKGROUND] CROSLEY DOWNES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS LICENSE YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE UNTIL [NOISE] APRIL 30TH OF 2025.
>> THE SECOND STEP, WE HAVE TO?
>> DO A RENEWAL FOR CROSLEY DOWNES FOR NO MORE THAN 18 MONTHS.
>> THAT IS IF THEY CONTINUE WITH HIM AS THE LICENSE HOLDER?
>> BUT THEIR PLAN IS NOT TO CONTINUE WITH MR. DOWNES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME CHANGES AND TRANSFER THE LICENSE.
>> WE WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE APRIL MEETING WHEN WE DO THE [OVERLAPPING] RENEWALS AND STUFF, CORRECT?
>> RIGHT. IF YOU GRANT THE CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION TODAY, THEN WE CAN JUST HAVE MR. CROSLEY SIGN ON THE RENEWAL FOR OREGON BEVERAGE, AND THEN YOU CAN GRANT THAT RENEWAL TO HIM, BUT IT CAN'T EXCEED 18 MONTHS.
IN THAT 18 MONTH TIME PERIOD, THEY'LL BE WORKING ON DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO DO A TRANSFER.
BECAUSE THE INTENT IS NOT FOR MR. DOWNES TO STAY ON THE LICENSE.
>> EVEN WHEN THEY DO THE RENEWAL IN APRIL, AFTER APRIL OR WHATEVER?
>> YES. BUT UNTIL THEY GET THE TRANSFER.
ONLY UNTIL THEY GET THE TRANSFER OR WE TAKEN CARE OF.
>> WE'D LIKE TO STICK WITH THE APRIL HEARING FOR THE NEW LICENSE APPLICATION.
LINDA STUTSMAN, WHO HAS WORKED THERE FOR MANY YEARS, IS GOING TO [INAUDIBLE].
MY PARTNER IN THE LAND OWNERSHIP IS ALSO GOING TO BECOME A STOCKHOLDER IN THE CORPORATION.
FOR TRANSFER BRUCE'S STOCK SHARES, ROD WILL HAVE 90% OF THE STOCK, LINDA STUTSMAN, WILL HAVE 10% OF THE STOCK.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET THIS DONE IN TIME FOR APRIL, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT ALL THE LEGAL STOCK TRANSFER STOCK IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE DONE IN TIME FOR,
[00:15:01]
AS CRYSTAL SAID, FOR THIS TO BE ADVERTISED.>> IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, IF WE GRANT THIS TODAY, AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE THE RENEWAL COME UP IN APRIL, WE DO HAVE A BUFFER THAT IF FOR SOME REASON YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE ORDER, YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER 18 MONTHS, OR IS IT 18 MONTHS TOTAL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU STILL HAVE 18 MONTHS. [OVERLAPPING]
WE DON'T WANT IT TO TAKE THAT LONG.
WE WANT TO GET THIS CLEANED UP AND STRAIGHTENED OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IT ON THE APRIL REGULAR MEETING, AND IF NOT, MAY.
I THINK THAT WORST CASE, IT'LL BE MAY.
THEY'D LIKE TO DO IT IN APRIL, BUT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE CAN DO IT IN MAY.
I THINK JUST TO BE SAFE, WHAT WE CAN DO IS HAVE MR. DOWNES GO AHEAD AND SIGN THE RENEWAL [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING THEM ON THE FOURTH NEXT WEEK.
THAT WAY, THE BOARD CAN VOTE ON THE RENEWAL, AND IF WE DON'T NEED TO RENEW TO HIM AND WE GET THIS ON FOR APRIL, THEN IT WOULD JUST BE A NEW LICENSE.
>> THE ORIGINAL RENEWAL APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE?
>> YES. YOU WOULD JUST PUT MR. CROSLEY'S INFORMATION ON THERE AND HAVE HIM SIGN IT.
>> GO AHEAD AND PAY THE LICENSE FEE, AND EVERYTHING JUST IS NORMAL. WE CAN DO THAT.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING BECAUSE SOMETIMES GETTING EVERYTHING DONE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF THEY GO PAY FOR WORK, IT MAY TAKE LONGER, I THINK.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET JAMMED UP AGAINST THAT.
>> THE CLOCK WAS GETTING PRETTY TIGHT ON US, AND I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED.
THIS WAY, WE DON'T HAVE QUITE AS MUCH TIME PRESSURE.
WE CAN DO IT CORRECTLY AND DO ALL THE PAPERWORK LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.
>> WE DO HAVE TIME AND WE'RE ABLE TO ISSUE TO MR. DOWNES IN THE MEANTIME.
MR. BARROLL, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DRAFT UP? A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION?
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'VE NEVER DONE ONE OF THOSE BEFORE.
>> THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION OF WE'VE NEVER HAD A LICENSE FOR PAST 8:00 BEFORE.
>> NO, I THINK I UNDERSTAND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY ACTION YOU NEED TO TAKE IS ON A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION UNTIL APRIL 30TH TO MR. DOWNES.
>> THEN WE'LL ASSESS IT AT THAT TIME [OVERLAPPING] WHETHER WE GET IT.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BUFFER THERE.
>> JUST IN CASE IT GOES WRONG.
>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION OF PERMISSION FOR BARGAIN BEVERAGE UNTIL APRIL THE 30TH THEN WE'LL ADDRESS THE RENEWAL AT THAT TIME.
>> THE ONLY THING I WAS GOING TO ADD WAS FOR CROSLEY C DOWNES.
THAT WAY WE HAVE THE NAME WRITTEN IN THERE, AND I'LL SECOND IT WITH THAT.
>> IT WOULD BE FOR CROSBY C DOWNES.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE GRANT THIS REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PERMISSION FOR A CROSLEY C DOWNES TO GO ON TO THE LICENSE FOR BARGAIN BEVERAGE IN PLACE OF BRUCE HASTINGS.
>> AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SO MOVED. THANK YOU.
[Show Cause Hearing]
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WE HAVE SHOW CALLS HEARINGS.OUR FIRST ONE THAT WAS DUE ON THE AGENDA WAS GOING TO BE FOR BULLOCK'S DELI, AND WE HAD A REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT.
>> WE'VE ALREADY GRANTED A POSTPONEMENT DUE TO ILLNESSES OF THE LICENSE HOLDER.
>> THAT'LL BE RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL THE 23RD, 2025.
>> WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ONE, IS PRESTON ROADHOUSE.
[Preston Roadhouse – 201 Main Street, Preston, MD]
>> MR. FLEMING, YOU CAN COME ON UP.
>> IF I CAN GET YOU TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND WE'LL DO THE OATH.
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
[00:20:01]
>> IAN FLEMING, 152 MAIN STREET, PRESTON.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED, PLEASE.
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND START AND READ THE PORTION OF THE SUMMONS INTO THE RECORD.
THIS IS A SUMMONS TO IAN FLEMING AT 152 MAIN STREET, PRESTON, MARYLAND, REQUESTING HIS APPEARANCE TODAY BEFORE THE BOARD OF LICENSED COMMISSIONERS AT 9:30, MARCH 26TH, 2025, TO SHOW CALLS.
WHILE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE ISSUED BY THE BOARD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, AS AMENDED, SHOULD NOT BE REVOKED, SUSPENDED, AND OR REFINE ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LAWS AS THE RESULT OF AN UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE CHECK INSPECTION BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE INSPECTOR ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2024.
THE CHARGE LISTED IS AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-304, THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSED COMMISSIONERS RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26.
SPECIFICALLY, AN EMPLOYEE SOLD AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS.
THE SUMMONS WAS ISSUED BY THE BOARD PURSUANT TO SECTION 6-204, THE ANNOTATED CODE.
