[00:00:06]
>> [BACKGROUND] WE'RE TRYING TO LET EVERYBODY GET SIGNED IN.
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM A FEW MINUTES TO EVERYBODY GET SIGNED IN AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[BACKGROUND] WE'LL SEE. RECALL THIS MEETING,
[Call to Order]
THE ORDER FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY BORDER LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025 9:32 AM.FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WE HAVE A TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR ADKINS ARBORETUM.
[Temporary License]
ANYBODY WISHING TO ON BEHALF OF THAT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.I'LL HAVE YOU STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. WE'LL DO THE OATH.
[Adkins Arboretum]
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AN AFFIRM ON THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE IN THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE US THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> ABIGAIL LORENZ, 186 SASSAFRAS STREET, MILLINGTON, MARYLAND 21651.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE PROCEED.
>> AS STATED, WE DO HAVE ADKINS ARBORETUM.
THEY APPLIED FOR A ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE FOR FOUR DIFFERENT EVENTS TO BE HELD AT THE ARBORETUM LOCATED AT 12610, EVELYN ROAD AND RIDGLEY.
ADKINS HAS APPLIED FOR A ONE DAY LICENSE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
BUT IN LOOKING AT THE PAST REQUEST, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS ABBY'S FIRST YEAR APPLYING FOR THE LICENSE, IS THAT CORRECT? IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE EVENTS ARE LISTED, AS WELL AS ON THE SCREEN.
WE HAVE THE FOREST MUSIC, SOLSTICE SOCIAL, THE BEER GARDEN, AND PLAIN AIR.
THE SCHEDULES ARE AS FOLLOWS JUNE 12, JUNE 20, SEPTEMBER 27, AND NOVEMBER 1.
THEY ARE REQUESTING TO SELL BEER AND WINE, UTILIZING A CASH BAR.
THERE WILL BE A DJ OR MUSIC AVAILABLE AT ALL EVENTS.
ALCOHOL AWARENESS CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, AND IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE SITE PLAN OUTLINES WHERE THE ALCOHOL WILL BE SERVED.
[NOISE] THEY ARE SUBMITTING ALL FOUR AT THIS TIME, BUT WHAT I WILL BE DOING IS HANDING OUT THE CERTIFICATES A MONTH PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
THE JUNE 12TH AND 20TH WILL BE UPCOMING.
THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR LICENSE FOR THOSE TWO EVENTS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU HAVE WITH EACH EVENT?
>> YEAH. FOREST MUSIC IS OUR UPCOMING EVENT WHERE THERE ARE
[Forest Music - Thursday, June 12, 2025]
MUSICIANS FROM THE CHESTERTOWN NATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL STATIONED THROUGHOUT THE WOODLAND, BUT WE WILL BE SERVING BEER AND WINE CLOSE TO THE VISITOR CENTER.[00:05:02]
THAT'S WHERE PARTIES WOULD UTILIZE A CASH BAR AND PURCHASE THAT WINE OR BEER DURING THE EVENT BETWEEN 1:00 AND 4:00 PM.THEN OUR SECOND EVENT IS A SUMMER SOLSTICE SOCIAL FOR OUR MEMBERS APPRECIATION,
[Summer Solstice Social - Friday, June 20, 2025]
SO THAT WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION.AND THEY WILL BE LOCATED AROUND THE VISITOR CENTER FOR AN EVENING TO CELEBRATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND MEET OTHER MEMBERS.
WE THEN WILL HAVE BEER GARDEN,
[Beer Garden - Saturday, September 27, 2025]
WHICH WILL BE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE VISITOR CENTER DOWN AT THE PAVILION, WHERE WE HAVE A BAND.THIS YEAR IS PHIL DUTTON AND THE ALLIGATORS.
SO THAT'S WHERE BEER AND WINE WILL BE SERVED BY LOCAL VENDORS AROUND THE PAVILION.
THE LAST EVENT IS PLEIN AIR ADKINS,
[Plein Air Adkins - Saturday, November 1, 2025]
WHICH IS A EVENT WHERE ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE REGION COME TO PAINT AT ADKINS FOR THE MORNING.WE WILL HAVE CHAMPAGNE, MIMOSAS AND LATE REFRESHMENTS IN THE MORNING FOR THEM 9:00 -1:00.
>> THE THREE EVENTS THAT ARE THEY'RE RIGHT AT THE MAIN BUILDING.
THERE'S LIKE A PAVER PATIO AREA.
DOES IT GO BEYOND THAT AREA, A LITTLE TEENY BIT OR IS IT PRETTY MUCH JUST WITHIN THAT AREA?
>> SERVING WILL BE ON THE PATIO AND ON THE PAVED AREAS, BUT THE PEOPLE ENJOYING THE EVENT WILL BE IN THAT MAIN LAWN THE MODE AREA RIGHT BEHIND THE VISITOR CENTER.
>> THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT VENUE WOULD BE THE BEER GARDEN?
>> I KNOW YOU'VE HAD STUFF AT THE MAIN BUILDING BEFORE.
I CAN'T SAY IF I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS ONE AT THE PAVILION, THOUGH.
>> JUST BEER GARDEN IS ALWAYS DOWN THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A MUSICIAN PERFORM IN THAT SPACE.
YOU HAVE BANDS STATIONED THROUGHOUT THE-
>> THERE'S PERFORMER THEY'RE USUALLY STRING INSTRUMENTS THAT DON'T REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICITY.
THEY'RE PERFORMED THROUGHOUT THE WOODLAND.
>> YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CARRY WINE.
THEY'LL STAY AND PURCHASE THAT NEAR THE BUILDING, AND THEN ONCE THEY LEAVE TO WALK THROUGH.
>> WE'RE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH-
>> ADKINS IS PRETTY OUT THERE BY ITSELF.
IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO GO PAST THAT, SO WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES.
>> I KNOW THE ONE YOU SAID WAS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE IS SETS BASICALLY FOR MEMBERS OF ADKINS TYPE THING.
THE OTHERS ARE THEY OPEN AND HOW YOU GUYS KNOW ARE YOU CARDING OR IDS?
>> YES. FOR ANYONE THAT IS PURCHASING WILL BE CARDED AT -.
>> WILL YOU BE UTILIZING, LIKE, WRISTBANDS OR SOMETHING?
>> YES. WE DO HAVE WRISTBANDS.
>> GOOD. I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT IS FURTHER.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD APPROVE INDIVIDUALLY? CAN BE ALL APPROVED AS ONE.
IS THERE ANY RAIN DATES? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A RAIN DATE FOR ANY OF YOUR EVENTS?
>> BEER GARDEN HAS THE RAIN DATE OF THE DAY AFTER, IF THAT'S THE ONLY ONE. I.
>> DOES THAT NEED TO BE PUT INTO YOUR MOTION OR?
>> IT'S ON THE APPLICATION ITSELF.
>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR ADKINS ARBORETUM FOR FOUR EVENTS, FOREST MUSIC ON JUNE 12, 2025, SUMMER SOLSTICE SOCIAL ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20.
THE BEER GARDEN EVENT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 WITH A RAIN DATE OF THE 28TH, AND THE PLEIN AIR EVENT TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY TO NOVEMBER 1, 2025.
>> I'VE SECOND AND APPROVED THE MOTION.
>> IT'S BEEN SECONDED AND APPROVED.
>> WHEN YOU DO GET THE REST OF THE TIPS CARD, CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY GET SENT IN?
>> THAT WASN'T TOO BAD. [LAUGHTER]
[00:10:03]
>> DO I [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE EXTENSION OF PREMISE.
[Extension of Premises - Letters of Permission for Extension of Premise]
WE HAVE TWO LETTERS OF PERMISSION FOR EXTENSION OF PREMISE.THE FIRST ONE BEING CAROLINE'S IN DENTON.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[Caroline's in Denton]
DO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND DO THE OATH.DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM ON THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> IT'S ROBIN ZELLERS 128 PERRY'S RETREAT BOULEVARD, GRASONVILLE, 21629.
>> GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE ROBIN ZELLERS, THE LICENSE HOLDER AND OWNER OF CAROLINE'S IN DENTON, WHICH SHE HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER ON MAY 9, REQUESTING AN EXTENSION OF PREMISE TO THE OUTSIDE SIDEBAR AND SIDEBAR PATIO.
IN REVIEW OF THE NEW BUSINESS OR TRANSFER OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR THAT OCCURRED, THERE WAS A PLAN TO OPERATE THE BUSINESS IN THE SAME FASHION AS THE PREVIOUS OWNER, UTILIZING BOTH THE MAIN HOUSE AND THE OUTSIDE SIDEBARS AND THE PATIO AREAS, BUT THEY WERE INITIALLY FOCUSED ON THE MAIN HOUSE.
THEN LATER, THERE WERE PLANS TO EXTEND TO THE SIDEBARS AND PATIOS.
THAT'S WHY CAROLINE'S IN DENTON IS HERE REQUESTING THIS EXTENSION.
IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU WILL SEE THE LETTER THAT IS ON THE SCREEN, AND THE SITE PLAN IS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS THE SITE PLAN THAT WAS PULLED FROM LAST YEAR'S TRANSFER OF LICENSE APPLICATION.
AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE SITE PLANS, THERE ARE THREE PATIO AREAS.
WE HAVE A PATIO AREA HERE, THE CAROLINE SIDEBAR, AND THEN TWO PATIO AREAS OVER HERE.
>> CAN YOU SCROLL UP A LITTLE BIT THERE'S ANOTHER.
>> BECAUSE MINE HAS A MAYBE THAT'S WRONG.
>> WE DO HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS IF IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE BOARD TO GET A VISUAL OF THE PATIO AREAS.
>> YES. WHICH I CAN. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO THAT?
>> MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE SHOW.
>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND, PLEASE.
>> I THINK THAT BOT IS JUST A BOX USED TO SHOW THE HIGHLIGHTER.
>> YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ORANGE AROUND THERE?
>> YES. THAT ORANGE IS THE I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE PREMISE.
YES. IT'S THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
>> THIS WILL BE THE FRONT I'M SORRY.
IT'S NOT IN A SLIDE, SO I HAVE TO OPEN UP INDIVIDUALLY.
>> THAT'S FROM MARKET STREET, I BELIEVE.
>> YES. THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
>> THAT'S THE SIDE PATIO. THE LEFT OF THE PROPERTY.
>> THESE PATIOS, ARE THEY THE SAME PATIOS THAT THEY HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAD? THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.
>> I REMEMBER BACK, WHEN YOU GUYS CAME IN FOR YOUR LICENSE, YOU SAID YOU WERE JUST UTILIZING THE HOUSE.
YOU WEREN'T PLANNING TO UTILIZE THE PATIO.
>> I WENT BACK AND WATCHED IT AS WELL.
WHEN NANCY FIRST OPENED, SHE ONLY HAD THE SIDEBAR OPEN.
HER LIQUOR LICENSE WAS GRANITE ON THAT SIDEBAR IN THAT PATIO.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE BIG HOUSE OPEN.
WHEN SHE OPENED THE BIG HOUSE AND THEY USED BOTH,
[00:15:02]
THEY WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH.WHAT WE STATED IN THE HEARING WAS THAT AS WE WERE TAKING IT OVER, WE WANTED THE FIRST COUPLE WE DID HAVE PRIVATE PARTIES PLANNED IN HERE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER WHEN WE FIRST TOOK IT OVER, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO GET THE MAIN HOUSE UNDER WRAPS AND THEN OPEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, LIKE SHE DID START OUT SEASONAL, SEE IF IT'S EVEN GOING TO BE WORTH KEEPING IT OPEN.
US RIGHT NOW, I'VE HAD MY DAD. [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS ANOTHER CLOSURE VIEW OF THE SIDE BAR AND PATIO.
>> INSIDE, IT'S A LOT SMALLER.
IT'S NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A FULL BAR.
WE HAVE BEER WINE OVER THERE, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO USE IT.
>> THIS IS THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH SHOWS COM YOU CAN COME OFF THE PATIO DOWN THIS BACK GRANT AND A STAIRWAY LEADING UP TO THE UPPER CLOSE.
>> THAT'S A PICTURE TO THE RIGHT SHOWING THE SIDE BAR AND THE STAIRS GOING AS WELL.
YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THAT TRAILER IS IF YOU WANT.
>> THAT TRAILER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE FOOD TRAILER FOR THE BREWERY.
>> DIDN'T WANT TO RUIN ANY SURPRISES, BUT IT'S ON FACEBOOK. IT'S ALL ON THERE.
>> WE SIGN A CONTRACT. NO ALCOHOL.
WE WON'T BE DOING ANY ALCOHOL WITH THAT.
THIS GOES UP INTO THE FRONT PORCH.
WE'RE NOT REQUESTING, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR PATIO.
THAT GOES OUT TO THE PARKING LOT.
WE WOULDN'T BE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO BE JUST MINGLING AROUND THERE.
IF WE EVER DID ANYTHING WITH THAT BACK PARKING LOT WHERE ALL THAT GRAVEL IS, I THINK, WE ASK FOR A PERMIT OR SOMETHING, BUT OUR MAIN CONCERN IS JUST FOR THE FRONT OF THAT SIDE BAR WHERE THAT PATIO SECTION IS.
>> DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND UP TO THE SIDE BAR ITSELF.
>> THOSE TABLES. WHAT NANCY WAS DOING, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE A FULL BAR, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SIT OUT THERE ON THAT SIDE BAR, THEY JUST WANT THE SMALL PLATES, BUT THEY WANT A JACK AND COAT.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE A FULL BAR, THEY CAN GO INTO THE MAIN HOUSE AND GET IT AND THEN COME BACK OUT AND SIT ON THE PATIO. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING.
>> ON YOUR MAP, YOU INCLUDE AS FAR AS THE BACK SIDE OF THAT BUILDING TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT.
>> THAT'S THE ONLY MAP THAT WE HAVE.
>> AS FAR AS FOR ME, THAT IS THE CONCERN I HAVE, IS THAT BACK PARKING AREA BECAUSE I KNOW DELIVERY VEHICLES TRY TO SOMETIME COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
>> THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE BARN OUT BACK, SHOWING TOWARDS THE PROPERTY.
>> FACING THAT AND TOWARDS THE PROPERTY , YES.
>> THERE'S THE SIGN. [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN.
>> THERE ARE TWO IN THE BARN THAT SAY, NO ALCOHOL.
AS FAR AS WE'VE BEEN OPEN, EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE PRIVATE PARTIES THERE, EVEN NOW, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE.
EVEN INSIDE, WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT EVEN WALK AROUND WITH DRINKS.
NORMALLY, IF THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM OR SOMEWHERE, THEIR DRINKS ARE IN SIDE OF THE TABLE.
SO FAR, EVEN WITH THE SIDE BAR, IT'S BEEN THE MAIN HOUSE.
THEY COME IN, THEY'RE SITTING.
THERE IS A BATHROOM AT THE BACK OF THAT.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW BEHIND THAT UMBRELLA, THERE IS A BATHROOM AT THE BACK OF THAT SIDE BAR THAT IS FOR PUBLIC USE.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANYBODY'S GOING TO TAKE THAT DRINK IN THERE, BUT I GUESS THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
>> NO. I THINK TOWARD THE RIGHT A LITTLE FURTHER.
