[Call to Order]
[00:00:11]
>> I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS TO ORDER FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27TH, 2025 AT 9:30 AM.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF FESTIVALS PERMITS AND RETAIL OFF SITE PERMITS.
[Discussion of Festival Permits and Retail off-site Permits]
>> YES. I WANT TO GET THAT SET UP ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE I CREATED A PRESENTATION.
>> JUST TO STEP BACK TO THE LAST MEETING, THIS WAS YOU'D ASKED GENEVA TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT THE STATE REGULATIONS WERE IN REGARDS TO FESTIVALS AND ON SITE OR OFFSITE PERMITS AND WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAD WITHIN THEIR REGULATIONS.
>> YES. AS CRYSTAL STATED, LAST MONTH, DURING THE LIQUOR BOARD MONTHLY MEETING, THE BOARD WANTED US TO DO SOME RESEARCH REGARDING WHAT OTHER MARYLAND COUNTIES WERE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO FESTIVALS.
WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS THE MARYLAND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE ON FESTIVALS AND OFFSITE PERMITS.
MARYLAND OFFERS A NONPROFIT BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL PERMIT.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THEY MAY ISSUE THE PERMIT TO A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
THE PERMIT ALLOWS THE HOLDER TO CONDUCT A NONPROFIT BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL FOR AT LEAST ONE DAY, BUT NO MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
AND THE PERMIT ALLOWS THE HOLDER TO SELL TO A CONSUMER BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR FOR ON AND OFF PREMISES CONSUMPTION, OR THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH THE HOLDER OF A RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT TO OPERATE A SAMPLING AND SALES AREA.
THE PERMIT HOLDER SHALL PROVIDE SPACE AT A NONPROFIT BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL FOR HOLDERS OF OFFSITE PERMITS.
A HOLDER OF AN OFFSITE PERMIT THAT ATTENDS A NON PROFIT FESTIVAL, MAY PROVIDE BEER WINE AND LIQUOR TO A CONSUMER IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE HOLDER OF A NON PROFIT FESTIVAL PERMIT.
THE PERMIT HOLDER MAY PROVIDE OR SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PROVIDED BY THE PERMIT HOLDER OR A HOLDER OF AN OFFSITE PERMIT THAT IS IN ATTENDANCE.
THE STATE OF MARYLAND ALSO PROVIDES A RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT THAT MAY BE ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO A LICENSE HOLDER.
THAT'S ISSUED BY THE LOCAL LICENSING BOARD.
THE PERMIT ALLOWS THE LICENSE HOLDER TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO THE PUBLIC FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION, AND SAID PERMIT MAY ONLY BE USED AT NOT MORE THAN THREE FARMERS MARKET IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE LOCAL LICENSE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND LISTED ON THE FARMERS MARKET DIRECTORY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
OR THEY MAY BE INVITED BY A HOLDER OF A NON PROFIT FESTIVAL PERMIT.
MEANING THIS RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT HOLDER, THEY MUST BE INVITED BY THE NON PROFIT FESTIVAL PERMIT HOLDER.
DURING THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE FARMERS MARKET OR THE NON PROFIT FESTIVAL, MAY THE RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT HOLDER CONDUCT THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS.
THE RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT AUTHORIZES THE HOLDER AT A FARMER'S MARKET TO OFFER TO SELL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR PRODUCED BY STATE LICENSED MANUFACTURERS TO CONSUMERS FOR CONSUMPTION OFF THE LICENSED PREMISES.
THE SAME STANDS AT NON PROFIT FESTIVALS, BUT THE CODE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY INDICATE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NEED TO BE PRODUCED BY A STATE LICENSE MANUFACTURER.
[00:05:02]
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.MARYLAND HAS A TOTAL OF 25 LICENSING JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH ALL BUT FOUR JURISDICTIONS RECOGNIZE FESTIVALS.
AND IT APPEARS THAT LIQUOR IS NOT CURRENTLY PERMITABLE AT THE LOCAL JURISDICTION.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH THAT I CONDUCTED.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT LIQUOR IS NOT AVAILABLE? ANNAPOLIS, CAROLINE, KENT AND TALBOT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR A FESTIVAL.
THE OTHER ONES DON'T ALLOW LIQUOR.
>> I DIDN'T SEE THAT THAT'S AN OPTION AVAILABLE.
LOOKING THROUGH THE RESEARCH, ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT'S ALLOWED IS EITHER BEER OR WINE. OR BOTH.
>> SO THESE FOUR ARE THE ONLY FOUR THAT DON'T RECOGNIZE?
>> TALBOT COUNTY'S GOT THIS WATER.