THIS SUMMONS WAS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025, AND HAS BEEN MARKED AS EXHIBIT 1.
EXHIBIT 2 IN YOUR PACKAGES IS THE INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE INSPECTOR.
EXHIBIT 3 IS AN AFFIDAVIT FROM THE CI, AND EXHIBIT 4 IS THE FILE INFORMATION FOR PRESTON ROADHOUSE, WHICH REFLECTS THAT THE LICENSE WAS ISSUED TO MR. FLEMING ON JUNE 28TH OF 2024.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIOR VIOLATIONS, AND WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS CERTIFIED IN ALCOHOL AWARENESS ON THE RECORD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. CHARLIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ YOUR INCIDENT REPORT?
>> ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2024, ON A NIGHT KNOWN AS THANKSGIVING EVE, I WAS THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE INSPECTOR STARTING AN OPERATION THROUGHOUT CAROLINE COUNTY, ENSURING THAT ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE COUNTY WERE IN COMPLIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO SALES AND DELIVERY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE.
ALL OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS CHECKED ON THIS DAY WERE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
ON THIS EVENING, I HAD THREE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANTS, CIS, OR UCS, WHO WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS OLD PARTICIPATING.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ALL THREE CIS WERE USED AT THIS LOCATION, ALTHOUGH ONLY ONE PLACED AN ORDER FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE WHERE SHE USED HER STATE-ISSUED DRIVER'S LICENSE, IDENTIFYING HER TO BE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 AND HAD NOT ENTERED THIS ESTABLISHMENT PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 27TH, 2024.
I ENSURED THAT THE CI ONLY HAD VERY BASIC POSSESSIONS, AND I REMOVED ALL CREDIT, DEBIT, AND ANY OTHER FORMS OF CURRENCY OTHER THAN MARKED BILLS.
THE US CURRENCY ON THIS NIGHT WAS TWO MARKED $20 BILLS THAT WERE PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE THE OPERATION STARTED.
ALL CIS WERE PHOTOGRAPHED TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE OPERATION WHEN CHOOSING A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT.
CIS WERE INSTRUCTED NOT TO LIE ABOUT THEIR AGE, ENTER THE ESTABLISHMENT, AND PURCHASE AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE WITH THE MARKED MONEY.
THE PURCHASING CI, BEING UNDER THE AGE OF 21, HER STATE-ISSUED LICENSE IS VERTICAL, AND THE DATE OF WHEN SHE TURNS 21 IS SHOWN ON THE FRONT OF THE LICENSE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.
AT THE TIME OF THIS OPERATION, CI ONE WAS 19 YEARS OLD.
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM, WE ARRIVED AT THE PARKING LOT OF PRESTON ROADHOUSE LOCATED AT 201 MAIN STREET, PRESTON, MARYLAND 21655.
ALL THREE CIS ENTERED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND WERE SEATED TOGETHER AT A TABLE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS.
WHEN THE WAITRESS, AVA SHORT, TOOK HER DRINK ORDER, THEY PLACED AN ORDER FOR TWO WATERS AND ONE GLASS OF ROSE, WHICH IS 12% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME.
EACH CI PLACED THEIR DRINK ORDERS INDIVIDUALLY.
CI 1 ASKED FOR A GLASS OF ROSE.
I OBSERVED MS. SHORT GO BEHIND THE BAR AND THEN DELIVER THE GLASS OF WINE AND TWO GLASSES OF WATER TO THE CIS' TABLE.
CI 1 THEN PICKED UP THE GLASS OF WINE IN HER POSSESSION, LOOKED AT ME, AND PUT THE GLASS BACK DOWN ON THE TABLE.
AT THIS TIME, I ENTERED THE BUSINESS AND TOOK POSSESSION OF THE GLASS OF WINE AND ADVISED MS. SHORT AND THE MANAGER ON DUTY, JULIE NORTH, OF WHAT OCCURRED.
MS. NORTH STATED TO ME THAT SHE KNEW MS. SHORT HAD POURED THE GLASS OF WINE, BUT SHE HAD JUST TURNED 21 AND FELT COMFORTABLE THAT MS. SHORT KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
I WENT ON TO COLLECT EVIDENCE AND CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION.
THIS EVIDENCE COLLECTION INVOLVED PHOTOGRAPHING THE BOTTLE OF ROSE THAT THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE WAS POURED FROM AND RETURNING THE GLASS OF WINE BACK TO THE MANAGER TO BE DISPOSED OF.
AT THIS TIME, I WENT OVER TO MS. SHORT AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD HOW TO IDENTIFY A PERSON'S ID OR LICENSE FOR A PERSON THAT IS OVER OR UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS OLD.
MS. SHORT THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY AS SHE WAS LAUGHING AND DID NOT SEEM TO PAY ATTENTION AS I WAS EXPLAINING TO HER HOW TO VERIFY A PERSON'S AGE WITH THEIR IDENTIFICATION.
WITH NO OTHER VIOLATIONS DISCOVERED,
[00:25:01]
I ANSWERED SEVERAL OF MS. NORTH'S QUESTIONS AND EXITED THE BUSINESS.NO OTHER VIOLATIONS WERE DISCOVERED.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE SUPPLIED AS EVIDENCE AND SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD ADMINISTRATOR.
THE CI WAS PROVIDED A WRITTEN STATEMENT REGARDING THE SALE THAT OCCURRED.
THE FOLLOWING VIOLATIONS WERE DISCOVERED.
ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE, SECTION 6-304, AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSED COMMISSIONERS RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26, SPECIFICALLY, AN EMPLOYEE PROVIDING AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2024.
JUST AS MS. DADDS SAID, ALL THE EVIDENCE SUPPLIED SHOWS ALL THREE CIS' IDENTIFICATION, SHOWING WHEN THEY TURNED 21, AND 18, A PICTURE OF THE CI BEFORE THE OPERATION THAT PURCHASED, THE US CURRENCY USED, AND PICTURES OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SHOWING THE ALCOHOL BY VOLUME.
>> MR. FLEMING, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS?
>> NO, THE OCCURRENCE IS CORRECT.
AS AN EXPERIENCED LICENSEE, WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS AND ALL OTHER REGULATORY AREAS VERY SERIOUSLY.
ALL OUR SERVING STAFF ARE TIP-CERTIFIED, EVEN OUR CHEFS ARE TIP-CERTIFIED.
IN TERMS OF DUE DILIGENCE, WE DO EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS, LEGAL AND OTHERWISE.
AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS, AND IN THE FURTHERANCE OF THAT, WE TERMINATED THE EMPLOYEE IMMEDIATELY AND DISCIPLINED THE MANAGER ACCORDINGLY, AND CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES REMAIN TIP-CERTIFIED IN THE PRIORITY.
>> MS. SHORT IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED?
>> SHE WAS TERMINATED THAT EVENING.
>> THAT'LL BEND DOWN, IF THAT'LL HELP YOU. THERE YOU GO.
>> SHE WAS TERMINATED THAT EVENING, AND BECAUSE WE EMPLOY LOCAL STAFF, THEN WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKLASH THROUGH THE BUSINESS FOR ABOUT TWO, THREE WEEKS FOLLOWING THAT.
BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW HOW SERIOUSLY WE TAKE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO TO RAISE IN THE OTHER STAFF THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE LAW IN SERVING ALCOHOL.
THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE COULD DO THAT.
>> MR. FLEMING, HOW LONG HAD SHE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH YOU?
>> SINCE THE BEGINNING, SINCE THE 1ST OF JULY.
I'LL JUST ADD, FOR US, I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT TO COMPLACENCY.