>> YEAH, YOU JUST MAKE A RIGHT.
THE DOOR. IT'S THE RIGHT OF THAT DOOR.
>> YOU'RE WANTING TO BE ABLE TO SIT AT THAT TABLE?
>> NO. THAT TABLE IS JUST FOR EMPLOYEES.
>> ALL OF YOUR AREA IS OUT IN FRONT OF THAT?
>> YEAH, IT'S ALL OUT IN FRONT.
>> PRETTY MUCH THAT'S THERE, YOU'RE MAINLY CONCERNED FOR.
>> TO CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME, YOU WANT THE BASEMENT OF THE PROPERTY THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR ALCOHOL.
YOU WANT THE BASEMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
BEFORE WE JUST HAD THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
YOU WANT THE BASEMENT BECAUSE WHERE YOU KEEP THE ALCOHOL IN THE BASEMENT?
[00:20:03]
>> BEFORE YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING ABOVE THE FIRST FLOOR.
>> NO. THE TOP FLOOR IS JUST AN APARTMENT AND OUR OFFICE.
THE BASEMENT OF THE PROPERTY IS LITERALLY PRIVATE, NOBODY CAN ACCESS IT BUT US.
THE ALCOHOL IS STORED DOWN THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S THROUGH THE KITCHEN, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
>> YEAH. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE KITCHEN IN ORDER TO GET TO IT. THERE'S NO ACCESS.
WHAT WE WERE REQUESTING IS IF SOMEBODY'S SITTING AT THAT TABLE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE COOK AND ONE SERVER IN THAT BUILDING.
THERE IS 17 SEATS INSIDE THAT BUILDING AND THEN ANOTHER 12 OUTSIDE ON THOSE TABLES.
THEY DO GO INSIDE, THEY ORDER THERE, THEY PAY HERE AND WE DELIVER TO YOUR TABLE SERVICE, LIKE, CAFE SERVICE, BUT IF THEY'RE SITTING AT THAT TABLE AND THEY DON'T WANT BEER AND WINE, WE WANT IT TO ALLOW THEM TO GO INTO THE BAR IN THE MAIN HOUSE, GRAB THEIR MIXED COCKTAIL, AND COME BACK OUT AND SIT DOWN.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY MOVEMENT IS GOING UP THAT PORCH STEPS.
>> IF YOU TAKE ALCOHOL FROM THE HOUSE INTO THE SIDE BAR, YOU'D GO OUT THE BACK DOOR AND GO IN THE BACK DOOR OF CAROLINE'S OF THE SIDE BAR?
BESIDES THE LIQUOR, ANYTHING ELSE, LIKE, THEY IF WANT TO EAT AT THAT SIDE BAR, THEY'VE GOT TO ORDER THE SIDE BAR.
THEY CAN'T ORDER FROM THE MAIN HOUSE.
YES, TREY, WE GO OUT OF THE BACK DOOR AND INTO THE BACK DOOR OF THE SIDE BAR, THAT'S HOW WE STOCK IT.
WE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED IN THAT KITCHEN DOOR ANYWAY.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
>> OR POSSIBLY OVER TO THE HANDICAP RAMP AND GO UP?
>> YEAH, OR OVER TO THE HANDICAP RAMP IF THEY WERE WHEELCHAIR, BUT WE DO HAVE CAMERAS THAT WOULD SHOW THAT MOVEMENT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN.
>> OTHER THAN MAYBE CHANGING THIS DRAWING A LITTLE BIT TO REDUCE THIS, NOT TO INCLUDE THAT BACK BUILDING, AND TO ALLOW ENOUGH SPACE TO COME DOWN THIS RAMP OR TO BACK STEPS, TO GET TO THE BACK DOOR OF THE SIDE BAR, THEN I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM, BUT TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE PARKING AREA.
>> THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT LAWRENCE AND NANCY HAD.
>> TO ME, THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE ON A BUSY NIGHT, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE LOTS OF BUSY NIGHTS, TO KEEP TRACK OF SOMEBODY WANDERING OUT AND THEN JUST GOING TO THEIR CAR WITH A DRINK IN THEIR HAND OR A BEER OR SOMETHING, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE CONCERNING, BUT TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH ROOM TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN THAT RAMP AND OUT THE BACK DOORS TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT THAT BACK ENTRANCE OF THE SIDE BAR, I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH.
I DON'T PERSONALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
THE ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING PRETTY MUCH IS CONTROLLED, THE FRONT PORCH GOES DOWN THERE AND THEN THE RAMP GOES DOWN.
DOESN'T ALLOW ANYBODY, REALLY, TO GET OVER ONTO ANOTHER PROPERTY, AND IF I REMEMBER, ON THE LEFT, THERE'S A LOT OF HEDGE AND SHRUBS AND STUFF THERE.
>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING ON THE LEFT, IT STARTS TO GET OVER.
BOTH SIDES ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF SHRUBBERY AND THE APARTMENTS ON THE RIGHT ARE FENCED.
>> BETWEEN YOU AND THE APARTMENTS [INAUDIBLE]
>> YEAH. THERE'S A LOT OF SHRUBBERY, AND THAT'S FENCED.
THEN ON THE LEFT, THERE'S SHRUBBERY EXCEPT TO THE FRONT YARD.
>> ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT SUGGESTION?
>> MR. MANN CLARIFIED IT IN A WAY THAT CAN BE ENFORCED, SO YEAH, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>> I BELIEVE FIVE FOOT BEYOND THE BACK OF THE SIDE BAR AND THE HANDICAP RAMP WOULD ALLOW ENOUGH ROOM TO GET THROUGH THERE.
LIKE I SAID, IF SOMEBODY MIGHT WANDER DOWN THOSE STEPS, NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE AND JUST LOOKING TO PLACE OVER AND JUST NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT IT, JUST HAD THEIR DRINK IN THEIR HAND, AND WAS WALKING AROUND, LOOKING.
I DON'T WANT TREY TO SHOW UP AND YOU GUYS GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE HE WAS JUST OFF OF THE RAMP OR SOMETHING.
>> OR YOU COULD JUST HAVE A SIGNAGE.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES WILL DO NO ALCOHOL BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT.
>> THERE WAS SOMEONE AT THE BAR THAT PUT ALL THAT. WE PUT BIGGER SIGNS.
BECAUSE SAME THING, I WOULDN'T WANT THEM WANDERING BACK THERE AS WELL.
>> I SEE YOUR MAIN CONCERN IS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING THERE WHERE YOUR SEATING AND ALL.
[00:25:03]
THAT'S YOUR MAIN GOAL RIGHT THERE.YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT AREA IS NOT REALLY GETTING SERVICED BY SERVERS OR WHATEVER.
>> WE DO HAVE A SERVER OVER THERE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL, WE WENT THEM TO COME IN, ORDER HERE, PAY HERE, GO HAVE A SEAT.
>> THEN JUST GO SIT AT THE TABLES.
>> YEAH, WE'LL DELIVER. IT'S MORE LIKE A SMALL PLATES CONCEPT.
SMALL PLATES, STEAM SHRIMP, STEAMER BASKET.
>> THAT'S WHAT'S BEING PRODUCED IN THE SIDE BAR.
>> IT'S ALSO EASIER TO CONTROL WHETHER SOMEBODY WALKS OUT WITHOUT PAYING.
IF THEY'VE ALREADY PAID, THEY'RE SITTING OUTSIDE, THEY'RE GOING TO THE SIDE BAR, THEY PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
ONCE THEY LEAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO HAS AND WHO HAS NOT PAID.
>> YES. WE CAN STILL CONTROL BECAUSE IF THEY'RE COMING IN TO ORDER THEIR DRINKS, WE STILL HAVE A CERTIFIED PERSON OVER THERE.
THEY STILL KNOW HOW MANY DRINKS THEY HAD.
>> BEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION?
>> I'D MAKE A MOTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A UPDATED SITE PLAN JUST REDRAWN A LITTLE BIT NOT TO INCLUDE THAT BACK AREA.
IF YOU'RE COMING OUT THE BACK STEPS AND WALKING INTO THAT BACK DOOR, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT SERVING THAT ALCOHOL, IF YOU GO BEYOND THAT BOUNDARY, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR PREMISE AREA.
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING STAYS ON THE UP AND UP.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON HERE.
BECAUSE THIS FRONT AREA HAS GOT SO MANY SHRUBS AND FLOWERS AND STUFF AND WOULD MAKE IT HARD FOR SOMEBODY TO WALK OUT THROUGH HERE ANYWAY.
IF WE COULD JUST GET FIVE FOOT OFF OF THAT BACKDOOR AREA THERE AND GO ACROSS AND ERASE THAT AND JUST HAVE THAT, SO IT'S ON FILE.
THAT'S ALL. IT'S TO PROTECT YOU AND TO PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMERS.
I WOULD MAKE THAT PART OF THE MOTION.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CAROLINE'S REQUESTS FOR EXPANSION OF AREA FOR THE SIDE BAR, AND APPROVAL WILL BE ON THE FACT THAT WE DO NEED A UPDATED SITE PLAN WITH A NEW DRAWING THAT WILL INCLUDE THE SIDE BAR TO THE LEFT OF THE BUILDING, THE HANDICAP RAMP OUT AND ROUGHLY FIVE FEET OFF THE BACK OF THE SIDE BAR.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THIS EXPANSION OF THE OUTSIDE PREMISE FOR CAROLINE'S.
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WE HAVE AN EXTENSION OF PREMISE FOR THE PUB.
[Market Street Public House]
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF, PLEASE COME FORWARD.RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, I'M GIVING THE OATH.
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM, ON THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> GO RIGHT ON ACROSS. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> [INAUDIBLE], 145, SUNSET DRIVE, DENTON.
>> BRIAN TYLER, 1133 OSPREY LANE, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629.
>> JESSICA [INAUDIBLE] 212, MARTHA JANE STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629.
>> GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE MARKET STREET PUB, BRIAN TYLER, THE LICENSE HOLDER AND OWNER OF MARKET STREET PUB IN DENTON, WHO SUBMITTED A LETTER REQUESTING EXTENSION OF PREMISE TO THE 200 BLOCK OF MARKET STREET IN CONJUNCTION WITH DOWNTOWN DENTON MAIN STREET HOSTING A MONTHLY COMMUNITY EVENT CALLED THIRD THURSDAYS.
THE DATES FOR THIRD THURSDAYS THIS YEAR ARE SLATED FOR JUNE 19TH, JULY 17TH, AUGUST 14TH, AND SEPTEMBER 18TH.
IN YOUR MEETING PACKAGE, YOU WILL FIND THE LETTER OF EXTENSION, WHICH IS ALSO ON THE SCREEN, THE SITE PLANS, THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE TOWN OF DENTON BY DOWNTOWN DENTON MAIN STREET.
ON THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE OF THE APPLICATION, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SIGNED THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL,
[00:30:05]
BUT WE ARE STILL MISSING THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SIGNATURE.WE RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD TO DO A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL UPON RECEIPT OF THE FINAL SIGNATURES ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FIRST EVENT.
THIS WAS THE LETTER THAT WAS PROVIDED BY MARKET STREET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, AND THIS IS THE SITE PLAN FOR THE BLOCK OF 200 MARKET STREET.
WHICH ONE IS THE PUB? THIS ONE HERE ON THE CORNER?
>> THEN WE HAVE THE BLOCKAGE THERE.
>> THAT'D BE IN THE FRONT ALONG WITH THE PUB'S CURRENT OUTDOOR PATIO AREA THAT EXTENDS DOWN THE SIDE THERE ON THE ONE SIDE.
>> HERE'S THE APPLICATION FOR THE TOWN OF DENTON.
AGAIN, AS STATED, ON THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SIGNATURE.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR FOR APPROVAL ON THAT.
>> YOU GUYS, THE THIRD THURSDAY THING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR PROBABLY CLOSE TO 10 YEARS NOW.
DURING COVID, THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED FOR CONTAINERS IN THE STREET AND OUTSIDE OF DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS.
THAT WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE AT THIRD THURSDAY.
WE'VE TAKEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE COULD EXPAND FOR THE THIRD THURSDAY EVENTS THAT ALLOW THE CONTAINER IN THE STREET WHILE THE FOLKS ARE PLAYING [INAUDIBLE] OR LISTENING TO THE BANDS THAT ARE PROVIDED.
THIS HAS BEEN THE EASIEST METHOD TO GET TO THAT POINT AND BRIAN IS STILL WILLING TO WORK WITH US.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED, WE ACTUALLY ARE ONLY WANTING TO EXPAND TO MID 200 BLOCK BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO REGULATE THE AREA, BUT IT ALLOWS FOR THE FOLKS PLAYING [INAUDIBLE] TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BEER WHILE THEY'RE PLAYING.
WE WOULD BE ADDING ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY SIGNAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AT BOTH ENDS OF THE BLOCK, EXERCISING NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL, NO ALCOHOL BEYOND THIS POINT.
BRIAN ALREADY SERVES PEOPLE WITH CERTIFICATION AND PROVIDES A NORMAL CARTING PROCESS THROUGHOUT HIS NORMAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS, SO IT'S NOT SUPER COMPLICATED.
>> THE TOWN WILL STILL PUT BARRIERS, THOUGH, BACK AT THE RED LIGHT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT GOING TO UTILIZE ALL OF THE 200 BLOCK.
>> YOU'RE JUST UTILIZING ON THERE.
YOU'RE JUST UTILIZING THE END IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING A BARRIER IN THIS EMPTY SPACE SO THAT IT WILL BE OBVIOUS IF PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT ZONE THING.
THE OTHER END IS TIGHT WITH THE ACTUAL FRONTAGE OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT'S WHERE THE ACTIVITY IS GOING ON, SO IT'S EASIER TO PATROL AND MAINTAIN.
THAT'S THE SPACE WE WILL BE USING.
>> THAT'S THE SPACE YOU WANT TO USE.
>> I HAVE A SIGN DRAWN BY THE TOWN.
>> YOU COULD SEND IT TO ME. THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
>> YOU'RE BASICALLY SHUTTING DOWN THAT STREET.
>> WE SHUT DOWN THE STREET CURRENTLY, ANYWAY.
>> IT'S JUST ALLOWING THAT WHEN BRIAN SERVES ALCOHOL, ALL THE PERSONNEL OR THE FOLKS BY AND ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CURB.
CURRENTLY, EVERYBODY HAS TO LINE THEIR BEERS UP ON THE CURB OR ON A TABLE OR TO TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE LIQUOR LICENSE, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE SOCIAL A LITTLE BIT MORE FRIENDLY.
>> BUT WITH THE EXPANSION OF DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN AREA, WITH THE FACT THAT THE ALCOHOL IN GENERAL, THE SALES ARE GOING DOWN AS FAR AS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGALIZATION OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES THAT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ON THE BOOKS.
WE'RE PROBABLY DOWN ABOUT 25% OF OUR ALCOHOL SALES IN GENERAL.