>> WHAT DID THEY HAVE RESERVED IN THE BOOKS? I GUESS FOR THE SPACE I GUESS IF CAROLINE COUNTY EVENTUALLY WANTS TO DO FESTIVAL, THAT SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN THE RULES, BUT AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NOTHING INDICATING THAT THERE'S NO LANGUAGE FOR FESTIVALS IN THE ANNOTATED CODE.
>> IF WE WERE TO WANT TO ADOPT THAT, IT WOULD BE A RULE CHANGE TRADE.
WE HAVE TO SEND IT UP TO THE STATE LEGISLATOR LATER. THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
>> AND THEN WE COULD AMEND THEIR THEN.
>> YOU WOULD BE ALLOWED ISSUE OR APPROVE OR DENY A FESTIVAL PERMIT.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATOR FIRST.
>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FESTIVAL AND A FAIR OR TALBOT COUNTY HAS THE WATERFOW FESTIVAL.
THAT'S THREE DAYS, AND THERE'S WINE AND BEER AND LIQUOR, AND THEN I KNOW BECAUSE THE ART CLUB MAKES A TON OF MONEY OUT OF THAT.
BUT THERE A LICENSE ESTABLISHMENT.
>> THAT'S THE WATER FOLL FESTIVAL.
SO IT'S A FESTIVAL WHERE OTHER THEY ALLOW OTHER ENTITIES TO COME IN AND SO ALCOHOL EVER THAT'S DONE IN TALBOT COUNTY.
BUT WHAT THE FESTIVAL PERMIT IS IS IT'S ALLOWING THE PERMIT HOLDER TO CONDUCT A FESTIVAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEER WINE AND LIQUOR, WHERE THEY WOULD INVITE OFFSITE PERMIT HOLDERS, WINERIES, DISTILLERIES, BREWERIES TO COME IN AND HAVE VENDOR BOOTHS AT THIS FESTIVAL, AND THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME AND SAMPLE AND BUY DIFFERENT BEER WINE AND LIQUOR.
>> AREN'T THERE TIMES THAT WE THAT THEY BRING IN THE.
>> NOT JUST A FESTIVAL SPECIFICALLY FOR ALCOHOL.
>> LIKE A BEER FESTIVAL OR A BEER AND WINE FESTIVAL WHERE YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE OTHER VENDORS AT THE FESTIVAL HAS ALL KINDS OF THEME OF THE FESTIVAL THE BEER FESTIVAL.
>> ST. MICHAEL'S HAS THE WINE FESTIVAL.
YES. AND THEY HAVE A BEER FESTIVAL.
>> THEY DON'T PROVE ANYTHING IN.
>> BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK WHAT GENEVA IS SAYING IS NONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE PROVISIONS IN THE CODE TO DO THESE FESTIVALS.
IT'S EITHER BEER, WINE OR BEER AND WINE.
NO ONE IS ACTUALLY DOING A BEER WINE AND LIQUOR, AND RIGHT NOW, THE CODE ONLY ALLOWS A BEER WINE AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL UNDER THE STATE WIDE REGULATION RESTRICTED TO NON PROFITS.
>> HOW DOES A FARMERS MARKET FALL INTO THIS?
>> THAT'S THE OFFSITE PERMIT WHERE YOU CAN APPLY TO THE STATE TO BE GRANTED AN OFFSITE PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO SELL IF GENEVA GOES BACK A SLIDE.
>> THAT'S WHERE IT SAID THE THREE FARMERS MARKETS.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER, MISS RITTER SAID THAT THE LANGUAGE WASN'T CLEAR BECAUSE IT READS TO SAY, LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN GO TO THREE FARMERS MARKETS IN THAT JURISDICTION, BUT WHAT THE ATCC WAS SAYING IS THAT, NO, YOU CAN GO THREE TIMES, NOT THE WHOLE SEASON OF THE FARMERS MARKET.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WHAT ABOUT THE CATERERS LICENSE?
>> IF YOU HAVE A CATERERS LICENSE.
>> A CATERERS LICENSE IS ISSUED AGAIN AT THE STATE.
WE HAVE A LOCAL ONE, BUT THAT IS ISSUED TO A HOLDER OF A CURRENT RESTAURANT LICENSE.
>> THE PUB CURRENTLY HAS A CATERERS LICENSE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO ANYWHERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND SELL THEIR FOOD AND ALCOHOL AT THE CATERED EVENT.
SO IT'S AN ADD ON LICENSE TO THEIR CURRENT LICENSE, THEY HAVE.
NOW, THE STATEWIDE CATERERS LICENSE, THAT'S TO CATER ALCOHOL.