WE'RE NOT A DRINKING BAR PER SE.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR REVENUE SPLIT FROM OUR LICENSE REAPPLICATION, YOU'LL SEE THAT ALCOHOL SEALS FOR US IS A VERY TINY PART OF OUR BUSINESS.
ONCE AGAIN, WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE WITH OUR SERVERS, THEY UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING ALCOHOL.
THAT, BY PART, IT EXPLAINS WHY WE TOOK THE ACTIONS THAT WE TOOK.
>> WAS MS. SHORT CERTIFIED? DID SHE GET TIPS?
>> SHE WAS TIP-CERTIFIED. ALL OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ABLE TO SERVE ALCOHOL ARE TIP-CERTIFIED.
>> INCLUDING THE CHEF. NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
>> YOU'RE NOT DISPUTING THE CHARGE OR ANYTHING?
>> I GUESS AT THIS TIME, WE GO IN DELIBERATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE GO ON TO DELIBERATION?
>> NO, I BELIEVE NOT. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK BASED ON THE TESTIMONY AND BASED ON THE RECORD, THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THESE TWO CODES.
>> I'M MAKING A MOTION FOR PRESTON ROADHOUSE TO BE FOUND GUILTY ON THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CAROLINE'S ARTICLE,
[00:30:01]
SECTION 6-304, AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSED COMMISSIONERS RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26.SO MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE FIND PRESTON ROADHOUSE IN VIOLATION OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, SECTION 6304 AND CAROLINE COUNTY, [NOISE] 2.26.
NOW WHAT KIND OF VIOLATION WOULD IT HAVE? ARE WE STILL IN DELIBERATION HERE?
>> WE WANT WE TALKED ABOUT THE VIOLATION.
>> WELL, IT'S A MAJOR THIS IS A MAJOR CHARGE.
WE CONSIDERED A MAJOR VIOLATION PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST MAJOR.
>> BUT THERE'S NO PRIOR RECORD.
>> DOES SPEAK FOR HIM. UNFORTUNATELY. HAVEN'T BEEN OPEN PRETTY LONG?
>> BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANY OTHER ISSUES ANYTIME YOU'VE DONE ANY CHECKS THERE, HAS IT?
>> WHEN I FIRST DID INSPECTIONS, THERE WERE SOME MINOR THINGS AND THEY DID CORRECT THOSE, SO NO ISSUES, NOTHING I BROUGHT FORWARD, AND THEY DID COMPLY.
>> SECOND THING IS THEY TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION.
>> WHICH IT SPEAKS TO HOW SERIOUS THEY THOUGHT IT WAS CORRECT.
>> MAJOR VIOLATION. I DON'T THINK ANY SUSPENSION OF LICENSE IS INDICATED FOR THIS?
>> BUT I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FINE.
>> I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A FINE.
>> HOW MUCH THE FINE SHOULD BE.
IN MANY CASES, WE'VE DONE A $1000 FINE.
SOME CASES WE HAVEN'T WHEN WE FELT THERE WERE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ON THAT?
>> TRAY, THE YOUNG LADY, YOU COMMENTED IN YOUR REPORT THAT SHE LAUGHED A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU KNOW, SOME YOUNG SOME PEOPLE GET IT'S MORE OF A NERVOUS LAUGH THING.
ANY FEEL OF THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, YOUNG LADY LOST HER JOB AND TODAY'S MARKET JOBS ARE NOT SO GREAT, AND SHE WAS EMPLOYED WITH THEM FROM THE TIME THEY OPENED.
SO IT'S IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS OCCURRED.
>> SHE HAD JUST RECENTLY TURNED OLD ENOUGH TO SERVE ALCOHOL IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OR TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO ALLOW HER TO DO THAT.
THEIR TYPICAL WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THEIR TYPICAL STRATEGY IS TO LET THE MANAGER POUR THE GLASS OF WINE.
I TRIED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER ENTITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE CHECKING THESE ESTABLISHMENTS FOR UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE.
I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
I LIKE TO SEE THAT THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT WE'RE GETTING PROGRESS TO THIS.
THAT'S WHY I TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT.
THE LACK OF ATTENTION THERE AND THE LAUGHING.
>> YEAH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT YES, SHE WAS YOUNG.
BUT THE BUSINESS DID TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
>> THIS OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER THE 27TH?
>> IF I MAY MENTION, BECAUSE ALL OUR STAFF ARE LOCAL.
WE TOOK A FINANCIAL HIT FOR ABOUT THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.
MY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, BASICALLY STAYED AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS. BE ACTIONS BE TOO.
>> THEY FELT LIKE YOU WERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY FELT LIKE THEY PICKED ON THEM A LITTLE BIT AND UNFAIRLY.
>> THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AS A LICENSE HOLDER.
>> I DO HEAR THAT THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE PERSON THAT SOLD ISN'T FINED, BUT WITH MY LIMITED JURISDICTION, THAT'S ONLY WHAT I CAN DO.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT POINT.
>> BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ALREADY SET STANDARDS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, AND IF WE DON'T SET OUR STANDARDS AND KEEP OUR STANDARDS, AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO $1,000 FINE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY. THE BUSINESS HAS TAKEN STEPS, AND THE BUSINESS HAS SHOWN, WE WE DON'T WANT TO BUT I THINK THAT WE LIKE I SAID, SOMEONE ELSE COULD COME IN AT A LATER DATE AND GO, WELL, YOU DID THIS FOR THESE PEOPLE.
SO WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING THAT FOR US?
[00:35:02]
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR STANDARD WHERE WE ARE AND STAY WITH $1,000.>> I AGREE THAT ONCE YOU SET A PRECEDENT, IT'S A CASE BY CASE SCENARIO, BUT WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE SAME.
>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ASSESS PRESTON ROADHOUSE, A $1,000 FINE PLUS A $50 A ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR HAVING VIOLATED THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND ALCOHOL BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE, SECTION 6304 AND THE CAROLINA COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS RULES AND REGULATIONS NUMBER 2.26.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED IN A SECOND THAT WE ASSESS $1000 FINE FOR PRESTON ROADHOUSE.
I WAS MISTAKE. FOR VIOLATION OF THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CODE OF 6-304.
THE BOARD OR COMMISSIONER'S RULE OF 2.26.
>> ALL OPPOSE. SO MOVE. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> YOU'LL GET YOUR WRITTEN DECISION IN 30 DAYS AFTER THAT'S PREPARED, AND THE BOARD SIGNS OFF ON IT.
>> YOU'LL ACTUALLY GET IN IN WRITING, AND THEN THE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE IN THERE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE FINE.
>> I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
>> [LAUGHTER] I LOST MY PAGE AND I COULDN'T GET BACK TO IT.
I HAD IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN I MOVED IT AND I'M LIKE, MAN.
>> TREY, SHOULD I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY SHOWING THREE ALCOHOL AWARENESS CERTIFICATES ON FILE?
>> THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR WHAT THEY SUBMITTED WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN.
I'M ASSUMING ONCE THEY HIRED STAFF ON, THEY JUST NEVER PROVIDED THEM TO US.
>> IT SEEM PRETTY ADAMANT THAT HE MAKES EVERY PERSON IN THERE HAVE THE TRAINING.
>> WHEN I DID AN INSPECTION, THEY HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT I CHECKED THAT.
THE CHEF PART, THAT'S NEW TO ME, SO THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING SINCE THE VIOLATION.
BUT, REGARDLESS IT'S ALCOHOL SALES.
ONE PERSON AT A TIME, THE MINORITY.
>> I NOTICED HERE, THE STATE SECTION
[Discussion Items]
6-304 OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE.HOW LONG HAVE WE'VE BEEN CALLING AND CANNABIS.
DID THAT JUST COME ABOUT OR I GUESS I HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT WE'VE HEARD.