THIS IS ONE ATTEMPT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO PROMOTE THE SAFE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD OF IT.
MY MAJOR CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO STEP OFF OF THAT CURB,
[00:35:03]
MY LICENSE IS HELD LIABLE.OUR FOOTPRINT IS SO EXPANSIVE THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE SHUT DOWN FOR ANY REASON, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE OPERATION.
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MAJOR STICKING POINT, TOWN OF DENTON AND GEORGE BACORN, AND ALL OF THOSE FOLKS SURE BE THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.
THAT WAS ALWAYS MY MAJOR STICKING POINT IN THIS WHOLE OPERATION.
I FEEL VERY SECURE WITH WITH DALLAS AND THE DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET, THEY'VE PROVIDED TO MAKE MORE VIABLE OPTION.
>> NO. THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT A LOT OF THE OTHER TOWNS ARE DOING.
A LOT OF PLACES ON THE SHORE HAS BEEN DOING IT.
HE'S A PUBS VERY GOOD BUSINESS, VERY RESPONSIBLE, NEVER HAVE ANY REALLY ISSUES.
IT'S WHAT SUMMER FEST HAS BEEN DOING, SO I HAVE NO ISSUES.
>> MR. LISTER, YOU DID SAY YOU WERE WORKING ON TRYING TO DO A BARRIER WITHIN THE STREET BARRIER SO THAT IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY WHERE THAT ENDS WITHIN THAT BLOCK.
>> WE'RE DOING TEMPORARY SIGNAGE AT BOTH ENDS.
THEN THERE'S ACTUAL STREET BARRIERS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE.
>> SO, NO CARS CAN DRIVE DOWN.
>> THIS IS WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH CAROLINES HERE WITH THESE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
IT'S GOOD TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAN GO, WHERE THEY CAN'T GO.
THIS IS A VERY CLEAR DRAWING AND I SAID NO ISSUES HERE.
THAT'S THE AREA YOU'RE WANTING TO USE.
I NOTICED THAT IT EXTENDS DOWN TO INCORPORATE WHERE THE.
>> I THINK YOU SAID PASS TO PATTIE'S PEDALS.
>> PAST PATTIE'S PEDALS, [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S WHERE USUALLY THE BAND SETS UP.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT ON THE OTHER STREET, WHERE YOU HAVE A FEW CHAIRS IN THE SIDE.
>> WHAT'S THE LAST BUSINESS ON THE CLUB SIDE?
>> THIS [INAUDIBLE] OUTDOOR SEAT.
>> I WAS TRYING TO VERIFY WHAT IS ALREADY EXISTING.
HE ALREADY HAD OUTDOOR SEATING ON THAT SIDE.
IT DOESN'T GO INTO THE STREET.
IT JUST GOES ON THE SIDEWALK ON THIS FRONTAGE.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THIS. YOU OKAY?
>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE BLOCKING IT OFF AND JUST FOR TEMPORARY.
>> WE HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES WITH THE PUB.
THE THIRD THURSDAYS, LIKE DALTON SAID, HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS.
DURING COVID, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS THAN THEY ARE NOW.
I THINK EVERYBODY THAT IS THERE FOR THIRD THURSDAY WILL BE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF BEING ABLE TO DO SUCH A THING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I SAID IT HERE, WELL, WAS THAT MINE OR WAS THAT YOURS TYPE OF THING.
>> IT'S NOT A LATE NIGHT EVENT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAD ONE. BUT YOU STAYED YOUR NORMAL AREA.
YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ONE, FOUR MORE EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A TEMPORARY EXTENSION PREMISE FOR THE MARKET STREET PUB TO BE HELD ON JUNE 19, JULY THE 17TH, AUGUST 14, AND SEPTEMBER THE 18TH.
>> I SECOND AND APPROVE THE MOTION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THIS EXTENSION FOR THE PUBS OUTDOOR EVENTS.
>> ALL OPPOSED? IT'S OKAY. GOOD LUCK.
[Action Items]
WE GOT ACTION ITEMS.>> YES. ACTION ITEMS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION HERE.
[Bullock's Deli - Written Decision]
FIRST IS BULLOCK'S DELI, WHICH WAS A WRITTEN DECISION SHOW CALLS HEARING FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING.WHICH IF YOU HAD NO CONCERNS OVER THE WRITTEN DECISION FOR THE VIOLATION AND FINE, THE NOTIFICATION IS HERE AND READY FOR SIGNATURES, WHICH I ALREADY HAVE.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS RED LIGHT LIQUORS.
[Red Light Liquors - Letter of Auth for Continued Delivery]
RED LIGHT LIQUOR SUBMITTED A LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTINUED DELIVERY.THIS IS UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE
[00:40:05]
OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SECTION 4, PAGE 507, WHICH THEY HAD APPROVAL OF LIQUOR DELIVERY ON A PREVIOUS LIQUOR LICENSE YEAR.THAT WAS LAST YEAR'S LIQUOR LICENSE.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE PROCESSING LIQUOR DELIVERY, SUCH AS THEY DID LAST YEAR ON THEIR CURRENT 2025 AND 2026 LIQUOR LICENSE.
WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS IMPLEMENTED, WHICH WAS DELIVERY ONLY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF NINE AND 11:00 PM.
KEEPING TRACK OF A DELIVERY LOG TO BE MAINTAINED FOR ALL DELIVERIES.
IF YOU HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE WRITTEN REQUESTS AND THE BOARD APPROVES, I CAN CREATE A LETTER OF APPROVAL AND SEND IT TO THE RED LIGHT LIQUORS WITH THE CONDITIONS LISTED.
>> TREY, DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON THAT?
>> NO. LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN TO BOTH THESE BUSINESSES HERE, ESPECIALLY RECENTLY QUITE A BIT.
MAN, NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF THAT.
>> THE DISCUSSION LAST YEAR WHEN YOU ORIGINALLY APPROVED AND DID A TRIAL PERIOD, I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE SIX MONTHS AND THEN GAVE THEM APPROVAL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THE BOARD HAD INTENDED AT RENEWAL EACH YEAR.
THAT WOULD BE A REQUEST AS PART OF THE RENEWAL.
WE FORGOT ABOUT THAT AT RENEWAL TIME TO MAKE SURE THE DELIVERY PORTION WAS APPROVED AS WELL.
THERE'S BEEN NO REQUEST TO CHANGE ANYTHING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED JUST TO GRANT THAT APPROVAL FOR THIS LICENSE YEAR AS WELL IN THE SAME FASHION.
>> WE HAD DISCUSSED THE THIRD PARTY COMPARED TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, OBVIOUSLY.
THEN I'VE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW OF THE EVENTS, AND THEY'VE HANDLED IT CORRECTLY.
WE'VE HAD THEM IN FOR SOME HEARINGS, BUT WE'VE ADDRESSED THOSE HEARINGS, AND BUT NOTHING AS FAR AS THE DELIVERY.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> SHE DID A VERY NICE JOB WITH LOGBOOK.
IT'S VERY DETAILED. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT.
IT HASN'T GONE THE WAY THEY HAVE.
THEY'VE WANTED TO, BUT I THINK MAYBE THIS YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO EXPAND THAT AS FAR AS ADVERTISING AND THINGS.
AFTER TALKING TO HER, THAT'S WHAT THE PLAN IS.
BUT IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND, AND SHE'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB RECORDING THAT INFORMATION.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLARIFIED ON THE RECORD WAS THE DELIVERY TIMES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SAY IT'S 9:00 AM-11PM.
>> SORRY. YES. CORRECT. 9:00 AM-11:00 PM.
>> CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OF THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE.
>> THEY CAN'T THEY CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.
NOTHING AS FAR AS THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS GRANT AN EXTENSION FOR WHAT IS ALREADY APPROVED.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE BULLOCK'S DELI.
>> DON'T WE HAVE TO APPROVE THIS ALSO?
>> YOU CAN APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ALTOGETHER.
>> WE CAN JUST DO THE [NOISE],EXCUSE ME, ACTION ITEMS ALL AS ONE.
>> YOU SIGNED OFF ON [INAUDIBLE] ON FRIDAY.
>> I KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THINGS WE STILL TALKED ABOUT WE HAD TO PUT IT ON RECORD.
>> WE HAD TO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT AGAIN [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK SHE WANT YOU TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
I MOVE TO APPROVE BULLOCK'S DELIS AS WAS WRITTEN IN OUR PACKET, AND I ALSO MOVED TO APPROVE RED LIGHT LIQUORS EXTENSION OF THEIR DELIVERY REQUEST PERMIT FOR THE YEAR OF 2025 AND 2026 TILL APRIL 30 OF 2026.
>> I SECOND THAT MOTION. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE BOTH THESE ACTION ITEMS FOR BULLOCK DELI AND FOR RED LIGHT LIQUORS.
>> ALL OPPOSED. IT'S OKAY. MOVING BE RIGHT LONG.
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WE HAVE
[New License | Public Hearing]
A NEW LICENSE FOR BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE.ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[Bewnics Bait and Tackle]
PLEASE STAND, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.WE'LL DO THE OATH. DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM
[00:45:01]
AT THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> IRAN NICHOLS, [INAUDIBLE] MARYLAND.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SITTED.
>> GENTLEMEN, AGAIN, WE HAVE AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, THE TRADE NAME BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, NEW CLASS A, BEER WINE AND LIQUOR, RETAIL STORE, SEVEN DAY OFF PREMISE SALES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE.
THE REQUIREMENTS THAT STATED IN THE STAFF REPORT, THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE WITH ALL REQUIRED SIGNATURES.
WE HAVE THE CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK, WHICH WAS COMPLETED FOR THE APPLICANT.
CRIMINAL HISTORY WAS FOUND UNDER BOTH THE MARYLAND STATUTE AND FBI.
THE APPLICANT IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THEREFORE, MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 15-14(07)(A) OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLES.
THE APPLICANT IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE.
IRAN NICHOLS WILL MANAGE THE BUSINESS.
LLC DOCUMENTS AND LEASE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED FOR A LEGAL SUFFICIENCY, AND A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES RECORD ON MAY 14, 2025, AND MAY 21, 2025.
THE OUTSTANDING ITEMS TO DATE IS THE ADVERTISEMENT FEE OF $162.
THE LICENSE FEE WILL BE PRORATED QUARTERLY IF IT'S APPLICABLE.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL AND COPY OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE FACILITY PERMIT, A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATION FOR ALCOHOL AWARENESS PROGRAM, THE WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE CERTIFICATE, MARYLAND'S SALE AND USE TAX LICENSE, THE STATE OF MARYLAND'S BUSINESS LICENSE, PROOF OF REGISTRATION WITH THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, APPROVAL FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND OCCUPANCY PERMIT FROM THE TOWNS OF FEDERALSBURG.
IN YOUR PACKET, WE DO HAVE THE EXHIBITS LISTED THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
STAFF REPORT, WHICH I JUST WENT OVER, THE APPLICATION WHICH HAS BEEN REDACTED IS COMPLETED.
OH, EXCUSE ME. THE STATEMENT OF OWNER OF THE PREMISE, OH THAT'S PART OF THE APPLICATION, THE ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION IS PART OF THE EXHIBITS HERE IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT AS WELL.
WE HAVE THE SITE PLANS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, WHICH IS, LET ME BLOW THIS UP, [NOISE] THIS IS WHERE BRUNIX IS UNIT 2 ON THE SITE PLAN AND THE PARKING.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FRONT ENTRANCE, WHICH MR. NICHOLS CAN EXPAND ON, AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SITE PLAN HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
WE HAVE OUR S DATA RESEARCH FOR THE LOCATION, AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT'S NOTICE.
BEING MADE AWARE OF THE ADVERTISEMENT AND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL TURN IT OVER BACK TO YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU DO, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO THE RECORD?
THE NOTICE MEETING NOTICE TO BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, DEAR MR. NICHOLS, YOUR APPLICATION FOR A NEW CLASS.
>> THE NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING. THE NEWSPAPER PUBLIC ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO FIND THIS.
[00:50:02]
THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT PURSUANT TO THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEGINNING AT 9:30 AM ON MAY 28, 2025, RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION.
A REQUEST BY IRA RASHAD NICHOLS FOR THE USE OF BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, LLC.
TRADE NAME BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE LOCATED AT 4006 HORMAN DRIVE, FEDERALSBURG, MARYLAND FOR A NEW CLASS A, BEER WINE AND LIQUOR SEVEN DAY OFF PREMISE SALES ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE.
ANY CITIZENS INTERESTED IN THIS APPLICATION, WISHING TO BE HEARD BY THE BOARD ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE HEARING AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS 403 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET SUITE 210, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK AND EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN MIND?
I HAVE A BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP, AND QUITE A FEW OF MY CUSTOMERS ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN, MAYBE OVER [INAUDIBLE] AND HURLOCK, DELAWARE AREAS.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY FAMILIAR WITH FEDERALSBURG, SO IT'LL BE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THEM.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH DOING IT FOR THEM.
>> YOU'RE CURRENTLY IN BUSINESS?
>> IT IS JUST A BAIT AND TACKLE?
>> I WILL BE SELLING BEVERAGES AND SNACKS.
>> TREY, HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE LOCATION?
>> I'VE CHECKED OUT THE LOCATION.
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DID HAVE A BUSINESS HERE IN DENTON THAT TRIED TO DO JUST BEER, WHICH THEY DID SHOW A NEED, JUST AS FAR AS BEER.
FEDERALSBURG IS AN AREA THAT HAS QUITE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, AND BEING IN THAT BUSINESS WITH THE SHOPPING COMPLEX, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC THERE, BUT AS FAR AS THE LOCATION, NO ISSUES, TIP CERTIFICATION.
I ALWAYS SUPPORT BUSINESS IN FEDERALSBURG.
CURIOUS, WHY FEDERALSBURG AND NOT HURLOCK? [LAUGHTER] JUST BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF HURLOCK PEOPLE.
>> WELL, HURLOCK DOESN'T HAVE ANY REALLY PLACES FOR ENTREPRENEURS.
>> EVERYBODY [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I TRIED A FEW YEARS AGO ACROSS FROM OVER THERE BY MOM AND POP'S, BUT IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY WAS FIGHTING FOR THIS ONE BUILDING, SO I DIDN'T GET IT.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THE BOARD LOOK AT PAGE 2 OF YOUR STAFF REPORT, WHICH HAS YOUR FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL, AND MAYBE GAUGE SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS FROM THERE, FOR THE APPLICANT.
ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU REVIEW THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AS WELL, SINCE THERE WERE SOME ENTRIES THERE.
>> I CERTAINLY SEE A NEED FOR IT BECAUSE FEDERALSBURG HAS BEEN DOING A LOT WITH THEIR MARINA AREA AND FISHING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEIR FISHING TOURNAMENT IS PRETTY BIG.
>> GENEVA, DO WE HAVE A MAP OF OTHER BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LICENSES?
>> YES, WE DO. I'M GLAD YOU ASKED BECAUSE I JUST PULLED THAT UP. THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE PARCEL WHERE MR. NICHOLS' BUSINESS WILL BE LOCATED, WHERE THE ROYAL FARMS IS.