[00:10:02]
THERE'S TWO TYPES.THERE'S A LIMITED AND A STATEWIDE.
LIMITED IS THREE CONTIGUOUS JURISDICTIONS THAT YOU WOULD CATER IN OR YOU COULD APPLY FOR ALL JURISDICTIONS, THERE'S PROVISIONS ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND IT STATES IN THOSE REGULATIONS THAT YOU MUST MAINTAIN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
I THINK IT'S 75% OF FOOD VERSUS THE ALCOHOL, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY STATE IN THE REGULATIONS WHO PROVIDES THE FOOD.
SO THE THOUGHT WAS, IS IF THERE'S FOOD AT THE EVENT YOU'RE CATERING, AND AS LONG AS IT MEETS THOSE PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD BE OKAY.
BUT MISS RITTER SAID THAT WHEN SHE CONFIRMED WITH THE ATCC, THEY SAID, NO, THE ALCOHOL CATERER LICENSE HOLDER HAS TO PROVIDE THE FOOD.
YOU CAN'T RELY ON ANOTHER ENTITY TO PROVIDE THE FOOD, WHICH WASN'T REALLY CLEAR IN THE REGULATIONS.
THAT'S WHERE SHE HAD APPLIED, I BELIEVE, TO THE STATE TO DO THE CATERERS LICENSE, NOT NOT KNOWING BECAUSE THE REGULATION WASN'T CLEAR THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE PROVIDER OF THE FOOD.
AND THE SAME THING FOR THE OFFSITE PERMIT, SHE APPLIED TO GET ONE OF THOSE AS WELL, THINKING SHE WOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO GO TO THE FARMERS MARKETS IN CAROLINE COUNTY TO SELL ALCOHOL, NOT KNOWING THAT THE STATE SAID, NO, IT'S NOT THREE FARMERS MARKETS.
AND MOST SHE WAS SHE TOLD THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT WHAT SHE FOUND IS THAT MOST FARMERS' MARKETS, THEY'RE GOING TO RESERVE A SPACE FOR YOU FOR THE SEASON.
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO JUST COME ONCE BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING OUT ADVERTISEMENTS AND PEOPLE COME TO THE WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET EXPECTING TO SEE THE SAME VENDORS, AND THAT LICENSE WAS NOT GOING TO ALLOW HER TO DO THAT.
AND THAT WOULD NEED A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE AS WELL.
TO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT CATERERS LICENSE PROVISION, THE OFFSITE PERMIT LICENSE, THE BEER WIN AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL, NONPROFIT WOULD ALL BE STATE LEVEL, WHICH MISS RITTER HAS BEEN TALKING TO SENATOR MOUNTS AND HAS REACHED OUT TO DELEGATE ARNSEN GRIST AS WELL TO SEE IF THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF LOOKING AT THOSE THREE THINGS.
AND THEN IF CAROLINE COUNTY'S INTERESTED IN SEEKING ANY PROVISION SPECIFICALLY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY TO ALLOW A FESTIVAL PERMIT.
THE RESEARCH THAT GENEVA HAS DONE IS LAYING OUT WHAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE IN PLACE CURRENTLY TO ALLOW THAT.
BUT IT STILL DOESN'T ADDRESS LIQUOR.
NOT THAT CAROLINE COUNTY COULDN'T ASK FOR THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY JURISDICTION IS DOING ANYTHING BEYOND A BEER OR BEER OR WINE FESTIVAL.
>> AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ARE WE GOING TO COVER LET'S JUST SAY SOMEONE WANTS TO DO ONE OF THESE.
THERE'S NOT MANY PLACES FOR THEM TO DO IT.
>> BUT CHALLENGING CAROLINE COUNTY WOULD BE, FIRST OFF, DOES THE COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS ALLOW FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, OR IF YOU'RE DOING IT WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY, DOES THAT MUNICIPALITY HAVE ZONING REGULATIONS, AND WHAT DID THEY LOOK LIKE.
REGARDLESS OF THE LIQUOR BOARD SAYING, WE CAN GIVE YOU AN ALCOHOL LICENSE TO HOLD THIS FESTIVAL, YOU STILL GOT TO COMPLY WITH WHATEVER THAT JURISDICTION'S ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR ANY SORT OF FESTIVAL THAT YOU'D WANT TO HOLD.
RIGHT NOW, CAROLINE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF ZONING REGULATIONS FOR FESTIVALS.
WHAT WE DO HAVE IS EVENT VENUES, WHICH ARE PERMANENT VENUES THAT YOU COULD SEEK APPROVAL FOR THROUGH ZONING.
BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING FOR FESTIVALS.
THIS WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE SOMEONE IF YOU WERE TO CREATE THIS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
IT WOULD BE TO BE HELD IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON? THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WITH THE TYPE OF FESTIVALS.
THE FIRST SECTION IS THE JURISDICTIONS OFFERING BEER AND WINE FESTIVAL PERMITS ONLY.
THERE ARE ONLY SIX JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT ARE OFFERING BEER AND WINE FESTIVAL PERMITS ONLY.
THE NEXT SECTION INDICATES THAT THERE ARE EIGHT JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE OFFERING WINE FESTIVAL PERMITS ONLY.
[00:15:03]
>> I'M MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE HAVE THE JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE OFFERING BEER OR WINE FESTIVAL PERMITS ONLY, AND THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN JURISDICTIONS OFFERING THIS TYPE OF PERMIT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT HAS A BEER FESTIVAL PERMIT ONLY, AND THAT'S GARRETT COUNTY.
WHO CAN APPLY? AS YOU CAN SEE ON MY NOTES, THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT IT'S RETAIL LICENSED HOLDERS.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR CLASS 3 WINERIES, CLASS 4 WINERIES, CLASS 4 LIMITED WINERIES.
YOU HAVE YOUR CLASS 5 BREWERY, CLASS 6 PUB BREWERY, CLASS 7 MICROBREWERY, CLASS 8 FARM BREWERY.
THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH, WAS ONLY WASHINGTON COUNTY THAT WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN THE LANGUAGE THAT IT NEEDED TO BE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
THERE'S ONLY ONE COUNTY THAT ALLOWS TEMPORARY ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSES FOR THESE TYPES OF FESTIVALS, AND THAT'S SOMERSET COUNTY.
THE BOARD. THE BOARD GETS TO CHOOSE THE NUMBER OF FESTIVAL PERMITS ALLOTTED, WHICH VARIES FROM 1-3 IN A CALENDAR YEAR, THE NUMBER OF FESTIVAL DAYS, AND IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE WEEKENDS, AND IT'S USUALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, SOME JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE THAT THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH EXISTING FESTIVALS, AND I'VE LISTED HERE IN THE BULLET POINTS THE ALREADY ANNUAL FESTIVALS THAT OCCUR IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AS LONG AS YOUR FESTIVAL DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THESE, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD TO HOLD A FESTIVAL.
WASHINGTON COUNTY BEER AND WINE STREET FESTIVAL, THEY ALLOW A MAXIMUM OF 26 DAYS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR THEIR BEER AND WINE STREET FESTIVAL.
MOVING ON. THE SCOPE OF THE AUTHORIZATION.
BASICALLY, MY RESEARCH FOUND THAT DURING THE FESTIVAL IS TO DISPLAY AND SELL BEER, WINE, OR BOTH.
MOST JURISDICTIONS ALLOW THE SALE OF WINE AND BEER MANUFACTURED AND PROCESSED IN ANY STATE BUT DISTRIBUTED IN MARYLAND.
SOME JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE THE SALE OF BEER THAT'S BREWED BY THE BREWERY AND BREWS LESS THAN 60,000 BARRELS OF BEER ANNUALLY.
GARRETT COUNTY ALLOWS THE DISPLAY OF ALLOWS THE DISPLAY AND THE SALE OF BEER THAT IS MANUFACTURED, PROCESSED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE.
HOWARD, SOMERSET, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES ALLOW THE DISPLAY AND SALE OF WINE PRODUCED AND PROCESSED IN THE STATE.
WICOMICO COUNTY ALLOWS THE DISPLAY AND SALE OF BEER OWNED AND MANUFACTURED BY THE LICENSE HOLDER.
GENERAL INFORMATION. BASICALLY, MOST JURISDICTIONS ALLOW THE LICENSE HOLDER TO HOLD ANOTHER LICENSE FROM A DIFFERENT CLASS OR NATURE.
ELEVEN OF THE JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE THE FESTIVAL TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE PROMOTION OF MARYLAND WINE, BEER, OR BOTH.
THERE ARE NINE JURISDICTIONS THAT THE BOARD SETS THE COST OF THE FESTIVAL PERMIT.
IN THE RESEARCH THAT I DID, THE PERMIT RANGES FROM $15 TO ABOUT $200, AND THERE'S A FEW JURISDICTIONS THAT ACTUALLY CHARGE A FEE PER DAY OF THE FESTIVAL.
THAT IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, GENTLEMEN.
>> IN THE PREVIOUS PAGE 14, ALL APART FROM ONE JURISDICTION REQUIRED A LOCATION TO NOT ALREADY BE A LICENSED PERSON?