>> WHEN THEY STARTED DOING LICENSES FOR CANNABIS.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT BEING THROWN?
>> I KNEW WE DISCUSSED THAT, AND WE WERE WONDERING HOW THAT WAS GOING TO GO.
>> THAT'S WHEN I'M READING THAT, I'M LIKE, I DON'T REMEMBER THIS SAYING CANNABIS BEFORE.
>> YES. WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO UPDATE ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTS NOW THAT IT'S NO LONGER JUST ALCOHOL BEVERAGES ARTICLE.
>> IT'S ALCOHOL BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS.
>> NOT US YET. I HOPE IT NEVER BECOMES US.
>> BECAUSE. I KNEW WONDER IF WE WERE QUESTIONING THAT, LIKE, WHO ARE THEY GOING TO THROW THIS UNDER THE REGULATE?
>> I THINK I HEARD BECAUSE THEY PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE ON THAT ANYWAY.
IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY. I DON'T THINK THEY'LL GIVE IT TO THE COUNTY.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.
[Amendment to Rule & Regulation No. 2.21 – Time Limit of Approval ]
WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS, AMENDMENT TO THE RULE AND REGULATION OF 2.21 TIME LIMIT OF APPROVAL, CRYSTAL, YOU WANT TO?>> I ADDED THIS TO YOUR AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
I THINK WE BROUGHT IT UP IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS RULE AND REGULATION.
JUST IN LIGHT OF THE NEW APPLICATION THAT THE BOARD GRANTED FOR [NOISE].
THAT HEARING FOR THAT LICENSE WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
THEY'VE YET TO OBTAIN THEIR LICENSE.
THE BOARD HAS GRANTED SEVERAL EXTENSIONS TO THAT APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR REGULATION.
BUT HOW LONG DO WE EXTEND THAT LICENSE? HOW LONG SHOULD THE BOARD LEGALLY BE ALLOWED TO EXTEND THAT APPROVAL?
[00:40:01]
STEWART AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THOUGHT THAT IT'S BEST TO GO AHEAD AND AMEND THIS RULE AND REGULATION.IT'S CLEAR FROM PAST EXPERIENCE THAT 30 DAYS ONCE YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING USUALLY IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR SOMEONE TO FINALIZE THE REMAINING DOCUMENTS THEY NEED TO GET TO GET THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE? THEY'RE NOT COMING IN GETTING ALL THEIR OTHER APPROVALS AND LICENSES, NOT KNOWING IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRANTED A LIQUOR LICENSE.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE GOING TO DELAY FILING IN THE CASE OF A TRANSFER, THE BULK TRANSFER PERMIT TO TRANSFER OVER THE INVENTORY OF THE ALCOHOL, WHICH HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL.
SOMETIMES THAT CAN TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET AN APPROVAL.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE GRANT THAT APPROVAL FOR LONGER THAN 30 DAYS, WHETHER THAT BE 60 OR 90, WHATEVER THE BOARD WOULD FEEL IS SUFFICIENT.
THEN STEWART, WOULD THERE BE ANY ADVICE AS TO WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT OR SHOULD IT BE THAT THAT'S IT?
I ALWAYS LIKE THE IDEA OF FLEXIBILITY AND THE ABILITY TO REACT TO AN UNEXPECTED SITUATION.
SOMETHING TOTALLY OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE APPLICANT, THAT MIGHT POP UP.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO EXTEND.
>> MY RECOMMENDATION ON THAT IF IF THERE IS A NEED FOR AN EXTENSION THAT YOU HAVE THAT ONE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST IT, BUT THE EXTENSION BE NO LONGER THAN THE END OF THE LICENSE YEAR, LIKE, YOU CAN'T EXTEND BEYOND THE CURRENT LICENSE YEAR.
IN THIS CASE, IF SOMEONE CAME IN IN SEPTEMBER, THE BOARD SAID 60 DAYS TO GET YOUR APPROVAL.
THEY HAD A DELAY WITH SOMETHING WITH THE STATE WITH GETTING THEIR BULK TRANSFER PERMIT.
SO THEY ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO MONTHS.
IF WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT APRIL 30, DON'T EXTEND BEYOND THE LICENSE HERE BECAUSE THAT CREATES PROBLEMS WITH A RENEWAL BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE CITIZENS IN THE STATE CODE TO PROTEST A RENEWAL.
WE ALWAYS PUT AN AD IN THE PAPER IN JANUARY, JUST ADVISING THE PUBLIC THAT RENEWALS ARE COMING DUE.
FOR LIQUOR LICENSES, WE PUT DATES IN THERE FOR THEM TO SUBMIT ANY PROTESTS, AND IT ALSO PUTS THE LICENSE HOLDERS ON NOTICE THAT YOUR LICENSE IS DUE FOR RENEWAL AND WHEN THAT APPLICATION HAS TO BE FILED.
WHEN WE EXTEND PAST THE LICENSE YEAR, THAT COMPLICATES THAT THAT PROCESS.
>> IF I COULD SUGGEST ALSO THAT [NOISE] THE MOTION FOR EXTENSION SHOULD BE FILED BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT PERIOD.
>> THE AMOUNT OF DAYS BEFORE THE END LIKE IF WE CHANGE THIS AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A 90 DAY APPROVAL, BUT IF YOU NEED AN EXTENSION, YOU CAN'T COME IN THREE DAYS BEFORE, IT SHOULD BE A WEEK OR 10 DAYS BEFORE SOMETHING ALONG THAT PERIOD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS [OVERLAPPING].
>> PROCESS EVERYTHING. TWO WEEKS?
>> TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPROVAL.
THAT WAY, THERE'S TIME TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA.
>> CAN WE JUST SAY THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSION NOT TO EXCEED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO OR IS THAT TOO LOOSE? NOT PUTTING ANY DAYS AT ALL IN THERE AS WELL IS WHAT I'M SUGGESTING.
>> WHEN WE GRANT EXTENSION, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC NOTICE OF THAT DOES THAT HAVE TO BE NOTICED?
>> WE PUT IT ON YOUR AGENDA FOR APPROVAL.
IT IS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA THAT THERE IS A REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE PAPER OR ANYTHING THAT THERE WAS A APPROVAL.
>> NO, THE INITIAL HEARING FOR THE APPROVAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER, BUT NOT THE EXTENSION.
[OVERLAPPING] TO SPEAK TO GLENN'S POINT ABOUT NOT PUTTING A DATE.
THE REASON WE EVEN CREATED THIS RULE AND REGULATION WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
THE BOARD GRANTED APPROVAL FOR A LICENSE, AND THEY HAD A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT THEY HAD TO COMPLETE BEFORE THEY COULD BE ISSUED THE LICENSE.
IT FELL OFF THE RADAR, THEY SOLD THE BUSINESS, CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT NEVER FINALIZED THEIR PAPERWORK, PICKED UP THE LICENSE.
THEN STATE POLICE DID A COMPLIANCE CHECK.
WELL, THE OLD PEOPLE ARE GONE.
THEY SOLD THE BUSINESS. THEY'RE NOT THERE.
THE ONES WHO DID THE VIOLATION WAS ONES THAT ARE IN THERE NOW, WE SHOULD, SEND THEM THE VIOLATION.
[00:45:04]
THEY WERE CALLED IN FOR THE HEARING, AND THAT WAS OBJECTED TO BY THEIR LEGAL COUNCIL THAT YOU CAN'T VIOLATE THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSE.YOU CAN'T CHARGE THEM. THE BOARD RULED ANYWAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I MEAN, THE BOARD RULED ANYWAY AND SAID, WE DON'T CARE.