[00:55:01]
ACCORDING TO THIS MAP, GIVE ME ONE SECOND.THE BLUE IS A QUARTER MILE FROM THE NEXT BUSINESS, WHICH IS WETCHER WHISTLE.
YOU ALSO SEE THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN A QUARTER MILE, THE NEXT BUSINESS FROM THERE IS SUPER SODA OF FEDERALSBURG, AND LUCKY'S CORNER FRESH DELI AND GROCERIES.
>> YES, THE INNER PURPLE CIRCLE IS A 500-FOOT RADIUS FROM THE BUSINESS, AND THEN THE OUTER BLUE IS A QUARTER MILE.
LET ME BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> PUT IT ON THE SCREEN. SHOW WHERE THE ROYAL FARMS AREA AND WHERE THEY'RE PROPOSING THE BUSINESS IS.
>> THIS HERE IS THE ROYAL FARMS AREA, PARTICULARLY THE MCDONALD'S.
>> I DON'T THINK THE BUILDING FOOTPRINTS ARE ON THERE YET.
>> UP HIGHER ON THE MAP IS WHERE HE WOULD BE.
>> YOU KNOW WHERE THE DOMINO'S IS IN FRONT OF THE FOOD LION, GLEN?
>> THERE'S LITTLE SUITES IN THERE. THAT'S WHERE HE IS.
>> IS THAT WHERE FOOD LION IS.
>> THERE'S THE CAR WASH THERE, THE ROYAL FARMS.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER ALCOHOL BUSINESSES? THERE'S NONE IN THAT AREA. IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING?
>> NOT IN THE SHOPPING CENTER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE CLOSEST ONE IS WETCHER WHISTLE.
>> I SHOULD TELL SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS THAT'S WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
>> OF COURSE, THE ONE'S NOT SHOWN UP BECAUSE THEIR TIME EXPIRED.
>> THEY DO NOT HAVE A LICENSE AT THIS TIME.
>> IF YOU WANT TO ZOOM OUT, TREY, WOULD YOU WANT TO SHOW WHERE THE OTHER APPROVED LICENSE IS, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED?
>> YOU WON'T NEED ME TO ZOOM OUT MORE?
>> THIS IS THE GROUP THAT'S TRYING TO GET APPROVAL TO GET THE PLACE DONE.
THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT DONE YET.
>> IT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
THEY'RE STILL DOING CONSTRUCTION.
>> ZOOM IN HERE WHERE WETCHER WHISTLE IS.
>> WETCHER WHISTLE IS RIGHT HERE.
>> IT'S RIGHT WHERE YOUR CURSOR IS.
>> NOW [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE STREET WITHIN THAT PURPLE AREA.
THEN THIS IS WHERE THE NEW BUSINESS WILL BE FOR THE FISHERMEN TACKLE STORE.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE OPPOSED TO THIS? CAN WE ASK?
>> DO WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS FIRST?
>> DO WE NEED TO GO THROUGH OUR STAFF REPORT FIRST?
>> WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT FIRST.
>> WELL, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THE APPLICANT ANY QUESTIONS OR HEAR FROM HIM, AND THEN YOU WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS IN FAVOR OR NOT IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION, THAT WANTS TO SPEAK.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, SO TO SPEAK.
>> WITH YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK.
IT DOES NOT COME BACK VERY FAVORABLE.
THIS WAS FROM, I BELIEVE, THE STATE, MARYLAND'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM CAME BACK.
I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT CAME BACK ON HERE.
>> BUT I THINK YOU ALSO DESERVE THE RIGHT TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON.
YOU WERE FINGERPRINTED ON 5/8 OF 2014 BY PAROLE AND PROBATION, FOUND GUILTY, AND WAS GIVEN A SENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS, OF WHICH FIVE YEARS WAS SUSPENDED AND GIVEN PROBATION FOR FIVE YEARS.
[01:00:03]
A CHARGE OF, I ASSUME, POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE, ACCORDING TO WHAT IT SAYS HERE.>> IT SAYS YOU WERE ALSO ARRESTED ON 4/11 OF 2011 BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> NO DISPOSITION. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT?
>> YEAH. IT WAS POSSESSION, BUT THERE'S NO DISPOSITION LISTED.
>> THEN OCTOBER OF '03 BY ELTON PD.
FOUND GUILTY, BUT NO SENTENCE INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED ON THE CHARGE OF CDS POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE.
FOUND GUILTY AND WAS GIVEN A SENTENCE OF ONE YEAR, SIX MONTHS OF WHICH ONE YEAR WAS SUSPENDED, GIVEN PROBATION OF THREE YEARS ON THE CHARGE OF CDS POSSESSION.
>> MR. NICHOLS, ONE OF THE THINGS THE BOARD HAS TO CONSIDER IN GRANTING OR DENYING AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE IS THAT THE APPLICANT IS A FIT PERSON TO RECEIVE THE LICENSE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
>> ARE YOU CURRENTLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ANY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?
>> NO, I'M NOT. ACTUALLY, THOSE THINGS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING EXPUNGED.
EXCEPT FOR THE ONE AFTER, I PROBABLY CAN'T GET THAT EXPUNGED UNTIL OCTOBER.
>> BUT YOU'RE NOT CURRENTLY UNDER PAROLE OR PROBATION SUPERVISION?
>> NO, ALL THAT STUFF IS BEHIND ME.
>> WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? [BACKGROUND]
>> THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN IN ANY ISSUES LIKE THAT HAS BEEN OVER 13 YEARS.
>> THIRTEEN YEARS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PAROLE AND PROBATION?
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> YOU WERE UNDER PROBATION AND SUPERVISION IN DORCHESTER COUNTY?
>> YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE REST OF THIS?
>> WELL, WE ALSO HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK FROM THE FBI.
ON PAGE 4, APRIL 11TH OF 2025.
>> THAT'S WHAT SHE REPORTED ON.
>> THE FBI ONE IS A LITTLE HARDER TO DECIPHER TO ME.
>> I CAN'T SEE THE OFFENSE DATES OTHER THAN APRIL OF 2010.
OR AT LEAST AT THAT DAY IS 12/31/2009.
>> IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE FBI THING WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL JUST ONE DATE WITH A LOT OF THINGS?
>> DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ARREST DATE? IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS NEW YEAR'S EVE IN 2009.
>> 2009? I GOT A PARDON FROM DELAWARE.
>> I GOT A PARDON FROM THE COUNTY OF DELAWARE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT DOES SAY THAT. IT DOES SAY DISPOSITION ON 4/19/2010, A FULL PARDON.
IT'S THERE. CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON.
>> RECEIVING A STOLEN FIREARM.
>> HOWEVER, THE PARDON WAS ISSUED IN 2010.
YOU HAVE NOT PAID THE ADVERTISEMENT FEE YET?
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF I NEEDED TO DO IT TODAY. I DO HAVE IT.
>> WELL, THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OBVIOUSLY BEFORE WE CAN.
[01:05:10]
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD HAS FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THE APPLICANT TO HELP YOU ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS WHEN YOU DO DELIBERATE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC NEED AND DESIRE.
I THINK YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT NUMBER OF EXISTING LICENSES.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THERE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT PART OF YOUR HEARING?
>> IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.
>> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ASK MR. NICHOLS BEFORE YOU MOVED TO ANYONE ELSE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS YOU HAVE TO GET DONE HERE. YOU KNOW THAT.
THE ADVERTISEMENT FEE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL.
>> HAS HE SIGNED UP FOR TIPS TRAINING? HAVE YOU SIGNED UP?
>> IS IT JUST GOING TO BE YOU IN THIS BUSINESS?
>> YOU'LL BE WORKING FROM OPEN TO CLOSE EVERY DAY THAT YOU'RE OPEN?
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY ALCOHOL TRAINING CERTIFICATION?
>> YES, I RECENTLY GOT WITH TERRY.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SALES AND USE TAX LICENSE?
>> YEAH. EVERYTHING I'VE NEEDED FOR MY BUSINESS I GOT IT BECAUSE I COULD ONLY OPEN THE STORE AND HE WOULDN'T RENT TO ME UNLESS I HAD ALL THAT.
>> AT THIS TIME, YOU'LL BE THE ONLY EMPLOYEE, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES AT THIS TIME?
>> ANY PLANS TO HIRE ANYBODY IF YOU'RE APPROVED?
>> DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP YOU IF YOU'RE APPROVED? SOME CLERK OR SOMETHING.
>> THAT STILL WOULD BE LATER ON.
I'M TRYING TO BUILD UP MYSELF RIGHT NOW.
AS FAR AS MY BACKGROUND, WHICH Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT IS OVER 13 YEARS AGO, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW EVER SINCE.
>> WHAT STOCK ARE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING? SOME BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR, ARE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING JUST TO COMPLEMENT IT, A COUPLE OF CASES OF BEER IN THERE, A COUPLE OF THINGS, WINE.
BECAUSE BASICALLY, YOU'RE A TACKLE STOP.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT YOU OPERATING AS A FULL-FLEDGED LIQUOR STORE.
>> NO, I'M NOT A LIQUOR STORE, I'M A TACKLE STOP.
>> HOW MUCH STOCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE CARRYING?
>> THAT DEPENDS. I'LL USUALLY GO BY WHAT MY CUSTOMER IS LOOKING FOR.
I WANT TO SUPPLY JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. NOT NO BIG SELECTION.
>> NOT WALK IN THERE AND SAY, THIS IS A LIQUOR STORE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> I WAS WAITING BEFORE WE GO INTO DELIBERATION, IS WHEN WE ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OR WHATEVER, IF THERE'S ANY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S IN FAVOR OR AGAINST?
>> BEFORE WE GO INTO THE FACTORS OF APPROVAL AND DENIAL FOR DELIBERATION,
[Public Hearing]
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT WHERE ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK?>> I HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY HARRY PATEL AND HIS BROTHER, BHARAT PATEL.
THEY ARE THE OWNERS OF THE FEDERALSBURG, SUPER SODA AND WETCHER WHISTLE, TO APPEAR TO THE BOARD. I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE MAYBE OPPOSED TO THIS LICENSE BECAUSE OF HIS CLOSENESS TO WETCHER WHISTLE AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS.
THEREFORE, YOU HAVE FOUR, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY IN FEDERALSBURG, BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR LICENSES.
THIS IS A BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR LICENSE, ALTHOUGH, I'M NOT SURE THAT WINE AND LIQUOR ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CATTLE AND FISHING.
MOSTLY, SEEMS TO ME, FISHERMEN WANT BEER.
IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FISHING SPOT IN FEDERALSBURG, YOU'VE GOT TO GO BUY AT LEAST THREE BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR LICENSE ESTABLISHMENTS TO GET TO WHERE THE FISHING IS.
IT APPEARS THAT THIS MAY NOT BE NEEDED IN FEDERALSBURG.
I DID CHECK THE RECORDS, AND THE POPULATION OF FEDERALSBURG
[01:10:03]
CURRENTLY IS 2,818 PEOPLE. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS, HOUSING UNITS IN FEDERALSBURG IS 1,185 HOUSEHOLDS.FEDERALSBURG IS NOT A HIGHLY GROWING AREA.
THE NEED FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE ANOTHER BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENT SEEMS TO BE VERY LIMITED AND BE PERHAPS EVEN NON EXISTENT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I CHECKED OUT WAS THAT MR. NICHOLS HAS HIS LLC, BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE, LLC.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE BREWNICS CAME FROM, IT MAY BE BEER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IN ANY EVENT, THAT PARTICULAR ESTABLISHMENT IS NOT IN GOOD STANDING.
THE LLC IS NOT A GOOD STANDING.
HE HAD A PRIOR LLC ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO THAT WAS FORFEITED, AND IT WAS ALSO NAMED BREWNICS, BUT IT HAD A DIFFERENT ADDRESS TO THE NAME.
AS FAR AS HIS BOOKKEEPING GOES, HE REALLY APPARENTLY DOESN'T KEEP UP WITH WHAT HE'S REQUIRED TO DO UNDER THE MARYLAND CODE.
I THINK THE INCIDENT THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT DECEMBER OF 2013 WAS THE CASE IN CAMBRIDGE.
HE WAS GIVEN FIVE YEARS PROBATION, TO TAKE IT UP TO TWO YEAR 2008 AS TO WHEN HIS PROBATION WOULD HAVE ENDED.
THAT CASE IS ACTUALLY OPEN. IT'S BEEN REOPENED. IT WAS CLOSED.
IT WAS A CRIMINAL INDICTMENT. IT WAS CLOSED, AND NOW IT'S BEEN REOPENED.
I ASSUME THAT AN ATTORNEY IN THAT FIELD, I ASSUME IT'S BEEN REOPENED BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IF HE'S ATTEMPTING TO EXPUNGE OR TO GET SOME RELIEF IN THAT CASE, IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN REOPENED, BUT IT IS RE-OPENED, AND IT IS OPEN, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTIVITY THAT IS OF RECORD SO FAR TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I CHECKED OUT MR. NICHOLS ON THE INTERNET.
HE'S QUITE POPULAR ON THE INTERNET.
APPARENTLY, HE'S IN HEMP GROWING BUSINESS AND DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS.
I THINK HE ALSO HAD SOME BEE-KEEPING TYPE BUSINESS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT APPEAR ON THE INTERNET FROM HIM FROM BREWNICS.
FOR INSTANCE, A FRESH PACK JUST CAME IN FROM DENADA, I'M GOOD EVERYWHERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS MR. NICHOLS, AND I DON'T HAVE THE DATE OF WHEN THAT WAS PUT THERE, BUT IF YOU LOOK UP BREWNICS ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET, YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH HEMP GROWING AND DISTRIBUTION.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME UP WITH BAIT AND TACKLE.
HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, HARRY IS STANDING UP, I GUESS HE MIGHT BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE ARE FROM FEDERALSBURG.
I KNOW THERE WAS A PETITION THAT WAS BEING CIRCULATED, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
IS THERE STILL A PETITION? DO YOU HAVE A PETITION?
>> WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE.
I THINK PROBABLY YOU WANT TO SWEAR HIM IN.
>> YEAH, HE'S GOING TO SPEAK. WE'LL DO THE OATH.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> MY NAME IS HITESH PATEL. 7418, HAVEN COURT, HIGHLAND, MARYLAND, 20777.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO LEAD THE QUESTIONS?
>> NO, YOU CAN. I ALREADY TALKED TO THE MAYOR.
>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THIS LICENSE BEING LOCATED WHERE THE CURRENT LOCATION IS, IS THAT CORRECT?
[01:15:05]
>> YOU'VE BEEN ASKING AROUND FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EVERYTHING AS TO WHETHER THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE LICENSE FOR THAT LOCATION?
>> I DID AND I TALKED TO THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE? ARE THEY HERE TODAY? SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY.
WAS THERE A PETITION THAT YOU CIRCULATED?
>> DO YOU HAVE IT HERE THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE IT IN THE EVIDENCE?
>> THESE ARE SIGNATURES AND I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT THESE TO THE BOARD.