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEY COULDN'T HAVE A FESTIVAL AT COW BARN, THEY COULDN'T HAVE A FESTIVAL AT PLACES THAT ALREADY HOLD THEM.
WELL, COW BARN DOESN'T A LICENSE.
>> I WOULD LEAN TO GENEVA TO KNOW WERE THEY SAYING THAT IF YOU WERE GRANTED A FESTIVAL PERMIT, YOU COULDN'T HOLD IT ON THAT LITIGATION?
[00:20:03]
>> CORRECT. YOUR LICENSE PREMISE.
>> IF THE COW BARN WERE TO GET A VENUE LICENSE, THEN SOMEONE COULDN'T GO HOLD A FESTIVAL ON THAT PROPERTY.
>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE BACK TO THE FACT THAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS TO CREATE PROVISIONS FOR THEM TO HOLD A FESTIVAL.
>> LET'S JUST SAY TOMMY WHEATLEY WANTED TO DO THE AREA OUT THERE ON HIS FARM BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAME TO HIM AND WANTS TO HAVE THAT FESTIVAL.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT HE'S ALLOWED TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE COUNTY SAYING THAT THEY CAN.
>> HOW ABOUT YOUR LAVENDER FESTIVAL?
>> THAT FALLS UNDER THE AGRITOURISM?
>> GOING BACK, FESTIVAL IS A PLAY ON WORDS, REALLY.
>> HOW IS A FESTIVAL ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE FAIR? LIKE THE 4-H FAIR.
>> FESTIVAL, FAIR. SAME THING.
>> SAME THING. IS THE FAIR CONSIDERED A FESTIVAL? THEN THAT FESTIVAL IS A NAME.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WE GIVE A TEMPORARY LICENSE TO THE FAIR.
THIS YEAR, THEY HAD A TEMPORARY LICENSE, THEN THEY HAD ANOTHER VENDOR COME IN.
THEY HAD A WINERY COME IN THAT WAS SELLING.
>> WELL, REMEMBER THE FAIR IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> A LOT OF YOUR FESTIVALS ARE THEY NONPROFIT OR ARE THEY PROFIT?
>> YOUR FESTIVALS, WELL, THEY'RE EITHER SOME AGRITOURISM FESTIVAL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE VENDORS ARE GOING TO BE FOR-PROFIT.
>> THE LLAMA FESTIVAL, THE LAVENDER FESTIVAL, THEY'RE ALL FALLING UNDER THE AGRITOURISM SCOPE OF ZONING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS.
THE FAIR IS A NONPROFIT FAIR HOSTED ON COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY.
YOU HAVE THAT WEIRD MIX OF IT.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER FESTIVALS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF A MUNICIPALITY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR.
SUMMERFEST IS HELD WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS OF DENTON, AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO HAVE SOME FESTIVAL AT SOME POINT DURING THE YEAR, WHETHER IT'S FEDERALSBURG OR DENTON.
AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE WHATEVER THEIR ZONING REQUIREMENTS ARE TO ALLOW FESTIVALS.
>> IS THERE A CANNABIS FESTIVAL?
>> THE THING IS, I THINK MAYBE WHAT YOU MIGHT BE SPEAKING TO, GREG, IS THAT AT SOME OF THESE FESTIVALS, YOU DO TEND TO SEE A WINERY THERE OR A BREWERY THERE.
THEY ARE ISSUED A STATE LICENSE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TO SAY. THEY COME IN WITH THE STATE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT CARVES OUT SOME THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO UNDER THAT STATE LICENSE, WHICH SAYS, YOU CAN GO TO X AMOUNT OF EVENTS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO PROVIDE SAMPLES AND SALES.
THEY GET THAT PRIVILEGE UNDER THEIR STATE MANUFACTURING LICENSE.
>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SOLICITOR'S PERMIT JUST LIKE THAT WHOLE THING WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE TOWN OF RIDGELY.
>> I KNOW WE ALWAYS GO BACK TO TALBOT COUNTY, AND TALBOT COUNTY ALWAYS HAS THEIR OWN.
>> THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE TALBOT COUNTY LISTED HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER THEIR COUNTY CODE.
>> BUT THEY WERE THEY WERE LISTED ON THE ONE WITH THE FOUR [OVERLAPPING] THAT DON'T HAVE A FESTIVAL PERMIT.
>> BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THEY DO UNDER THEIR LOCAL COUNTY CODE BECAUSE THEIR ALCOHOL PROVISIONS ARE UNDER THEIR LOCAL COUNTY CODE AND NOT IN THE STATE CODE.