THEY DID THIS, AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS APPEALED TO CIRCUIT COURT, AND THEY DID NOT WIN ON THAT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE SAID, WE DON'T NEED THESE THINGS HANGING OUT THERE FOR MONTHS UNFINISHED.
WE NEED TO PUT A TIME PERIOD FOR YOU TO PICK UP YOUR LICENSE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME GRANTING THE APPROVAL.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THE UNDERSTANDING WHEN, IN THIS CASE THERE WAS A PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY THAT NEEDED SIGNIFICANT RENOVATIONS AND THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE BEFORE THEY WERE EVER AT A POINT.
THEY WERE HAVING TO DEAL WITH PROBABLY BUILDING PERMITS, FIRE MARSHAL, INSPECTIONS THROUGH THE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG TO GET THE BUILDING IN A FASHION THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY READY TO OPEN.
>> BUYING EQUIPMENT. YOU DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE BEER COOLERS AND THE THINGS YOU NEED FOR THE ALCOHOL LICENSE, NOT KNOWING YOU GET APPROVAL.
>> PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN.
>> I MEAN, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THEY COME BACK TO THE BOARD, AND THEY HOLD A HEARING AGAIN.
>> I SEE THE WISDOM. IT'S LIKE A TRIP REFERRAL.
YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS IT SO IT DOESN'T SLIP MEMORY.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, MOST OF THE TIME WITH JUST A TRANSFER OF A LICENSE, IT'S ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS, AND THAT HAPPENS PRETTY TIMELY.
FOR MOST NEW BUSINESSES, IF THEY'RE MOVING INTO AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED BUILDING AND UNIT, IT'S JUST THEY'RE GOING IN THERE AND DOING SOME MINOR STUFF TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING OR A MAJOR RENOVATION, AS IN THE CASE OF THIS ONE, THERE TENDS TO BE A LONGER TIME PERIOD.
>> I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S TAKEN THAT LONG.
>> I DON'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING] YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN BY THERE AND DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANY ACTION.
>> I WAS THERE AS RECENT AS SATURDAY.
I AM SEEING PROGRESS, BUT IT'S GOING IN LIKE THREE WEEK INTERVALS.
YOU'LL SEE SOME STUFF MOVED IN THERE AND THEN THREE WEEKS LATER, THEN THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT FROM OTHER THAN ITEMS IN THERE, THE FREEZERS ARE IN THERE.
I CAN SEE THEM, THEY'RE IN THERE.
>> WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT 90 DAYS?
>> I THINK 90 DAYS WITH THE AVAILABILITY TO ASK FOR ANOTHER 90 DAY EXTENSION, AS LONG AS THEY ASK FOR IT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRST 90 DAYS EXPIRES, BUT NOT TO EXCEED ANY TIME PERIOD BEFORE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THE EXTENSION OR JUST SAY THEY CAN REQUEST AN EXTENSION AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE BOARD TO DETERMINE HOW LONG YOU WANT TO GRANT THAT EXTENSION FOR?
>> LET'S PUT IN THERE THAT THEY CAN'T GO INTO THE NEXT.
>> WE CAN PUT IN THERE THAT IT CANNOT BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE LICENSE YEAR, BUT I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY PUT A TIME STAMP ON.
BECAUSE IF YOU SAY 90 DAYS ORIGINALLY AND THEN YOU'RE GRANTING ANOTHER 90, BUT I WOULD JUST LET THEM COME BACK AND SAY, DO I NEED 30 DAYS? DO I GET 60 DAYS?
>> IT HAS TO BE ASKED FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE EXTENSION EXPIRES.
>> THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
>> DOES THAT NEED A MOTION FOR US TO GO THROUGH THIS?
>> THEN WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU THINK THAT IT GOT TO BE RIGHT ON TRACK WHERE IT SHOULD BE GOING?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER GIVEN ANY MORE THAN 90, EVEN ON AN EXTENSION, WE'VE NEVER GIVEN ANY MORE THAN 90 DAYS.
SOME OF THEM ASKED FOR 60 AND WE WENT AHEAD AND GRANTED THEM.
I KNOW ORIGINALLY EXXON WAS THE ONE HERE RECENTLY.
THEY FOUND THAT THEY HAD MORE PROBLEMS.
>> WHEN THEY WERE RENOVATING AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN HERE WANTING TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET A LICENSE BEFORE THEY DO ANY OF THE RENOVATION BECAUSE THERE'S NO SENSE IN DOING THE RENOVATION IF THEY CAN'T GET A LICENSE.
>> BUT WE DID MAKE THEM COME BACK IN AND RE-APPLY BECAUSE IT HAD EXTENDED BEYOND THE LICENSE DATE.
>> YEAH. THEY HAD GONE ON A LONG TIME.
THIS ONE IS STARTING TO GO ON A LONG TIME, TOO.
>> YOU WANT ME TRY TO MAKE THIS ONE, GLENN?
>> YEAH, GOOD LUCK. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE OUR GRANTING OF LICENSE TIME LIMIT OF APPROVAL.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A 30 DAY AFTER IT'S GRANTED, CHANGE IT TO A 90 DAY WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF ASKING FOR ONE EXTENSION, AS LONG AS THE EXTENSION IS ASKED FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRST APPROVAL EXPIRING AND IF THE EXTENSION IS GRANTED, THE EXTENSION CANNOT GO PAST THE APRIL 30TH RENEWAL DEADLINE.
[00:50:05]
>> I SECOND THAT. STEWART, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRITE.
>> IT HAD BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE AMEND THIS RENEWAL ON WHAT HE SAID.
[LAUGHTER] ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED? MOVED. STEWART, THE LAST RULING REG AMENDMENT WE DID WAS IN 2021, AND MR. MARIKAN WAS THE BOARD ATTORNEY, THEN I BELIEVE, UNLESS IT WAS YOU.
>> I CAN SEND YOU THE LAST VERSION IF THAT MAKES THINGS EASIER.
>> IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT FORMAT, THEN.
>> SO OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM IS ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER APPLICATIONS.
[Alternate Board Member Applications]
WE HAVE A LIST HERE.>> THESE ARE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE THROUGH THEIR ONBOARDING SITE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE FOR INTEREST IN BECOMING A BOARD MEMBER.
BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE LIQUOR BOARD ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN SPEAKING WITH STAFF AT THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, THEY ADVISED THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE LIQUOR BOARD, AND THEN THEY WOULD ULTIMATELY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENT OFFICE, AND THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO THEIR OFFICE TO MAKE ANY APPOINTMENTS.
IT IS WITH ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, I BELIEVE.
IF THEY'RE NOT DOING DURING SESSION, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT A SESSION.
I KNOW IN TRYING TO GET YOUR APPOINTMENTS DONE, WE WERE A YEAR IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THEM DURING SESSION, THEN THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO A SPECIAL SESSION.
THEY DIDN'T DO IT, BUT ULTIMATELY IT HAPPENED.
I DON'T LOOK FOR ANYTHING WE DO TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANY OF THE ONES LISTED.
I CAN CERTAINLY PULL THEIR RESUMES, IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THEM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND SPEAK WITH THEM.
I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NAMES ON A PAPER.
KAREN AND I SERVE ON BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TOGETHER, AND KAREN HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO THAT BOARD.
AMBER, I KNEW FROM WHEN SHE WORKED FOR THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO.
I THINK I KNOW THIS STEVEN MCCABE, BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE.
I WAS WONDERING, WOULD THEY MAKE TIME AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT KAREN BECAUSE SHE'S GOING AWAY IN APRIL, TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO COME IN.
JUST INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR REASONING FOR IT SO WE COULD FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE IN MAKING A RECOMMENDATION AND IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEN THEY OBVIOUSLY REALLY AREN'T THAT INTERESTED FOR IT.