I WILL READ FOR THE RECORD WHAT THE STATE DID, IT'S OPPOSITION TO A NEW ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RETAIL OFF PREMISE LICENSE, AND TO WE, THE UNDERSIGNED REPUTABLE CITIZENS WITH FEDERALSBURG ADDRESSES FIELD OF ANOTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RETAIL STORE AT THE ADDRESS OF 4006 HAYMAN DRIVE, FEDERALSBURG, IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE PUBLIC, AND THE LOCATION IS NOT SUITABLE FOR OFF PREMISE SALES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PAGES THERE ARE HERE OF SIGNATURES.
DID YOU HAPPEN TO ACCOUNT THE SIGNATURES?
>> TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINE SIGNATURES.
MR. MALONE, IF WE CAN SUBMIT THIS INTO RECORD. I CAN GET YOU TO WALK.
>> YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE TWO BUSINESSES ESSENTIALLY IN FEDERALSBURG?
>> MR. THORNTON, JUST A SECOND PLEASE.
>> WE NEED TO DECIDE IF I CAN ACCEPT THAT AND WE NEED TO [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC EXHIBIT.
>> WE GOT TO ACCEPT THAT IN THE PUBLIC EXHIBIT.
>> [BACKGROUND] THE PETITIONS HAVE BEEN MARKED FOR IDENTIFICATION AS PATEL EXHIBITS 1 THROUGH 4 SINCE THEY'RE STAPLED IN SEPARATE BATCHES.
>> DO I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE?
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE PACKETS OF PETITIONS THAT WERE SIGNED IN OPPOSITION TO THE PLACEMENT OR ANY APPROVAL OF THIS NEW BUSINESS.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT THESE PETITIONS INTO EVIDENCE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> MR. NICHOLS, DID YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE PETITIONS? FOR THE RECORD, NO.
[01:20:04]
>> MR. PATEL, YOU AND YOUR BROTHER, BHARAT, YOU WERE INVOLVED IN TWO RETAIL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BUSINESSES IN FEDERALSBURG, CORRECT?
>> SUPER SODA AND WETCHER WHISTLE.
>> HERE, THE LICENSE IS OF ONE OF THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS?
>> BHARAT IS ONE OF THE OTHER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> SPEAK WITH WETCHER WHISTLE, HAS THERE BEEN ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN WETCHER WHISTLE SINCE YOU HAVE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS?
>> I BOUGHT THE BUSINESS IN 2015, JUNE.
TOTALLY I KEEP 200,000, I SPENT.
THE BUSINESS IS BOOMING ON LIQUOR BUSINESS ON THAT ENTIRE UNITED STATES, 33% IMPROVEMENT.
THAT TIME, THE SPACE IS SMALL.
I EXPAND AGAIN 2,500 SQUARE FOOT AGAIN.
I SPENT $436,000. IN 2015, FROM BEGINNING TIME, AND AFTER COVID, I SPEND AGAIN 436,000.
NOW WHOLE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS ALMOST 4,000 SQUARE FOOT [INAUDIBLE].
LAST YEAR, THEY APPROVED THE LICENSE IN FRONT OF THE NEXT BUILDING [INAUDIBLE] GAS STATION, BUT THEY DON'T EVEN START. ALREADY 2,800 PEOPLE, THEY HAVE A FILE LICENSE INCLUDE THE [INAUDIBLE].
ALREADY TALKED TO THE MAYOR AND TOWN PEOPLES.
MAYOR AGREE. I SAY I NEED SOME SUPPORT TO WRITE DOWN SOME LETTER SAY I CAN GO INTO THE MEETING.
SHE SAID IN A MOMENT, WE DO HAVE MEETING, BUT TIME FRAME IS TOO SHORT.
I CANNOT MANAGE IT TO TALK TO THE TOWN PEOPLE.
IF YOU NEED IT IN FUTURE, I CAN HELP IT OUT, BUT WE NEED SOME DIFFERENT BUSINESS.
I DO HAVE PLANNING TO DO SOME RESTAURANTS AND PACKAGE STORES AND I'M FINANCING A LITTLE BIT [INAUDIBLE] MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER NEXT YEAR, I'M GOING TO BE STARTING.
COMMUNITY HAS ONLY ONE MCDONALD'S, ONE FAMILY RESTAURANTS, AND ONE IS THE CHINESE RESTAURANTS.
I HAVE PLANNING BETTER THAN SOME SANDWICH SHOP, SOME MIDDLE EAST TYPE SHOP, PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN AND PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THAT WAY.
I DO HAVE PLANNING. I ALREADY TALKED TO THE FRANCHISE TWO, THREE PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE READY TO APPROVE TO THAT ONE.
I NEED TO GO TO TRAINING I CAN FINISH THAT ONE, BUT THE PLANNING IS SITUATION ABOUT MY FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE TWO MONTHS AFTER, THREE MONTHS AFTER I CAN START. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S ALL. IF YOU CAN IMPROVE AND ADD UP AGAIN LIQUOR STORE, THEY ALREADY HAVE TWO WEB STORE AND ONE OF CANNABIS OFFICE ANOTHER.
NOBODY THINKING SOME DIFFERENT THINGS IN SMALL COMMUNITY.
THIS TOWN IS 2011. TODAY 2025. I KNOW THESE THINGS, THAT'S REASON I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH AND IS IT GOING TO IMPACT TO ME? THAT'S MOST OF IT.
>> THERE'S A TESTIMONY WITH A PRIOR INDIVIDUAL HERE THAT ALCOHOL BEVERAGE SALES HAD DECREASED?
>> HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THAT OR NOT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, EVERY MONTH TO MONTH I TACKLE BECAUSE I HAVE EXCEL SHEET.
EVERY DAY TO DAY I CAN TELL. IT'S GOING SLOW, EVEN NOT ME.
MAYBE I CAN TALK SOME RUBBISH, BUT SALES PEOPLE, THE LIQUOR DEPARTMENT,
[01:25:06]
SALES PEOPLE, THEY SAY, WE DON'T HAVE BUSINESS LIKE LAST YEARS.BECAUSE THE MARYLAND'S GOVERNOR APPROVED TO THE CANNABIS THING BUSINESS AND PEOPLE DIVERT IT TO 15-18% DOWN COMPARED TO LAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S GOING TO BE NEW LICENSE COMING.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT TO ME AND I ALREADY SPENT ALMOST 600, ABOUT 1,000 IN THAT PROPERTY IN 2015 AFTER.
>> DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK?
>> I DO HAVE MY LEGAL FRIENDS, MR. FRANK AND MR. FRED.
I DO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE, BUT THEY CANNOT.
>> BUT I THINK THEY CAN COME AND TAKE AN OATH AND JUST INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND SAY WHY THEY'RE HERE.
CAN I ASK WHOEVER IT IS, THEY WOULD COME?
>> WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR HIM, SPEAK AGAINST THE NEW LICENSE, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS TAKE THE OATH, WHICH YOU STATE TO TELL THE TRUTH AND THEN STATE WHY YOU'RE HERE [NOISE].
THAT'S IT. [INAUDIBLE] SPOKEN WORDS [INAUDIBLE] YOU'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU'RE HERE.
[INAUDIBLE] IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANT TO COME FORWARD?
>> YOU CAN STAND IN FRONT OF MIC. [INAUDIBLE]
>> 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.
>> ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE NEW LICENSE OR AGAINST THE NEW LICENSE?
>> IN FAVOR OF THE NEW LICENSE. [INAUDIBLE]
>> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC, SIR?
>> SPEAK INTO THIS MICROPHONE HERE.
I'M GOING TO BEAR THE CUSTOMER. [INAUDIBLE]
>> BASICALLY YOU'RE AGAINST THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE LICENSE.
>> YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF KEEPING NO NEW LICENSE, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD?
>> DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> YOU'RE OPPOSED TO THE NEW LICENSE?
>> DID YOU ALSO SIGN THE PETITION?
>> 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.
[01:30:03]
>> YOU'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF FOR OR AGAINST THE?
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY VERIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION THAT I SAID ABOUT THE-.
>> LLC NOT BEING A GOOD STAND THERE, AND I DO HAVE IT HERE AND CHECKED IT UPDATED YESTERDAY TO MAKE SURE I WAS CORRECT AND THE POPULATION OF [INAUDIBLE] 2,800, AND THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS ARE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE LLC, IT'S A [INAUDIBLE] GOOD STAND.
>> WHICH ONE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE ONE HE OWNS CURRENTLY?
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU BE INTRODUCED [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND TACKLE LLC. THIS IS A PRINT FROM YESTERDAY FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] HAS THE ARTICLE'S ORGANIZATION.
IT'S [INAUDIBLE] STATE AND TACKLE LLC.
IF YOU LOOK, THERE'S AN ONLINE RESEARCHER [INAUDIBLE] TRYING TO FIND WHETHER IT IS [INAUDIBLE]
IT WAS STILL A GOOD STAND AND HAVE NOT A GOOD STAND THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT IS BASICALLY THAT AND ON THE BACK IT'S PRINTED ON [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE BACK IT'S NOT A GOOD STAND [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'D SAY WHEN I CHECKED BACK IN APRIL, IT WAS STILL UNDER STANDARD.
I KNOW IT WAS COMING CLOSER TO THAT TIME FOR ME TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] MR. THORNTON, CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR YOU. THANK YOU.
>> WE GOT TOO MANY PEOPLE GOING AT ONE TIME.
>> IF IT'S NOT A GOOD STANDARD RIGHT NOW, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT EXPIRED ALREADY.
THAT'S SOMETHING I COULD GO ON MY PHONE AND TAKE CARE OF.
>> MR. SHORT SAID HE'S ALSO LOOKING ONLINE AT THE SAME THING MR. THORNTON'S HANDED US.
>> THE OTHER ESTABLISHMENT THAT WAS FORFEITED WAS BRUNIX APR AND MEDICINAL FARM, LLC. THAT WAS FORFEITED.
LET'S SEE IF I HAVE THE DATE ON WHEN THAT WAS.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE, BUT IT WAS FORFEITED.
DO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THAT?
>> BUT I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE THAT IT WAS FORFEITED.
IT WAS PRELIMINARY TO THIS ONE NEXT HERE.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE PETITION.
>> IS THAT ALL WE HAVE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE TIME?
>> YES. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PAPERS SHOWING THAT BRUNIX IS NOT IN GOOD STANDING INTO EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT 5, CORRECT, STEWART? BECAUSE THE OTHERS WERE 1, 2, 3, AND 4?
>> YES. ACTUALLY, TECHNICALLY THAT'S THE PATEL EXHIBIT.
THIS WOULD ALSO BE A PATEL EXHIBIT. THIS WOULD BE AT NUMBER 5.
>> I MOVED TO ACCEPT PATEL EXHIBIT NUMBER 5 SHOWING WHERE BRUNIX IS NOT IN GOOD STANDING AT THIS TIME.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT THIS PATEL EXHIBIT NUMBER 5 INTO EVIDENCE.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CHATTER ON.
>> I CHECKED MY STATUS OF MY BUSINESS BACK IN APRIL, WAS STILL IN GOOD STANDING.
I KNEW IT WAS COMING CLOSE TO THAT TIME WHERE I HAVE TO DO
[01:35:02]
MY FILE SO I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WASN'T IN GOOD STANDARD SO I COULD TAKE CARE OF THAT.EITHER REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION OF THE DAY, I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF IT ANYWAY, SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT WHEN I GET [INAUDIBLE]
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE BAIT BUSINESS? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPEN, I GUESS?
>> I OPENED THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, I GOT THE LEASE LAST APRIL.
DURING THAT TIME, I RENTED THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN NOTHING GOING ON INSIDE IN BETWEEN WORKING AND DOING MY BUSINESS.
MY DOWN MONTHS, I WOULD JUST GET MY STORE ESTABLISHED, BUY AN INVENTORY, FURNITURE, STUFF LIKE THAT.
TO ASK THE QUESTION WHERE BRUNIX COME FROM, MY MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME IS BRUINGTON.
MY FATHER NAME IS NICHOLS, SO I'LL PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER, CAME WITH BRUNIX.
I WAS DRAWING HEMP WHEN THE HEMP INDUSTRY JUST TOOK OFF IN MARYLAND, MAYBE I'LL SAY SEVEN YEARS AGO, PROBABLY.
THAT'S WHEN I CREATED BRUNIX [INAUDIBLE] TO JUST A FORM.
I AM A BEEKEEPER, I STILL KEEP BEES. BUT THAT WAS A BUSINESS.
THE HEMP INDUSTRY WASN'T FOR ME, IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS FOR FIGURED OUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANYTHING, ANY BUSINESS I CAN WAS LET ME BRUNIX BECAUSE I'M A [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO INTO DELIBERATION WHERE WE GO INTO FACTORS OF DENIAL OR ACCEPTANCE? IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT OR ANYTHING, ANYBODY?
I'M FROM HURLOCK, AND WE HAVE THREE LIQUOR STORES OVER THERE, AND THE STORE ISN'T DOING ALL RIGHT.
THEY'RE CLOSER TO THE SMALLER TOWN, CLOSER TO EACH OTHER.
YOU HAVE GOOSE CREEK, EXXON, AND SHOPSTOP.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR DELIBERATION.
WE HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO GO DOWN AND ANSWER AND GO THROUGH.
THESE ARE FOR THE FACTORS OF APPROVAL OR DENIAL.
THE FIRST IS GOING TO BE THE PUBLIC NEED DESIRE FOR THE LICENSE.
>> WHAT'S YOUR FEELINGS? [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK THERE'S A HUGE CRY THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT REALLY READY FOR ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE ON THEM, BUT WE'VE HEARD TESTIMONY.
WE ACCEPTED ALMOST 300 SIGNATURES ASKING US TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS NOT A NECESSARY LICENSE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT TO.
HE HAS NOT UNBECOME THE BURDEN.
HE NEEDS TO PROVE THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS, AND I DON'T SEE THAT BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY.
>> HE'S GOT A LOT AGAINST HIM.
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY OTHER THAN HIMSELF PRESENT THAT HAS SAID THEY'RE HERE TO SPEAK [INAUDIBLE].
THE NEXT IS THE NUMBER OF LOCATION OF EXISTING LICENSE HOLDER. I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT.
WE'VE SHOWN THAT ON THE MAP OF THE NUMBER OF LICENSE HOLDERS IN THE AREA.
>> CORRECT. I AGREE. THERE'S THREE DIRECTLY CLOSE.
I BELIEVE THE ONE THAT WAS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE PAGE WAS THAT PROBABLY U5-.
>> JUST SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN, A LITTLE BIT.
THEN THE DOWNTOWN, IS THAT THE WET YOUR WHISTLE DOWNTOWN OR IS THAT SUPER SITE IS DOWNTOWN WHERE THE GAS STATION, CORRECT.
>> THE ONE THAT'S NOT ON YOUR MAP YET IS THE ONE THAT HAS APPROVED, BUT NOT BEEN ISSUED A LICENSE AT THIS TIME.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ABOUT TO OPEN UP OR WHATEVER.
>> YOU GOT ANYTHING ON THAT OR ARE YOU GOOD?
>> THE POTENTIAL EFFECT ON EXISTING LICENSE HOLDERS AND LICENSE FOR WHICH THE APPLICATION IS MADE, I THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AS TO THAT.