>> BECAUSE EASTON DOES HAVE, I THINK IT'S A BEER FEST?
>> THEY'VE GOT THE BEER FEST IN EASTON, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE WINE AND BEER FEST IN ST. MICHAEL'S.
>> THAT'S WHY GENERALLY WE GO TO TALBOT COUNTY FOR COMPARISON BECAUSE THEY'RE THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BUT DON'T COMPARE US.
>> IF WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND ON THIS, I DO LIKE THE ONE THING THAT HOWARD, SOMERSET, AND WASHINGTON COUNTY IS DOING.
THEY'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT WINE, BUT I THINK WE COULD ADD BEER INTO IT THAT IS DONE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
BECAUSE WHY ARE YOU HAVING THIS FESTIVAL? YOU'RE NOT HAVING IT JUST TO PROMOTE EVERY PRODUCT THAT IS OUT THERE.
YOU'RE HAVING IT TO PROMOTE SPECIFIC PRODUCTS.
IT SHOULD HAVE TO BE BREWED, SO TO SPEAK, WITHIN THE STATE.
IT EITHER HAS TO BE A MARYLAND STATE WINERY OR A MARYLAND STATE BREWERY.
>> THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD IDENTIFY IN ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION YOU WANT TO DO IS, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS? WHAT DO WE WANT IN CAROLINE COUNTY?
>> IF WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS,
[00:25:04]
WITHOUT THE COUNTY CREATING THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO HOLD A FESTIVAL, SHOULDN'T WE WAIT TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE THAT BEFORE WE WORRY ABOUT PRODUCING A LICENSE FOR IT?>> WELL, REMEMBER THAT THIS WOULD AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST IN THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITIES.
>> EVEN IF THE COUNTY DIDN'T ALLOW SOMEONE TO HOLD IT, THIS WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITIES IF THEY HAVE ZONING PROVISIONS THAT LET THEM HAVE FESTIVALS.
>> TO ME, IT'S SEMANTICS. THE FAIR AND THE FESTIVAL, AND WE DON'T HAVE FESTIVALS.
WELL, WHAT'S THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO HAVE A FESTIVAL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE FESTIVALS, WHICH PUTS US AS THE ONLY FOUR COUNTIES, AND THREE OF THEM ARE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
>> BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. WE DO KNOW THAT AGAIN, WITHOUT TALKING TO THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD FIND OUT FOR YOU, IS WHAT ARE THE MUNICIPALITIES ALLOWING IN TERMS OF FESTIVALS IN THE TOWNS, TO KNOW IF YOU WERE TO SEEK THIS LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, WOULD IT AT LEAST AFFORD THE ABILITY AT THE PRESENT TIME FOR THEM TO DO FESTIVALS IN TOWN?
>> HOW WOULD THIS, WITH YOU CAN'T HAVE A FESTIVAL OR WHATEVER WITHOUT A LICENSE ESTABLISHMENT, HOW DOES THAT FALL FOR THE FIRE COMPANIES THAT HAVE THE TEMPORARY LICENSES? WITH THE 10, 20?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THAT IS A PROVISION THAT THAT LOCAL JURISDICTION HAS IDENTIFIED TO SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW IT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T.
BUT WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING BURIED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN STATE LAW THAT THE REASON THEY HAVE THAT THERE IS BECAUSE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN STATE LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE LICENSE ON THE PREMISES, SO YOU'VE GOT THAT TO THINK ABOUT, TOO.
THAT MAY BE WHY THEY'VE MADE THAT PROVISION, IS THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WHERE YOU CAN'T HAVE MULTIPLE LICENSES ON ONE PREMISE.
JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T BRING BEER INTO A RESTAURANT THAT THEY DON'T SELL.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO DIG INTO TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING CONFLICTING.
>> I WAS THINKING WITHIN THE LINES OF GREENSBORO. THEY'RE PRETTY ACTIVE.
THEY HAVE THEIR FAIRGROUNDS THERE.
IF SOMEBODY CAME ALONG AND WANTED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF FESTIVAL, HOW WOULD THAT PLAY WITH THEM? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WITH THEM BEING A LICENSE HOLDER?
>> WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE STATE COMPETING WITH THAT.
>> THERE WAS ONE JURISDICTION THAT I THINK YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY THAT DOES ALLOW FOR IT.
TO BE CLEAR, IT IS A BEER AND/OR WINE AND/OR ALCOHOL FESTIVAL.
NOT JUST A FESTIVAL IN GENERAL, LIKE BALL FEST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS THAT APPARENTLY ALLOWS SOMEONE WITH A FESTIVAL LICENSE TO HOLD THAT FESTIVAL ON A PREMISES THAT ALREADY HAS ITS OWN STANDING LICENSE.