>> STEWART, I HAVE A QUESTION.
IF SOMEONE IS A TOWN MANAGER, IS THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THAT.
THE CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS YOU FROM HOLDING TWO OFFICES OF PROFIT, TWO GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES OF PROFIT.
>> THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
>> THAT TAKES ONE OUT, DOESN'T IT?
>> YEAH. BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE IS A CURRENT TOWN MANAGER.
>> IS THAT PRESTON? DID YOU SAY PRESTON?
>> I'VE MET HER, SHE'S NICE. KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING.
>> WELL, WE'D HAVE TO ADVISE HER OF THAT.
>> WE JUST CAN'T SCRATCH HER OUT.
>> OF COURSE, AS ALTERNATE THERE'S NO PROFIT ANYWAY.
>> YOU GET THE PROPER TO SIT NEXT TO YOU.
>> YOU GET PAID FOR ANY MEETING THAT YOU HAVE TO ATTEND.
>> IF YOU GO TO SIT FOR SOMEONE, YES. I'M SORRY.
>> I FORGOT THAT PART. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, BUT THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO LEARN. THAT'S WHAT I DID.
>> THE ALTERNATE KNOWS THAT, WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM.
DON'T JUST SAY YOU'RE AN ALTERNATE AND NOT SHOW UP.
>> ONE THING I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IS, AS FAR AS TRAINING, IF WE PICK A PERSON, I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GO TO THIS CONFERENCE THAT WE GO TO.
I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING BUT BOY, THAT REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD GROUNDING IN WHAT THEY EXPECT AND WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE FACING.
YEAH, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE RESUMES AND INVITE THEM TO COME IN.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO IT ON
[00:55:02]
A SEPARATE DATE OR AFTER A MEETING OR BEFORE A MEETING.>> WE WOULD JUST DO A CLOSED SESSION, STEWART.
>> WE COULD RUN THE MEETING AND THEN GO INTO IT.
HE'S BEEN IN FRONT OF US BEFORE.
I RECOGNIZE HIS NAME. MAYBE FOR A TEMP LICENSE POSSIBLY.
>> YEAH, A TEMP LICENSE OR SOMETHING OUT TO RIDGELY THERE FOR CASA.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S CASA. I REMEMBER SEEING HIS NAME.
>> I THINK HE'S THE ONE WHO PUT ME ON FACEBOOK.
I LOOK AT THE LAST ONE. I THINK HE IS IN HOT DOG CART NOW.
>> IN THE HOT DOG CART BUSINESS NOW.
>> HE'S OPENED UP A HOT DOG CART.
I'M NOT 100% CERTAIN, BUT I THINK SO.
>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR JUST DID THE GREEN BAG APPOINTMENTS.
I THOUGHT I SAW THAT ON THE NEWS IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO.
>> HE JUST MAKES APPOINTMENTS LIKE I WAS ON THE AQUACULTURE COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
BUT YOU WANT TO BRING HIM IN THE NEXT MEETING OR? BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO GET THIS MOVING.
>> YEAH, WE COULD DO HIM IN THE APRIL OR THE MAY.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH RENEWALS, WE CAN SET IT UP FOR MAY BECAUSE NOTHING YOU DO IS GOING TO MOVE FAST THROUGH THE APPOINTMENTS OFFICE AS WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHY DON'T WE SHOOT FOR MAY?
>> MAYBE THEY CAN WATCH A MEETING, AND THEN WE GO IN EXECUTIVE.
>> I THINK I HEARD THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WAS INTERESTED TOO, SO THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S THE BUDGET FOR IT, BUT I HEARD A GREAT IDEA HERE JUST NOW, WHICH WAS TO ASK THE ALTERNATES TO ATTEND MEETINGS, AND I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF, WELL, LET'S JUST THINK FOR A SECOND IF THEY ATTEND EVERY MEETING, SHOULD THEY BE COMPENSATED WHETHER THEY SIT OR NOT? DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? IT'S ALMOST LIKE PAYING THEM FOR IN SERVICE TRAINING.
I WONDER IF THERE COULD BE A SMALL NUMBER OF MEETINGS WHERE ATTENDANCE AS AN ALTERNATE IS COMPENSATED?
>> I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE STATE CODE SOMEWHERE ABOUT HOW THE SALARIES ARE PAID.
THAT'S BALTIMORE COUNTY. THAT'S NOT CAROLINE.
>> YEAH, IF WE CAN DO THAT IT'LL BE GOOD.
>> IT STATES, THE SUBSTITUTE MEMBER OF THE BOARD SHALL RECEIVE $100 PER MEETING ATTENDANCE ATTENDED.
>> YOU OWE ME BACK PAY. [LAUGHTER].
>> ATTENDED, BUT NOT TO MORE THAN $2,000 IN ANY ONE YEAR PERIOD.
I DO HAVE A BUDGET IN THERE NOT OF $2,000, BUT I HAVE A BUDGET IN THERE FOR THE ALTERNATE MEMBER.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY MEETINGS I BUDGETED FOR, BUT YES, WE DO HAVE A BUDGET AND WE COULD DO THAT.
>> FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF MEETINGS?
>> IT'S PROBABLY ONE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET THEM COME.
>> RETARDED LIKE YOU AND ME LITTLE BUM.
>> MIKE, COULD YOU FIND A BETTER WORD FOR THAT.
>> MIKE HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO.
>> I WOULD JUST LOOK AT IT AS A REASON TO GET AWAY FROM WORK.
>> OR YOUR WIFE. I'M SURE DID YOUR WIFE.
>> THAT IS ON RECORD, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT AS THE COUNTY HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT LIQUOR LICENSE FEES BECAUSE THE LIQUOR BOARD'S BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY, OUR EXPENSES VERSUS BUDGET IS A BIG GAP THERE IN WHAT OUR BUDGET IS AND WHAT WE BRING IN AND LICENSE FEES.
NOW, OUR FEES ARE SET OUT IN STATE CODE,
[01:00:02]
AND THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THOSE FEES IS TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR TO ASK FOR FEE CHANGES.WE DO HAVE VERY MINIMAL FEES THAT WE CAN AMEND THAT ARE NOT IN THE STATE CODE.
ONE OF THEM BEING OUR APPLICATION FEE.
>> IT'S BEEN $175 FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME, THAT INCLUDED THE ADVERTISING.
THEN ALMOST EVERY SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, ADVERTISING COSTS GO UP, AND WE WERE AT A POINT THAT THE ADVERTISING COST WAS MORE THAN THE $175 APPLICATION FEE, SO THE COMMISSIONERS AGREED TO AMEND OUR WHOLE DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE ADVERTISE FOR MANY OF OUR BOARDS FOR HEARINGS TO SAY, [NOISE] ALL ADVERTISEMENT COSTS, THE APPLICANT HAS TO PAY FOR.
WHATEVER THEY ARE, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADVERTISING COSTS, SO WE PULLED THAT OUT, SO IT'S JUST $175 APPLICATION FEE, BUT THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT THE $175 FOR WHAT'S INVOLVED IN STAFF TIME AND BOARD TIME, TO DO A NEW APPLICATION OR A TRANSFER APPLICATION IS TIME CONSUMING.
YOU'RE SPENDING TIME WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT, YOU'RE GATHERING ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY NEED.
STEWART, HAS TO DO A LEGAL REVIEW ON ANY OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP, LLC, OR CORPORATION PAPERWORK OR POSSIBLY THE LEASE OR ANY OF THAT THAT'S INVOLVED WITH HIS TIME.
WE HAVE TO PREPARE THE LEGAL NOTICES TO GO WITH THE PAPER.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS DOESN'T EVEN REMOTELY TOUCH IT.