>> HOW MUCH THEY FEEL IS GOING TO BE AN IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESSES.
>> THE POTENTIAL COMMONALITY OR UNIQUENESS SERVES AS A PRODUCTS TO BE OFFERED BY THE BUSINESS OR THE APPLICANT.
IT IS A UNIQUE BUSINESS [INAUDIBLE] AND TACKLE.
[01:40:02]
THERE IS NO OTHER BEAT AND TACKLES IN THE AREA.WE'RE IN DELIBERATION AND SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE ANY COMMENT, I'M SORRY.
THERE IS NO OTHER BAIT AND TACK ON THE AREAS.
THERE IS A UNIQUENESS TO THE BUSINESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE COMING AND MAY WANT TO GRIP SIX BEERS WHILE THEY'RE THERE.
JUST FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF IT.
>> THE IMPACT OF THE LICENSE FOR WHICH THE APPLICATION IS MADE ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ISSUES RELATING TO CRIME, TRAFFIC, PARKING, OR CONVENIENCE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE IMPACT, AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
>> ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS NECESSARY? IS THERE ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT YOU FEEL AS NECESSARY?
>> THE NEXT STEP IS WE GO THROUGH THE BOARD SHALL DENY A LICENSE APPLICATION IF THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT.
NUMBER 1, THE GRANTING OF A LICENSE IS NOT NECESSARILY TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC.
>> WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT.
>> THE APPLICANT IS NOT A FIT PERSON TO RECEIVE THE LICENSE.
>> WE WE DON'T HAVE A REAL POSITIVE BACKGROUND CHECK, BUT ALSO THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.
>> THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S EXTREMELY RECENT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT HE IS NOT FIT TO RECEIVE IT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, MOST OF THESE CHARGES WERE-
>> WE LOOK AT FIVE YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT'S AN ISSUE.
>> THE APPLICANT HAS MADE A MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT IN THE APPLICATION AT THIS TIME.
>> DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF THAT YOU DID ANY [INAUDIBLE].
YES OR NO? THE APPLICANT IS ACTING OR FRAUDULENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE APPLICATION.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF OR ANYTHING TOWARDS THAT.
IF THE LICENSE IS ISSUED, THE OPERATION AUTHORIZED BY THE LICENSE WOULD BE UNDULY DISTURBED TO THE PIECE OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOCATION DESCRIBED IN APPLICATION OR FOR OTHER REASONS THE BOARD CONSIDERS SUFFICIENT.
>> THIS IS IN A COMMERCIAL SETTING.
IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL SETTING.
IT'S A BUSINESS,, THERE'S MORE.
>> ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OVER THERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A LARGE PARKING LOT THAT, IS THERE IN ADJACENT WITH THE FOOD LINE.
THE OTHER, WHAT'S THERE? FOUR OR FIVE SUITES IN THAT BUILDING THAT HE'S IN.
THERE'S ALREADY AMPLE PARKING, IT WOULDN'T BURDEN ANYTHING.
>> I THINK, TO ME, THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK ISN'T NECESSARY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> THE NECESSITY IS YOUR BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK.
THEN THE NEXT ONE BEHIND IS THE BACKGROUND, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN SOME TIME.
I THINK HE SAID THAT HE WAS WORKING ON HAVING THAT EXPUNGED OR WHATEVER, BUT AT THIS TIME, IT'S NOT EXPUNGED, SO WE STILL HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.
>> THE MAJOR REASON, I THINK, MR. MANN HIT ON, WE'VE HAD EXHIBITS AND TESTIMONY THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE ANOTHER BUSINESS OF THIS TYPE.
I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECORD CART.
>> MR. BLUE CHECK, I AGREE WITH THAT 100%.
ACTUALLY, WHEN I OPENED THE COMPUTER AND READ THE PACKET, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS, THERE'S ALREADY A FAIR AMOUNT OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
>> THEY'RE STEPPING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT ARE GOOD, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOOD, BUT THE NOT GOOD, TO ME, OUTWEIGHS THE GOOD, WERE THAT MANY SIGNATURES IN THIS TESTIMONY.
I THINK THAT THE SCALE IS AGAINST A NEW LICENSE AT THIS TIME.
[01:45:03]
>> YEAH, I AGREE. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE PUBLIC OPINION SAYING THAT THEY WERE AGAINST IT, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A PETITION THAT WAS SIGNED, THEN IT WOULD BE EASIER TO MAKE A DECISION, BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE PUBLIC ASKING FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THE PETITION.
>> AND THE AMOUNT THAT CAME IN TODAY?
>> THEY TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY.
>> EVEN HAD TWO CUSTOMERS THAT TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME HERE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE DENY THE REQUESTS FOR A NEW ALCOHOL, IT'S BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE BREWNICS BAIT AND TACKLE SHACK LOCATED IN FEDERALSBURG, MARYLAND.
>> SO MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE DENY THIS LICENSE.
>> SORRY, BUT YOU HAD SOME THINGS GOING FOR YOU.
YOU NEED TO GET THAT PUBLIC SR. FOR THIS.
I'M SORRY. GOOD JOB WITH THE BAIT AND TACKLE.
>> CAN WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS?
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS.
[01:54:57]
[01:55:03]
>> GOOD. ALL SET? WE'LL RESUME THIS MEETING.
[Show Cause Hearings]
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE THE SHOW CAUSE HEARING FOR STAR GAS AND DIESEL.[Star Gas & Diesel]
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THAT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.>> PLEASE REMEMBER TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
>> [BACKGROUND] WITH EVERYBODY STANDING, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND DO THE OATH.
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AN AFFIRM AND ON THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE IN THE TESTIMONY GIVES THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS RIGHT ON THAT LINE.
>> MAJES PATEL [PHONETIC] 632, MARGARETTA DRIVE, MIDDLETOWN, DELAWARE, 91709.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 20099 [INAUDIBLE]
>> RASHAAN PATEL [PHONETIC] 776 AVENUE NORTH, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, 337002.
>> THANK YOU. EVERYBODY MIGHT BE SEATED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THORNTON JUNIOR.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ENTER MY APPEARANCE AND SAY WHO I WAS.
>> EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T KNOW ME.
>> GENTLEMEN, TODAY, WE HAVE OUR SHOW CAUSE HEARING, STAR GAS AND DIESEL.
WE HAVE OUR EXHIBIT LIST TO SHOW CAUSE FOR A VIOLATION THAT WAS DONE BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH I DO NOT SEE THEM HERE.
>> SORRY. IN OUR EXHIBITS, WE HAVE THE SUMMONS FOR MR. PALON [PHONETIC].
WE HAVE A SUMMONS FOR MR. PATEL.
WE HAVE A SUMMONS FOR CORPORAL BECK.
I BELIEVE IT'S DETECTIVE BECK, CORRECT? DETECTIVE? THEN WE HAVE A SUMMONS FOR SERGEANT HAFER [PHONETIC].
THERE'S AN INCIDENT REPORT IN YOUR MEETING PACKAGE.
>> THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL DO THE INCIDENT REPORT.
>> THEY'LL DO THEIR INCIDENT REPORT.
SORRY. ON THE SUMMONS, GOING BACK TO MR. PALON, MR. PALON WAS HEREBY SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD OF LICENSED COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY TODAY AT 9:30 AM TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THEIR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE ISSUED BY THE BOARD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, AS ATTENDANT SHOULD NOT BE REVOKED, SUSPENDED, AND OR A FINE ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LAWS, AS A RESULT OF AN UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE CHECK INSPECTION BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON MARCH 17TH.
>> CHARGE NUMBER 1 WAS ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 6-304 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS, RULE AND REGULATIONS NUMBERS 2.26, SPECIFICALLY AN EMPLOYEE SOLD AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE MEETING PACKAGE AGAIN FOR MR. PATEL, THE SAME SUMMONS, HEREBY SUMMONS TO APPEAR TODAY AT 9:30 BEFORE THE BOARD, AS THERE IS AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-30 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF
[02:00:03]
THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS, RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26.SPECIFICALLY, AN EMPLOYEE SOLD ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
ALSO WITHIN THE PACKAGE IS THE SUMMONS TO HAVE BOTH DETECTIVE BECK AND SERGEANT HAFER HERE TO PROVIDE THEIR VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE INVESTIGATION AS WELL.
WE WE HAVE THE INCIDENT REPORT AND THE FILE INFORMATION AS WELL AS WE GO FURTHER INTO THIS SHOW CAUSE HEARING.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU NOW.
>> THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE THE OFFICER WITH THE INCIDENT REPORT, WANTS TO READ IN THE INCIDENT REPORT.
>> I'M DETECTIVE BECK, THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION.
ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH, SERGEANT HAFER AND I, DETECTIVE CORPORAL BECK OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WERE ASSIGNED TO A SPECIAL ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE OPERATION THROUGHOUT CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
THE ASSIGNMENT INVOLVED HAVING A YOUTH UNDER AGE OF 21 WORKING UNDER OUR CARE, ENTERED A BUSINESS IN CAROLINE COUNTY THAT SOLD ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITH THE ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE THE SCENE.
THE YOUTH PROVIDED THE OPERATION.
THE YOUTH PROVIDED FOR THE OPERATION WAS 20 YEARS OLD, WHITE MALE, HERE AND AFTER REFERRED TO AS YOUTH.
YOUTH WAS SEARCHED PRIOR TO THE OPERATION AND FOUND NOT TO BE IN THE POSSESSION OF ANY ALCOHOLIC ITEMS OR CURRENCY.
YOUTH WAS PROVIDED A $50 BILL IN THE US CURRENCY AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO ENTER THE STORES AND ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE ALCOHOLIC PRODUCT.
YOUTH WAS INSTRUCTED THAT HE OR SHE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS OR HER AGE BY THE CLERK.
HE WAS TO SAY THAT HIS OR HER ID WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
THE YOUTH ENTERED THE STAR GAS AND DIESEL STORE LOCATED AT 100 NORTH MAIN STREET, GREENSBORO, MARYLAND, GREENSBORO, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE AN ALCOHOLIC PRODUCT.
DURING THIS TIME, I ENTERED THE STORE AND OBSERVED THE YOUTH AT THE SALES COUNTER.
THE YOUTH GRABBED A SIX PACK OF MICHELOB ULTRA 5% ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND WALKED TO THE COUNTER WHERE YOUTH PURCHASED SAID BEVERAGE AND EXITED THE STORE.
YOUTH PROVIDED ME WITH THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND THE CHANGE FROM THE TRANSACTION.
SERGEANT HAFER AND I RE-ENTERED THE STORE WHERE I INTRODUCED OURSELVES AND INFORMED THE SALESMAN AT THE COUNTER OF THE UNDERAGE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALE HAD OCCURRED.
I ADVISED THE SALESMAN I WITNESSED THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO THE YOUTH.
THE BEVERAGE WAS RETURNED TO THE STORE.
THE CURRENCY AND THE STORE'S ALCOHOL LICENSE THAT WERE DISPLAYED ABOVE THE COUNTER WAS PHOTOGRAPHED.
THE SALESMAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS, EXCUSE ME FOR THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE NAME, RASH KAMAR PATEL.
THE STORE OWNER WAS CONTACTED AND LATER RESPONDED.
THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE VIOLATION AND WOULD MAKE THEIR APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATION WITH THE LIQUOR BOARD. INCIDENT CLOSED.
>> YOU CAN STAY UP ACTUALLY. HE MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
>> THEY MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FIRST?
>> I THINK YOU TESTIFIED WHAT INSTRUCTIONS YOU GAVE THE SUBJECT THAT YOU SENT IN.
>> YOU SAID THEY WERE ASKED FOR A LICENSE THAT IT WAS SAFE IN THE CAR.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT HOW [OVERLAPPING]?
>> IF THEY'RE ASKED FOR ID, THEN THEY'RE INSTRUCTED TO SAY I LEFT IN THE CAR AND THEY JUST DON'T RE-ENTER THE STORE.
>> HOW CLOSE TO BEING 21 WAS THIS WHITE MALE?
>> HE MIGHT BE A MONTH AWAY OR?
>> AT THE TIME, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE MONTHS AWAY.
>> FIVE MONTHS. HAD HE EVER BEEN, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, EVER BEEN IN THAT ESTABLISHMENT BEFORE?
[02:05:02]
GO IN AND PICK UP A SIX PACK OF BEER OR JUST PICK UP ANYTHING YOU SEE?>> HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO PICK UP AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE.
>> BUT YOU SAY YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE HAD BEEN AT THE STORE BEFORE?
>> NOT TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE. HE WOULD HAVE TO GO IN AND LOOK AROUND TO FIND WHERE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WERE, NUMBER 1, RIGHT?
>> WELL, YOU WENT IN THERE. HAD YOU BEEN IN THERE BEFORE?
>> I HAVE BEEN IN THERE BEFORE.
>> YOU KNEW WHERE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WERE?
THAT OPERATION THAT DAY WAS BETWEEN 3:00 AND 6:00 PM.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR THAT DAY OR SCHEDULE? WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO GO FROM DENTON TO MARADALE AND CHECK ALL THE ESTABLISHED IN BETWEEN OR WHAT [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WE WERE PROVIDED A LIST OF STORES TO ATTEMPT ALCOHOLIC PURCHASES.
>> IT'S PROVIDED FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, FROM THE LIQUOR BOARD.
>> IS THAT BASED ON ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR OR IT'S JUST A RANDOM LIST?
>> NO. IT'S WHAT'S PROVIDED TO ME.
>> IT WAS PROVIDED. THAT'S ALL YOU KNOW.
GIVE ME AN IDEA, HOW MANY ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST THAT YOU CHECKED THAT DAY? BE APPROXIMATE.
>> MAYBE 15, 20 STORES, I THINK WE CHECKED THAT DAY MAYBE.
>> DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT ORDER THIS ONE WAS IN? WAS THIS YOUR SECOND OR THIRD, IF I REMEMBER?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER. I DON'T. WE CHECKED A LOT OF STORES.
>> NOT A TRICK QUESTION. [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES, THIS IS RASHAAN, THE CLERK?
>> CLERK ON THAT DAY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE FOR THE DETECTIVE.
THAT YOU OBSERVED, WAS ID EVER ASKED FOR?
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> IT'S ALL RIGHT. I CAN GO BACK.
>> YOU'VE GOT NO MORE QUESTIONS OF HIM?
>> YOU WANT HIM TO STAY UP THERE UNTIL WE ADJOURN?
>> THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS YOU PULLED UP, I GUESS IN A CAR IN FRONT.
>> THEN YOUR SUBJECT GOT OUT, GOES IN THE STORE, AND THEN YOU FOLLOWED HIM IN THE STORE, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> HOW FAR BEHIND HIM WERE YOU? LIKE RIGHT AFTER OR [OVERLAPPING] OR WHAT?
>> PRETTY MUCH RIGHT AFTER HE WALKS IN.
JUST TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE YOUTH WHILE IN THE STORE.
>> YOU SAW HIM GO IN THE STORE?
>> THEN YOU WALKED IN RIGHT AFTER?
>> THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.
>> YEAH. WE'RE DONE WITH THE OFFICER.
YOU SEE ME IN THE STORE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK GETTING LUNCH.
YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED?
>> RECENTLY, WE DID A LOT OF CHANGING, THE SAME THING GOING ON.
I WAS OUTSIDE WITH THE WORKER.
I THINK WE HAVE THE VIDEO YOU CAN SEE IN THE VIDEO.
I WENT INSIDE SUDDENLY TO GRAB SOMETHING OR SOMETHING AND SAID I DIDN'T KNOW THAT GUY WAS THE [INAUDIBLE].
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM OR ANYTHING.
I WENT TO GET THE PEN OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T EXACTLY REMEMBER WHAT I WANTED.
BUT I WENT INSIDE, I WANTED TO COME OUTSIDE AGAIN BACK TO TELL THE WORKER SOMETHING.
WE HAD ANOTHER CLERK WHO WAS PREPARING THE FOOD AND HE TOLD ME HE JUST TAKE THAT CUSTOMER
[02:10:05]
AND THEN HE ASKED ME SOMETHING AND I WAS EXPLAINING TO HIM AND SUDDENLY IT HAPPENED.THAT TIME I WAS OUTSIDE, NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTER.
>> BUT YOU DID FORGET TO ASK FOR ID?
>> YES. THAT WAS [INAUDIBLE] REALLY FEARFUL.
>> WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A VIDEO.
AS RASHAAN STATED, HE WAS OUTSIDE TALKING TO A WORKER AND HAVING A SMALL ARGUMENT OVER WHAT WAS BEING DONE, THEN HE WALKS IN TO GET SOMETHING.
AS YOU'RE COMING BACK OUT, THE SUBJECT WAS WALKING IN, HE ACTUALLY HELPED THE DOOR FOR THE SUBJECT AND CAME IN THEN HE HAD OF COURSE TO GO BACK IN BECAUSE HE KNEW THERE WAS SOMEBODY STANDING THERE, THE OTHER CLERK WAS FIXING FOOD.
IT WAS JUST A QUICK SEQUENCE, PERFECT STORM, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THE VIDEO IS NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFENDING WHAT HAPPENED HERE, BUT IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MITIGATION TO SHOW HOW THINGS CAN HAPPEN INSTANTANEOUSLY AND EVEN THOUGH GENERALLY YOU'RE CHECKING IDS AND ALL OF THAT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SUDDEN THINGS HE WOULDN'T REGULAR HE WOULDN'T WORK IN THE COUNTER, AND THEN HE HAPPENS TO BE IN THERE AND IT IS TOLD HE TURNS AROUND AND OF COURSE, MAKES A SALE BECAUSE THE GUY WAS RIGHT THERE WITH THE BEER.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT TO DEFEND, IT'S JUST TO MITIGATE HOW THIS HAPPENED.
>> MR. THORNTON, THIS VIDEO ISN'T LOADING.
>> WELL, LET'S ASK HIM IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE PHONE [INAUDIBLE] LOOK AT THE VIDEO, LIKE I SAID.
>> DO YOU DENY THAT IT HAPPENED?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENED.
>> NO. THAT'S NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WILL PERSONALLY TESTIFY THAT YES, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK AT THE STORE.
THE LAST TIME I WENT IN TO GET LUNCH, THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TAKING SHORT SHELVING OUT, PUTTING LARGE SHELVING OUT, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE INVENTORY WITHIN THE STORE.
BEFORE THEY KNEW ME, WHEN I WOULD WALK FROM WORK DOWN TO GO GET LUNCH, I WOULD SIT THERE AT ONE OF THE TABLES AND WAIT FOR MY LUNCH, AND I WITNESSED THEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
WHEN THEY DID CARD SOMEONE, TURN THEM AWAY BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER UNDERAGE OR THEY WERE ALREADY INTOXICATED.
I DO KNOW IN THE FOUR YEARS SINCE THE TRANSFER, THEY HAVE DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO SAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO TESTIFY ON THEIR BEHALF.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT I HAVE WITNESSED POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN WITHIN THE STORE.
YES, THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK FROM NEW LAUNDRY MAT EQUIPMENT TO HAVING THE ROOF PAINTED, THE BUILDING PAINTED, BOLLARDS PROTECTION PUT UP IN FRONT OF THE DOOR SO NOBODY COULD DRIVE THROUGH THEIR STORE, HOPEFULLY.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS.
ONE MAJOR STEP WAS LEFT OUT IN THIS TRANSACTION.
>> YOU SAID IT BETTER THAN I COULD SAY, BUT I WAS GOING TO SAY ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING.
I THINK YOU DO HAVE MECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC MEANS TO CHECK IDS, CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY HAD THE SYSTEM IN PLACE.
THEY HAVE IT IN PLACE, AND HE JUST DIDN'T PASS.
>> THAT WHOLE DAY WAS BAD FOR ME.
SINCE MORNING THAT WHOLE DAY WAS BAD FOR ME.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T [INAUDIBLE].
I WAS SO BUSY, SO NOW I PUT THREE SIGN ID.
MUST BE 21 PLUS, ONE ON THE SCANNER, ONE ONE THE REGISTER, ONE ON THE TRUCK.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE REGULAR ID, BUT FOR ME SO I DON'T FORGET TO GET BUSY OR ANYTHING.
>> I THINK THAT TESTIMONY, WE HAVE MAHESH AND GENO OR EUGENIA HERE, THEY ARE THE LICENSE HOLDERS.
THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION.
[02:15:02]
THEY WERE NOT AT THE STORE DURING THAT INCIDENT, SO THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO OFFER, BUT THEY ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND I THINK IT'S A REGULATION ANYWAY THAT THE LICENSE HOLDERS HAVE TO APPEAR.>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM?
>> THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO HIMSELF HE ADMITTED THAT HE UNFORTUNATELY MADE THE MISTAKE.
>> GENTLEMEN, WE DO HAVE THE FILE INFORMATION.
THEIR ORIGINAL TRANSFER DATE WAS OCTOBER 4TH, 2021.
WE HAVE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS ON FILE, AND THE VIOLATION HISTORY, PRIOR VIOLATIONS, LESS THAN FIVE YEARS, THERE'S NONE AND NONE OVER FIVE YEARS, AS WELL.
>> ARE WE IN DELIBERATIONS? NO?
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER TESTIMONY OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE GO INTO DELIBERATION?
>> THANK YOU. I THINK BASED ON THE TESTIMONY.
>> YOU'RE NOT DISPUTING WHAT HAPPENED.
>> DID SELL TO AN UNDERAGE INDIVIDUAL.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DO OR YOU WANT ME TO DO?
>> YOU WANT ME TO MAKE THE MOTION?
>> I MOVE TO FIND THAT STAR GAS AND DIESEL GUILTY ON ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-304, THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE AND COUNTERFEITS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONER RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26, SPECIFICALLY.
AN EMPLOYEE SOLD TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THEY BE FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE SELLING TO THE UNDERAGE.
>> AYE. ALL OPPOSED? IT'S OKAY. HOW DO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH?
>> WELL, I THINK WE CAN START OFF BY WHAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND REVOCATION, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A SUSPENSION.
>> I DON'T AGREE WITH A SUSPENSION OR A REVOCATION EITHER.
>> THE QUESTION IS WHERE THEY'RE AT ON A FINE.
>> USUALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1,000 FINE FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
>> WERE YOU, MIKE, ON ANY REDUCTION IN THAT?
>> I'M NOT SURE I'M EVER IN THE MOOD FOR A REDUCTION IN THAT, GLEN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THEY DID TRANSFER HER LICENSE IN OCTOBER OF '21.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE EVEN HAD ANYTHING WHEN TREY WENT IN.
I THINK MAYBE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CERTIFICATE.
>> EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAD HAS ALL BEEN MINOR VERBAL THINGS, MOST RECENT WAS JUST TAKING SAMPLES.
THEY TOOK A SAMPLE AND THEY HAD IT IN STOCK.
BUT I WAS AWARE THAT THIS IS BEING ON AROUND THE COUNTY SO IT WAS JUST REALLY VERBAL.
>> THE MAIN REASON I'M USUALLY NEVER IN THE FEELING OF REDUCING IS JUST BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR CHARGE.
THIS IS NOTHING THAT WE WANT TO TAKE LATELY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR LICENSEES KNOW.
>> THIS IS OUR BIGGEST CHARGE REALLY.
WELL, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP IT AS HOUSE.
>> IF YOU MAKE THAT MOTION, I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> I MOVE THAT A SANCTION BE GIVEN FOR THE VIOLATION OF SELLING LIQUOR TO A MINOR AND THAT BEING THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THEY BE FINED $1,000 FOR SELLING ALCOHOL TO UNDERAGE.
>> YOU SAID IT RIGHT THERE, IT WAS A BAD DAY IN THE STORE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WAS WONDERING THE CONTRACTOR, BUT THEN HE WASN'T AT THE STORE, HE WAS IN [INAUDIBLE] THE CONTRACTOR CAME AND HE WAS LIKE,
[02:20:02]
THIS IS NOT ON A CONTRACT AND HIS MEME WAS WHEN HE CAME THEN HE SAID, THIS THING WILL BE DONE, THIS THING WILL BE DONE, AND THEN HE WAS LIKE, THIS IS ON A PAVEMENT.THAT'S WHERE I GET MAD SO I CALLED HIS BOSS THEN OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING THEN I WAS TALKING TO WORK AND THEN THE WORKER WAS SCARED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DO THIS.
YOU AND I DIDN'T KNOW SO I HAD TO TRANSLATE EVERYTHING.
THEN I WANTED TO CHANGE THE NAME SO I WENT INSIDE TO GRAB THE PEN, I THINK, TO WRITE THE NAME LIKE [INAUDIBLE] SUDDENLY THE [INAUDIBLE] CUSTOMER THEN I WAS GOING OUTSIDE ONLY.
IF YOU SEE THE VIDEO, YOU CAN SEE THAT.
WHEN I WAS GOING OUTSIDE THEN HE TOLD ME AND I WENT BACK TO IT.
>> MR. PATEL, WE DO SHOW THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON CERTIFIED IN ALCOHOL AWARENESS FOR THE BUSINESS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE OR PLAN TO HAVE ANYBODY ELSE CERTIFIED?
>> BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON YOU LISTED ON YOUR RENEWAL APPLICATION THIS YEAR.
IF YOU DO HAVE OTHERS, YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THEM TO THE BOARD.
>> GET THAT UPDATED. YOU ONLY LISTED ONE ON YOUR RENEWAL, WHICH WAS RASHAAN.
IF YOU DO HAVE OTHERS, SEND THEM TO US SO WE CAN UPDATE THAT FOR THE BOARD.
>> YOU CAN GET IT TO HER AFTERWARDS.
>> THAT WAY THEY HAVE IT ON FILE.
NOW, THERE'S, AS I UNDERSTAND, A $50 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
>> THEN THE 30 DAYS TO PAY [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO, IT'S AT THE BOARD'S OFFICE.
INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE IN THE LETTER.
>> I'LL DRAFT A LETTER AND SEND IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD NEED THAT INFORMATION.
>> DON'T FORGET TO GIVE THEM [INAUDIBLE]
>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> I THANK YOU FOR YOUR [INAUDIBLE]
>> SHE TRIED TO HELP US OUT YESTERDAY [INAUDIBLE] ONE TIME AND THEY BETTER [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CARTER. THANK YOU ALL.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ONE FOR BUSINESS,
[Walker's Grocery Store]
WE HAVE A SHOW CALLS HEARING FOR WALKER'S GROCERY.ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'LL GET YOU TO STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, IF YOU'LL DO THAT.
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.
>> IS [INAUDIBLE] ADDRESS IS 27302 [INAUDIBLE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] EVERYONE ELSE. I'M DESAI AND I [INAUDIBLE]
>> SHE'S GOT TO READ INTO THAT.
>> CAN YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONE ON, PLEASE?
>> MR. DESAI, YOU USED THAT MICROPHONE OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SEAT. THANK YOU.
>> THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD. SORRY.
>> COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE A SHOW CALLS HEARING FOR WALKER'S GROCERY STORE.
ON APRIL 3, WE RECEIVED AN INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REGARDING AN INVESTIGATIVE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT THE WALKER'S GROCERY STORE LOCATED AT 18230, HENDERSON ROAD, MARYDEL, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14.
IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT WAS SENT TO MR. DESAI AS WELL AS, AGAIN, SERGEANT HAFER AND DETECTIVE BECK.
WE HAVE OUR INCIDENT REPORT AND FILE INFORMATION ON FILE.
THE SUMMONS WHERE WE SUMMONED MR. DESAI, HE WAS SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND AT 9:30 A.M., TODAY,
[02:25:01]
THE 28TH OF MAY 2025 TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE ISSUED BY THE BOARD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SHOULD NOT BE REVOKED, SUSPENDED, AND/OR FINE ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AS A RESULT OF AN UNDERAGE COMPLIANCE CHECK.INSPECTION BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY OFFICE ON MARCH 17.
THE VIOLATION OF CHARGE 1 IS THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-304 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26, SELLING THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> THIS TIME, CAN WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT READ THE INCIDENT REPORT? I'M SORRY.
>> I JUST THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO SIMPLY SAY TO THE BOARD, WE ARE WILLING TO STIPULATE AND ACCEPT THE REPORT THAT INDICATES THAT ON MARCH 17, 2025, THAT THE WALKERS ESTABLISHMENT DID, IN FACT, MAKE AN UNDERAGE SALE AS REFLECTED IN THE REPORT.
THOUGH I'VE SPOKEN TO BOTH OF THE DETECTIVE BECK AND HAFFORD, AND REVIEWED THEIR REPORT IN THEIR PROFFERED TESTIMONY WITH MY CLIENT.
WE WILL ACCEPT IT THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A VIOLATION.
>> CAN WE DISMISS THE OFFICERS?
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
>> YOU JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE A COPY OF THEIR REPORT [NOISE] WE'LL STIPULATE.
>> WE CAN ACCEPT IT WITH THAT HERE.
>> THEY'RE HERE, AND I'VE REVIEWED IT.
>> WELL, SOMETIMES IN LIFE, I THINK WE ALL LEARNED THAT UNFORTUNATELY AS MUCH AS WE WISH WE COULD, WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T CONTROL IT.
WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE WALKERS ESTABLISHMENT, THE INCIDENT, AND THE ACTION THAT THEY HAD TAKEN.
TO THAT END, I WOULD ASK MR. DESAI TO TESTIFY.
I BELIEVE HE'S ALREADY BEEN [INAUDIBLE] YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE REPORT SO I'M CHECKING ON?
>> YOU DON'T DENY THAT THERE WAS A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 2017, 2025 IN YOUR STORE.
>> TELL THE BOARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE THE SALE, HOW LONG THAT INDIVIDUAL HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY WALKERS, THE STEPS THAT YOU TOOK TO TRAIN THE INDIVIDUAL BEFORE YOU ALLOWED HIM TO, IF YOU WILL, MAKE SALES ON HIS OWN?