GENEVA, DID SOME RESEARCH YESTERDAY OR MONDAY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER SHORE COUNTIES DID.
IT WASN'T VERY EASY TO FIND THINGS ON THE WEBSITE WITHOUT MAKING SOME PHONE CALLS.
IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT TALBOT COUNTY, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, DORCHESTER COUNTY, AND KENT COUNTY, ALL WERE PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT WITH OURS IN THE TERMS OF 100 OR $200 FOR AN APPLICATION FEE.
CECIL COUNTY WAS 600, AND I BELIEVE WICOMICO COUNTY OR WORCESTER WAS 600.
I DON'T KNOW EITHER IF TALBOT OR KENT, IF THEY HAVE SOME OTHER ADD ON FEES IN ADDITION TO THE APPLICATION, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER FEES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED. I JUST FOUND THAT ODD.
>> BUT THEIR LICENSE FEES COULD BE A LOT MORE THAN OURS.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S VERY POSSIBLE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] COULD MAKE IT UP ON THE LICENSE.
>> THE DECISION AT THE COMMISSIONER'S MEETING YESTERDAY WAS THEY'RE GOING TO ADJUST OUR APPLICATION FEE TO 500.
THAT IS IN LINE WITH OUR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS APPLICATION FEES FOR A SPECIAL USE OR A VARIANCE, AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK INVOLVED IN THOSE AS IT IS FOR A LIQUOR BOARD HEARING.
THAT'S WHAT WILL BE IN THE FEE SCHEDULE EFFECT OF JULY 1, WILL BE $500 FOR AN APPLICATION FEE FOR A NEWER TRANSFER, AND THE COMMISSIONERS DID FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT SEEKING SOME LICENSE FEE CHANGES TO OUR ANNUAL LICENSE FEES.
>> THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE, I'VE BEEN HERE 31 YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN THAT AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE.
OUR HIGHEST ONE IS 1,600, AND THAT'S FOR OUR PACKAGE STORES TO GO FOR BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR, AND I WOULD SAY 90% OF OUR LICENSE HOLDERS HOLD THAT LICENSE, THE BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR $1,600.
THAT LICENSE FEE HAS TO COVER THE RENEWAL PROCESS, SO THERE'S STAFF TIME INVOLVED IN PUTTING TOGETHER RENEWALS, SENDING THEM OUT, THEM COMING BACK IN, US REVIEWING THE PAPERWORK BECAUSE WE DO THAT PART FOR THE BOARD.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE CHECKED SALES TAX, WE'VE CHECKED GOOD STANDING, WE'VE RUN THEIR ALCOHOL AND FOOD SALES REPORTS FOR THE RESTAURANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE PRESENTED TO YOU TO REVIEW AND APPROVE, THAT PART OF THE WORK'S DONE.
THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE PRINTING THE LICENSES, MAKING SURE THEY GET OUT, AND THEN THROUGHOUT THAT LICENSE YEAR, THAT WOULD COVER TRACE TIME FOR DOING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS THAT WOULD COME UP.
THAT'S WHAT YOUR ANNUAL LICENSE FEE WOULD BE COVERING FOR THE YEAR, IS TRACE TIME FOR INSPECTIONS AND THEN GOING THROUGH THE RENEWAL PROCESS.
>> I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY IS CHARGING FOR THINGS.
THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN I WENT OVER TO TESTIFY, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THREE INSPECTORS.
THEY DO NO UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DOES ALL THEIR UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE CHECKS, AND ALL THREE OF THEIR INSPECTORS ARE FULL TIME.
JUST CURIOUS AS WHAT THEIR FEE IS.
[01:05:02]
>> BUT THEY PROBABLY HAVE IN THE UPWARDS OF 1,000 LICENSE HOLDERS. [LAUGHTER]
>> THEY HAVE A LOT OF LICENSE HOLDERS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY HAVE A LOT COMPARED TO OUR 40.
>> I'M CURIOUS AS TO THEIR FEE RATE.
>> SURE. THAT'LL BE PART OF THE EXERCISE OBVIOUSLY THAT WE'LL DO, IS TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER LICENSE FEES.
I DO KNOW HISTORICALLY AND TALKING WITH OTHER COUNTIES, IT IS ALWAYS A VERY TOUGH SELL AT THE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE FEES.
THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE LIQUOR ASSOCIATION, THEY ALL HAVE HUGE LOBBYIST GROUPS THAT DO FIGHT LICENSE FEE CHANGES, SO IT CAN BE A LITTLE TOUGH TO GET THROUGH, BUT I THINK WE WILL BE PURSUING THAT.
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT BE PROPOSING FAR AS AN INCREASE IN LICENSE FEES.
>> WHEN DOES THIS FEE GO INTO EFFECT?
>> RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE WE NEED LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR SOME OF THE OTHER ONES.
>> THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S UNDER COUNTY CONTROL.
>> THE OTHER ONES YOU GOT TO GET IT HERE?
>> I THINK THERE'S ONE LICENSE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WE EVER GOT IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
THE COUNTY [OVERLAPPING] SETS THE FEE BECAUSE USUALLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, YOU SET THE FEE WHEN YOU CREATE THE LICENSE, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE LICENSE TYPE THAT IT SAYS THE COUNTY SETS THE FEE FOR, AND IT'S ONE THAT NOBODY HOLDS.
>> WELL, I CAN SEE THE COUNTY'S SITUATION.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO BE TO A POINT THAT WE'RE SELF SUFFICIENT THERE IN TERMS OF REVENUE VERSUS EXPENDITURES, BUT WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT GAP.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE PAYING TREY TOO MUCH MONEY.
>> THAT'S A WAY TO SAVE MONEY.
[Inspector's Report]
>> GOOD. TO THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
>> I'VE JUST BEEN FINISHING UP, TRYING TO DO MY QUARTERLY LAST INSPECTIONS.
WE'VE WATCHED MR. MANN TESTIFY RECENTLY IN ANNAPOLIS.
I'VE ALSO BEEN AROUND TALKING TO DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS ABOUT THEIR PLANS OF FUTURE GOING ON, WHO'S COMING, WHO'S GOING, THINGS LIKE THAT, PEOPLE'S INTENTIONS.
ALSO, I'VE BEEN DOING THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PROGRAM, AND THEN I'VE ALSO BEEN HELPING OUT WITH THE CODES DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
TYPICALLY, I WOULD BE GOING BACK AND DOING SECONDARY CHECKS ON BUSINESSES IF THEY WERE TO SELL.
LUCKY FOR ME, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ALSO BEEN COMING BACK OUT, I'VE BEEN RECEIVING CALLS THAT THEY'VE BEEN BACK OUT.
THAT IS ACTUALLY LIMITED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I CAN TAKE AS MANY TIMES AS I WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND CHECK THESE BUSINESSES FOR UNDERAGE PROGRAMS, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS A MAX, AND I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WHERE HIT THEM EVERY MONTH.
I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP.
AS LONG AS THEY'RE GETTING CHECKED, I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILLING TO HELP IN THAT NATURE, BUT IT'S IT'S HELPING ME OUT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVER OVERDO IT, BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S BASICALLY IT.
I'VE BEEN CHECKING GOING OUT, CHECKING IDS WITH BUSINESSES, DOING INSPECTIONS.
>> ALL THAT AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? HAVE THEY COORDINATED WITH YOU WHEN THEY'VE DONE THEIR CHECKS?
>> NO. LIKE I SAID, IT'S WITHIN THE RIGHT TO CHECK.
THE STATE HAS A RIGHT TO CHECK.
EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT PRETTY MUCH TO CHECK AS LONG AS IT'S IN THE JURISDICTION.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS IN THE TOWNS.