>> WE HAD HIRED HIM MAYBE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT SO HE WAS STILL TECHNICALLY IN HIS TRAINING PERIOD.
THAT WAS HIS THIRD FULL DAY OF BEING THERE ALONE.
OUR TRAINING PROCESS IS PRETTY MUCH JUST BEFORE WE START ANY REGISTER OR LOTTERY OR ANYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE A POOL OF CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN REGULARLY.
EVERY NOW AND THEN, WHEN WE GET A NEW EMPLOYEE, WE HAVE THEIR KID OR JUST SOMEONE THAT A NEW FACE THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
WE HAVE THEM COME IN, WE'LL BE SITTING IN THE OFFICE AT THE TIME, AND WE JUST WATCH THE EMPLOYEE TO SEE IF HE'S CALLING THEM JUST TO BE SURE ABOUT IT.
THEN WE GO ABOUT TRAINING HIM.
HE WAS TRAINED AND THEN IT WAS HIS THIRD FULL DAY TO BE THERE ALONE, AND OBVIOUSLY, HE DIDN'T CHECK ANYTHING, AND HE GOT THE TICKET.
>> THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, WAS SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREMISES THERE?
>> YES. I WAS OUT, I THINK I WAS AT A BABY SHOWER OR SOMETHING.
I HAD MY DAD GO BY AND HE COOPERATED WITH THE OFFICERS.
THE INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT AS COOPERATIVE, SO IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT WE HAD TO LET HIM GO.
>> NOW, SINCE YOU LEARNED OF THIS VIOLATION THAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 17, WHAT INTERNAL CHANGES, WHAT UPGRADES, IF ANY, HAVE YOU MADE TO YOUR POLICIES OR YOUR PROCESS?
NOW ANYTHING THAT HAS AN ALCOHOL OR LIQUOR TAX ON IT, IT WILL PROMPT YOU TO CHECK THE ID.
>> WHAT'S THE POLICY? WHAT IS EVERYBODY INSTRUCTED TO DO?
[02:30:01]
FOR EXAMPLE, IF I COME IN THERE.>> EVEN IF YOU'VE BEEN COMING IN EVERYDAY FOR 10 YEARS, YOU STILL GET CARD.
>> IN YOUR SOFTWARE NOW, PROMPTS THAT?
>> NOW, SINCE THIS INCIDENT ON MARCH 17 OF 2025, HAVE YOU HAD ANY NEW HIRES?
>> NO. WE HAVEN'T HIRED ANYONE ELSE.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ADDITIONALLY INTERNALLY TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? HAVE YOU HAD STORE TALKS OR BENCH TALKS?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR, I THINK, FIVE YEARS NOW.
HE ALONG WITH ME, WE MAKE SURE WE'VE GONE EVEN FURTHER WITH THE TRAINING PROCESS.
WE SCREEN HIM FOR THREE WEEKS NOW AND SO THE TWO AND JUST KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.
>> WHAT ARE YOU ASKING THE BOARD TO DO? ARE YOU ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A FINE?
>> YEAH. THAT WOULD BE IDEAL, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
IT IS MY SECOND VIOLATION OF THE THING.
>> THE OTHER ONE, IT ACTUALLY INVOLVED YOUR FATHER, DIDN'T IT?
I THINK I WAS SICK AND THREE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
HE STEPPED IN AND HE CHECKED THE ID AND HE JUST HAD A BRAIN FART AND ENDED UP SELLING TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
MY DAD DOES NOT WORK THE REGISTER ANYMORE.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD?
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WOULD BE OUR PRESENTATION.
>> NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY VIOLATIONS AGAINST THEM OR ANY ISSUES AT THIS POINT.
>> IS THERE ANY ONE YOU KNOW ABOUT? THE ONE THAT HAPPENED IN 2021?
>> AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE USING THE LOTTERY MACHINE AS THE ID SCANNER.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'VE DONE A PROCESS LIKE STATELINE AND BARGAIN.
>> MUST BE PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT STATELINE AND BARGAIN BEVERAGE.
>> TO CLARIFY, YOUR REGISTER DIDN'T DO THAT BEFORE.
>> IT WOULDN'T PROMPT. IS THERE A WAY TO OVERRIDE IT, OR YOU JUST CHECK, YES, THAT YOU DID, OR DO YOU HAVE TO ENTER A BIRTH DATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> SOMETHING THAT PHYSICALLY DOESN'T INTEGRATE INTO THE NEW SOFTWARE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A NEW PROMPT AND IT POPS UP TWICE.
>> IS THAT PRINTOUT IN THE RECEIPT OR NO?
>> HE HAD TERMINATED THE EMPLOYMENT.
>> I DID DO A FOLLOW UP INSPECTION AFTER I HEARD THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WENT THERE AND FOUND NO VIOLATIONS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE THE FILE INFORMATION ON FILE HERE AS EXHIBIT.
THE ORIGINAL LICENSE TRANSFER DATE 2018.
WE HAVE OUR ALCOHOL AWARENESS CERTIFICATIONS ON FILE.
PRIOR VIOLATIONS, LESS THAN FIVE YEARS, AS STATED IN THE TESTIMONY, WAS AUGUST 25, 2021, SALE OF ALCOHOL TO A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
A $1,000 FINE AND A 10-DAY SUSPENSION.
PRIOR VIOLATIONS OVER FIVE YEARS, THERE WERE NONE.
>> WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY ABOUT PRIOR VIOLATIONS?
>> THE PRIOR VIOLATION IS WHAT THEY WERE SPEAKING OF, AUGUST 25, 2021, SALE OF ALCOHOL TO SOMEONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
A $1,000 FINE AND 10-DAY SUSPENSION.
>> ARE WE IN DELIBERATION? YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT THIS TIME.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT THIS TIME?
>> I'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY, I WOULD HOPE THAT GIVEN THAT THE NATURE OF THIS VIOLATION IS INVOLVING A RELATIVELY NEW EMPLOYEE THAT VIOLATED THEIR INTERNAL POLICIES THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED, WOULD HELP THE BOARD PERHAPS SOFTEN WHAT IT TYPICALLY MIGHT DO IN A SECOND VIOLATION GIVEN THAT THE FIRST VIOLATION INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL AS OPPOSED TO THIS TIME.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD GO FOR SOMETHING AND ALSO THE ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN IN UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE ON THEIR POINT OF SALE SYSTEM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST TO CLARIFY THE VIOLATION IN 2021.
[02:35:01]
THE BOARD DID GO WITH A SUSPENSION THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IT'S JUST A FINE.I BELIEVE IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE DECISION, THE REASON FOR THE SUSPENSION IS BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO SOLD WAS MR. DESAI'S FATHER, WHO WAS A PRIOR LICENSE HOLDER.
YOU FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING YOU KNEW YOU SHOULD ID.
IT WAS A PERSON, NOT JUST AN EMPLOYEE.
THAT JUST TO CLARIFY THE REASONS WHY YOU HAD A SUSPENSION AND A FINE FOR A FIRST OFFENSE.
>> AS I COULD SEE MR. DESAI'S [OVERLAPPING] AND TO THE DECISION OF THE BOARD.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE SEE THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
WE RECOGNIZE AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO DISPUTE STIPULATED TO IT, AND WE'VE COME FORWARD TO JUST ASK THE BOARD TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO DELIBERATE.
>> TO ME, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THEY'VE ADMITTED IN THE TESTIMONY [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THERE'S A VIOLATION OF SECTION, I GOT TO RUN A WEEK BACK TO GET TO THIS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION [OVERLAPPING] YOU GOT THE PAPER.
>> I GOT THE PAPER. YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE COMPUTER.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE FIND WALKER'S GROCERY STORE GUILTY AS CHARGED OF ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-304, THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONER RULE AND REGULATION NUMBER 2.26, SPECIFICALLY.
AN EMPLOYEE SOLD THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THEY'D BE FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE SELLING ALCOHOL TO THE UNDERAGE.
NOW, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS AT IN VIOLATION WITH THE PENALTY? I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION AT THIS TIME. I DON'T THINK.
>> I WILL REMIND THE BOARD THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, $2,500 IS THE MAXIMUM FINE THAT YOU CAN ASSESS.
>> I THINK LOOKING BACK, IT LOOKS AS IT WAS CLARIFIED, $1,000 AND IT WAS A 10-DAY SUSPENSION, BUT THERE WAS SOME BACK HISTORY TO THAT.
THAT IS THE REASON WHY THAT AT THAT TIME WAS A 10-DAY SUSPENSION ALONG WITH THAT.
>> BECAUSE HONESTLY, THAT HADN'T BEEN A CONCERN BECAUSE I WITH $1,000 AND 10 DAYS, [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHY WE WENT THAT ROUTE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE WERE MITIGATING FACTORS THAT WAS FELT.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE AT THAT TIME.
>> WHICH I DON'T THINK IS THERE AT THIS TIME.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THERE AT THIS TIME.
>> I'M CERTAINLY NOT IN FAVOR OF REVOCATION.
>> I'M NOT LOOKING AT REVOCATION, I'M LOOKING AT A SUSPENSION AT THIS TIME.
>> THEY HAVE TAKEN SOME STEPS TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THIS TO NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPENSION, GUYS.
I KNOW YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THE FIRST ONE.
BUT I AT LEAST THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A $2,500 FINE, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM THAT WE CAN LEVY.
BUT I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT A SUSPENSION OF SOME SORT.
ARE YOU INTO THAT FALL PARK AT ALL?
>> I'M THERE WITH THE FINE, BUT I'M NOT THERE WITH A SUSPENSION.
>> HONESTLY, THE SUSPENSION HADN'T CROSSED MY MIND.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> WELL, I'M NOT TALKING A 30-DAY OR A 10-DAY.
>> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? TO REAP?
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE USUALLY LET THAT UP TO THE LEGS AND SEE AS TO THE THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS THAT DOWN.
>> MAN, IF YOU GUYS VOTE FOR IT.
I'D SAY THREE DAYS, $2,500 FINE.
IF YOU DON'T AGREE, GO AND PUT THE MOTION AND IT WOULD CARRY, I GUESS, OF TWO OR THREE OF US.
[02:40:04]
>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT I THINK IN THE PAST, WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL DIFFERENT FACTORS, AND IN THE PAST ON A SECOND SERIOUS OFFENSE OF SELLING TO A MINOR, WE TYPICALLY DO SOME TYPE OF SUSPENSION ALONG WITH THE FINE.
>> IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH MITIGATION I'M WILLING TO GO.
>> I KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT FACTORS FOR EVERY CASE.
>> WELL, THEN JUST GO WITH THE $2,500 FINE.
IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH A SUSPENSION.
THERE'S A LOT OF MITIGATION HERE.
>> IT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS FINE.
PLUS A $50 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
>> I MOVE THAT AS A SANCTION THAT WE ADMINISTER A $2,500 FINE WITH A $50 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO WALKER'S GROCERY STORE FOR A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 6-304 OF THE MARYLAND ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS ACT AND CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS REGULATION 2.26.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE IMPOSE A $2,500 FINE FOR THE UNDERAGE SALE OF ALCOHOL.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CLERK, THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE HERE BEFORE 11:30. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WASN'T SURE WITH OUR CIRCUIT COURTS.
YOU'RE JUST NEVER SURE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET FINISHED UP THERE.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING RIGHT ALONG, THE BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.
[Board Administrator Report]
>> I'M SORRY, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. [LAUGHTER]
>> BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.
WE HAVE ON OUR REPORT, TEMPORARY LICENSES.
CHESAPEAKE CULINARY CENTER CANCELED THEIR CINCO DE MAYO EVENT ON APRIL 29.
THEY DID HOST THEIR EMPTY BOWLS FOOD AND FUNDRAISER EVENT ON MAY 3.
GREENSBORO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HOSTED A WEDDING ON SATURDAY, MAY 17, AND THE AMERICAN LEGION CAROLINE POST 29 HOSTED THEIR FIRST WINGS AND WHEELS WEDNESDAY FOR MAY 21, 2025.
>> WHICH WAS A RAIN OUT, AND THEY STILL HAD THE WINGS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WHEELS.
>> I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THAT. BUT THANK YOU.
LIQUOR LICENSES, THE REMAINING 13 LIQUOR LICENSES FROM LAST MONTH WERE PICKED UP WITH THE LAST LICENSE BEING PICKED UP ON MAY 1 DUE TO DISCREPANCY ISSUES AT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WITH TAX ID NUMBERS THAT HAS ALL BEEN STRAIGHTENED OUT.
FINE VIOLATIONS, BULLOCKS PAID THEIR VIOLATION FINE OF $600 ON APRIL 29.
PRESTON ROAD HOUSE ALSO PAID THEIR VIOLATION FINE OF $1,050 ON MAY 19.
>> IT WAS FIVE PLUS 50 FOR THE ADMIN FEE AND THEN 50 FOR THE POSTPONEMENT FEE.
>> THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.
>> WAS THAT FAST ENOUGH? [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. NOW WE'LL GO TO THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
[Inspector's Report]
>> [OVERLAPPING] JUST AS QUICK. [LAUGHTER] EASY ENOUGH.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CAROLINE'S ON THEIR EXTENSION OF PREMISE.
BEN JUST GOING AROUND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE BEEN BUSY WITH CODES ENFORCEMENT.
>> OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS OUT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, SO TREY'S BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HELP US OUT ON THAT END.
>> CAN YOU FOLLOW WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR AMENDED SLIGHT PLAN AREA AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT ON THE FILE?
>> I SPENT HALF THE DAY ON THE PHONE WITH THEM.
[02:45:01]
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENT?>> I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
HOW ABOUT BAR AND BEVERAGE? HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING MORE FROM THEM?
>> NO, I BELIEVE THEY DID THEIR BACKGROUND CHECKS BECAUSE WE JUST SAW THAT IT WAS COMING THROUGH, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
>> CORRECT. IT WILL NOT BE ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA.
>> REAL QUICK. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERALSBURG NEW THAT WE APPROVED.
ANY WORD ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM?
>> HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ON NAZAR?
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
>> YOUR EXTENSION EXPIRES ON 31ST.
AT THAT POINT, WITH THE CHANGE IN YOUR RULES AND REGULATIONS, THEY WILL HAVE TO RESUBMIT.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO THEIR ATTORNEY AND LET HIM KNOW.
>> I'VE BEEN THERE SEVERAL OCCASIONS AT THAT NIGHT, HAD ME [LAUGHTER] ON THAT LAST LIQUOR LICENSE.
I'D GO OUT THERE THE NIGHT THAT THEY CLOSED AND GET THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE, BUT I GO THROUGH THERE MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY.
>> BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEIR EXTENSION IS EXPIRING AND THAT WHEN THEY'RE READY, THEY'LL HAVE TO REAPPLY.
>> I THINK THEY WERE MADE AWARE BECAUSE LETTERS WENT OUT TO ALL THE ESTABLISHMENTS ADVISING OF THE NEW AMENDMENT.
>> I WOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO THEIR ATTORNEY TOO SINCE THEIR ATTORNEY REPRESENTED THEM AT THE HEARING.
[Meeting Adjournment]
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THIS CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025.
>> ALL OPPOSED? IT'S OKAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.