MAYBE THEY'RE COORDINATING WITH THE TOWN POLICE.
>> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REACHED OUT TO US LAST YEAR AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING SOME COMPLIANCE CHECKS, AND THEN I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE HAVEN'T DONE THEM IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN SOME GRANT MONEY TO DO CHECKS, AND I WILL CERTAINLY TAKE THE HELP, NOT A PROBLEM.
TREY, I BELIEVE, TALKED TO ONE OF THE DEPUTIES WHO WAS GOING TO BE DOING IT, AND A FEW WERE DONE.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE CASES NOW FOR THOSE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD DONE.
WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYMORE, WHETHER THEY FINISHED OUT THE REST OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT YEAR.
I DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HEALTH OFFICER, THAT'S WHERE THE GRANTS COMING THROUGH THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S GRANT, AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR GRANT MONEY AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID STRESS WAS THAT JUST CHECKING SIX OR EIGHT,
[01:10:05]
THAT'S NOT BEING CONSISTENT.IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHECK, YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING THEM ALL WHEN YOU DO THAT.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING BACK TO THE SAME BUSINESSES OVER AND OVER AND OTHERS ARE NOT GETTING CHECKED.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE LIKELIHOOD AND MORE SALES HAPPENING THROUGH THE PACKAGE GOODS STORES, WHICH WE DO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO IGNORE THE ON PREMISE LICENSE HOLDERS FOR THE BARS, AND THE RESTAURANTS, AND THE CLUBS, EITHER.
THEY SHOULD BE CHECKED ALONG WITH THEM.
TREY, I THINK HAS GOT SOME PHONE CALLS.
THEY HAVE BEEN OUT DOING SOME CHECKS, BUT RECENTLY.
>> WE HOPE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE COORDINATION BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT IS THEY'RE OUT, AND THEN TREY FOLLOWS UP TWO WEEKS LATER AND DOES AN INSPECTION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING IF THEY HAD COORDINATED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OR EVEN A WEEK LATER OR EVEN A DAY LATER, HIM HAVE SOMETHING SET UP.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT SOME OF CALLS HAVE BEEN, THAT HEY, I KNEW YOU JUST CHECKED ME.
>> DEFINITELY WE NEED SOME COORDINATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CIRCLING RIGHT BACK IN A FEW WEEKS, DOING CHECKS, NOT KNOWING THEY'VE BEEN OUT AND DID CHECKS JUST A FEW WEEKS PRIOR.
DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME COORDINATION THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEN THEY'RE CONTACTING OUR LAWYER SAYING THEY'RE GETTING PICKED ON.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT I DON'T WANT.
>> WHAT ABOUT BRINGING THE SHERIFF IN? WE BROUGHT THIS UP IN MEETING MEMBER STEWART WHEN THE CHIEFS MEETING, AND MAYBE THAT PLANTED THE SEED, I DON'T KNOW.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT MONEY.
DID IT COME THROUGH THE ELDAC PROGRAM, THE GRANT?
>> IT WAS THROUGH THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICE WITH THE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL GRANT THAT THEY HAVE.
>> I AGREE ABOUT THE COORDINATION.
>> I'M OKAY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T WANT WIRES GETTING CROSSED.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO SAY TO HELL WITH WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO DO IT.
>> BECAUSE THEN THEY'RE POINTING THE FINGER AT THE LIQUOR FOR SAYING, THEY'RE PICKING ON US.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE A SMALL ENOUGH COUNTY, AND I PRETTY MUCH HAVE AN IDEA IF YOU'RE SELLING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HELPING.
>> THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. IT'S GOOD THAT THEY BE FRUGAL.
>> IT'S MAKING MY JOB A LITTLE EASIER.
>> I THINK WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT REPEATING RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF SOMETHING THEY'VE DONE BECAUSE THEN THAT'S A WASTE OF TIME.
WE CAN COORDINATE BETTER IF THEY WANT TO DO ONE OR TWO CHECKS A YEAR.
WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE HAPPENING, WE CAN WORK OURS IN BETWEEN IF WE NEED TO.
IF WE FEEL THAT THEY'VE COVERED IT FOR THE YEAR, THAT'S FINE.
>> HAVE WE BROACHED THIS WITH THE SHERIFF?
>> NO. [NOISE] BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET WITH THE SHERIFF, WE CAN ASK HIM TO COME IN.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN MEET WITH HIM, TREY CAN MEET WITH HIM, OR THEY CAN COME HERE, BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET INTO THIS [INAUDIBLE] MENTALITY THAT GOES ON WITH BUREAUCRACIES.
SURE, WE'RE TOO SMALL TO GET INTO THOSE.
>> I'LL REACH OUT TO THE SHERIFF.
>> I TRUST YOU, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TREY.
>> DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE BILL? I KNOW I CONTACTED, YOU TOLD ME IT WENT THROUGH THE SENATE, AND I BELIEVE IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE HOUSE AND BEEN APPROVED. I DIDN'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES WITH IT.
I THINK IT WILL BE [NOISE] ULTIMATELY SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH OUR BILLS.
MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE?
TRAVIS AND I WENT, WE MET WITH A COUPLE OF THE SENATORS BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE HEARING.
THEY BASICALLY ASKED, SAID, HEY, LOOK, ON THE SENATE SIDE, WE DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS BILL, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU KEPT IT SHORT AND SWEET BECAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF BILLS TO HEAR TODAY, SO I SHORTENED THE VERSION A LITTLE.
MY SON IS ACTUALLY INTERN FOR ONE OF THE SENATORS THAT WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND HE INFORMED ME LATER THAT, HEY, DAD, YOUR BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, THERE WAS NO ISSUES.
I BROUGHT IT UP TO HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HE GOT ON HIS COMPUTER AND HE SAID, DAD, HE SAYS, LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND PASSED THERE ALSO.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU'D HEARD. IT WAS VERY SIMPLE.
THERE WAS BASICALLY NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL WHATSOEVER.
>> THAT WILL BE THE CHANGE TO CREATE A NEW PERMANENT CLASS OF LICENSE FOR EVENT VENUES,
[01:15:03]
WHICH FOLLOWS A LOT OF OUR MULTIPLE EVENT REQUIREMENTS.IT'LL BE STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR MULTIPLE EVENT IS FOR THE NON PROFITS, BUT IT WILL BE A PERMANENT LICENSE FOR A FOR PROFIT EVENT VENUE.
THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT WAS FOR THE STORAGE OF ALCOHOL FOR ALL MULTIPLE EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS AND NOT JUST THE FIRE COMPANIES, THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY RESTRICTED TO THEM, SO THAT THE CULINARY CENTER WILL BE ABLE TO NOW STORE ALCOHOL.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS ADKINS ARBORETUM, THEY HAD WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO STORE THE ALCOHOL AND WE COULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO, AND THAT'S WHAT'S PREVENTED THEM FROM GETTING A MULTI-EVENT BECAUSE THEY WOULD RATHER DO THE MULTI-EVENT LICENSE THAN THE INDIVIDUAL LICENSES.
IT'S POSSIBLE MAYBE NEXT YEAR WITH A CHANGE IN THE REGULATION, YOU MIGHT SEE A FEW MORE MULTI-EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS IN LIEU OF GETTING THE ONE DAYS.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY HAS A PERMANENT PLACE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD EVENTS LIKE THE CULINARY CENTER OR ADKINS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR TEMP LICENSE HOLDERS, THEY GO TO DIFFERENT EVENTS AND AREAS.
>> NO. I'M GOOD. I KNOW I JUST STOPPED. [LAUGHTER]
[Adjournment]
MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025, AT 10:46 AM.
>> ALL OPPOSED? SO MOVED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.