MY GUESS IS WE WOULDN'T FIND THAT THERE'S SOME VARIED CONFLICT.
IT'S JUST THE CHOICE THAT THE JURISDICTIONS MAKE.
HERE, WE MAY WANT, IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO HOLD BEER FEST, IT MAY BE THAT WE WANT IT TO BE AT AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT ALREADY HAS A LICENSE, THAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABIDES BY THE CODE.
I BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IS THAT IT'S UP TO US.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE, BUT TO ASK FOR THAT.
>> YES, IF YOU WANTED TO USE THE GREENSBORO FAIRGROUNDS AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY ARE A TEMPORARY MULTI-EVENT LICENSE HOLDER, YOU WOULD JUST HAVE PROVISIONS THAT SAY, WE'RE OKAY WITH IT BEING HELD ON THEIR GROUNDS, IT'S JUST WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO UTILIZE ONE OF THEIR EVENTS.
THEY CAN'T BE OPERATING WHILE THE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON.
YOU COULD CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHO'S SELLING WHAT ALCOHOL AND EVERYBODY'S WANDERING AROUND.
WELL, I BOUGHT THAT FROM THE FIRE COMPANY, NOT FROM THE VENDOR AT THE WINE FESTIVAL.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU COULD MAKE AS PROVISIONS.
>> ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, TOO, ALL THEIR ALCOHOL IS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED UP, TOO, WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SERVICE.
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE IT LOCKED UP IN BETWEEN EVENTS.
>> ARE YOU SAYING WE SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT THE JURISDICTIONS THINK OF THIS IDEA?
>> HOW MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE YOU GOT?
>> MUNICIPALITIES, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> WE HAVE EIGHT, I THINK, IN THE COUNTY.
WE HAD TEMPLEVILLE, MARYDEL, GOLDSBORO, GREENSBORO, RIDGELY, DENTON, PRESTON, FEDERALSBURG, AND HILLSBORO, I THINK IS ALL OF THEM.
[00:30:03]
>> I LIKE MIKE'S IDEA ABOUT PROMOTING MARYLAND PRODUCTS.
THAT WAS A BIG THING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT THE STATE WAS GIVING CERTAIN LICENSES JUST FOR MARYLAND PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO REALLY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOGAN THING, THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PROMOTE ALL MARYLAND PRODUCTS.
DON'T WE HAVE VINEYARDS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> THERE'S SOME SMALL VINEYARDS.
>> I DO KNOW THAT MS. RITTER, AFTER SHE MET WITH YOU LAST MONTH, SHE DID MEET WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SEEK THEIR SUPPORT IN A STATEWIDE CHANGE TO THE OFFSITE CONSUMPTION PERMIT AND THE NONPROFIT BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL.
THE ONES THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A STATEWIDE CHANGE.
THEY HAD REFERRED HER TO TALK TO THE SENATORS TO LOOK AT THAT, THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL IRONS IN THE FIRE RIGHT NOW WITH LEGISLATIVE THINGS THAT WERE THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT, BUT NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING THE LEAD ON DOING THAT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.
I RECEIVED THURSDAY NOTICE FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE THAT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING WITH THE DELEGATION TO TALK ABOUT ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS GOING TO BE EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, SO THE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO SEE ANYTHING AND BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT IT ON THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER.
>> I DON'T SEE US BEING READY TO GIVE THEM ANYTHING BEFORE THEN.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THINGS.
ONE THING I DON'T AGREE WITH IF WE PROCEED IS, THERE WAS SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS TO SAY, IT CAN'T CONFLICT WITH ANY OF THESE OTHER FESTIVALS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING ON WITHIN THE STATE BECAUSE ALL THOSE FESTIVALS ARE ON THAT SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
IF A FESTIVAL IS HELD HERE, EVEN IF IT'S DURING ONE OF THOSE.
>> NO. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THAT LOCAL JURISDICTION THAT HAS A FESTIVAL IN THERE.
THEY DON'T WANT ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL HOSTING A FESTIVAL IN THAT JURISDICTION AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S SPECIFIC TO THAT JURISDICTION.
WHERE CAROLINE COUNTY, YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WE HAVE OUR FAIR, AND WE HAVE OUR SUMMERFEST THAT ARE TWO BIG EVENTS IN THE COUNTY, SO WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW A BEER WINE & SPIRIT FESTIVAL DURING THE SAME DATES OF THOSE EVENTS.
>> THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
>> LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY IT'S PRETTY HUGE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. YOU DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH FESTIVALS FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE THAT IN THERE.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT TWO COUNTIES WHO WOULD JOIN US, QUEEN ANNE'S AND DORCHESTER.
JUST THE THOUGHT THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT, LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE GOT.
THEY'RE BOTH NEXT DOOR. SEE WHAT THEY DID.
BUT I AGREE THAT BY SEPTEMBER'S MAINTENANCE. THAT'S A MONTH AWAY.
>> I THINK JUST UNDERSTAND THAT, WHAT A BEER WINE AND/OR LIQUOR FESTIVAL LOOKS LIKE, YOU WERE GIVING A PERMIT TO SOMEONE TO HOLD THE FESTIVAL.
THEY WOULD INVITE VENDORS TO COME TO THE FESTIVAL.
>> WE CAN GET TREY TO GO OUT TO ALL THESE FESTIVALS, JUST SAYING [LAUGHTER]
>> WHAT THAT DOES IS AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BREWERIES, WINERIES, DISTILLERIES TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT BEER, WINE & LIQUOR FESTIVAL TO SET UP THEIR VENDOR TENT TO PROVIDE ALCOHOL OR ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE A, WHAT IS IT, OFF-SITE CONSUMPTION BY MISTAKE.
>> NOW, CAN WE PULL THE JURISDICTIONS TO GET THEIR POSITION.
>> FAR AS LIKE THE TOWNS, WOULD THEY ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITHIN THEIR CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS? WOULD IT ALLOW FOR[OVERLAPPING] FESTIVAL?
>> I KNOW DENTON HAS FARMERS MARKET.
EVEN I ASKED THEM, WOULD YOU WANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE HELD AT YOUR FARMER'S MARKET? TO ME, I DON'T THINK OF A FARMER'S MARKET AS A PLACE TO GO TO SAMPLE SOME BEER AND WINE.
[00:35:04]
>> WELL, THEY CAN DO THAT NOW.
THAT IS AN OFFSITE PERMIT HOLDER BY THE STATE COULD GO TO A FARMERS MARKET AND SET UP LIKE, MS. RITTER, SHE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
IF SHE STILL HOLDS HER OFF-SITE CONSUMPTION PERMIT, SHE COULD GO TO A FARMER'S MARKET IN CAROLINE COUNTY, PROVIDED THEY'RE LISTED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF OUR FARMERS MARKETS ARE ON THE DIRECTORY, WHICH CREATES A PROBLEM, BUT IF THEY WERE, THE ATCC IS TELLING HER THAT YOU ONLY GET TO UTILIZE THAT PERMIT THREE TIMES, NOT FOR THE SEASON, WHICH IS WHERE THAT WOULD NEED TO STATE WIDE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO FIX THAT REQUIREMENT.
>> BECAUSE IF THE MARKET GIVES YOU A SPOT, THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE A SPOT FOR THE SEASON.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION IS, LIKE ALL THE THINGS THAT TOWN DENTON HAS, YOU HAVE FOUR, FIVE LICENSEES RIGHT THERE IN THE DOWNTOWN BLOCK THAT COULD CONFLICT WITH ANY OF THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT FOR THE TOWN DENTON, WHO KNOWS WHERE ELSE IT WOULD CONFLICT.
>> THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT. ISN'T THERE A CANNABIS FESTIVAL?
>> THERE WAS A CBD FESTIVAL EARLIER THIS YEAR.
>> THE OTHER THING IS, DID YOU TALK TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY?
>> I HAVE NOT TALKED. I DID THE RESEARCH ON ONLINE.
>> BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT QUEEN ANNE'S OR WINCHESTERS LOOK LIKE SINCE THEY'RE SO CLOSE.
>> WELL, WE CAN ASK THEM HOW MANY FESTIVAL PERMITS HAVE YOU GRANTED IN A YEAR.
DO YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL ONE THAT A PERMIT HOLDER SEEKS EVERY YEAR TO GET A PERMIT FOR? HAVE YOU NOT ISSUED ONE IN FIVE YEARS? WE COULD FIND OUT FOR OUR SHORE COUNTIES THAT DO HAVE THIS FESTIVAL PERMIT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE?
>> WITH THAT ALSO BEING SAID, THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, ARE WE GOING TO DO A BEER? WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW FOR IT AS A BEER FESTIVAL, A BEER, WINE FESTIVAL, A BEER, WINE, LIQUOR FESTIVAL.
IF WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE STATE OF MARYLAND PRODUCTS, HOW MANY DISTILLERIES BESIDE, I KNOW THE DISTILLERY OF THE LYON'S RUM.
>> LYON'S RUM IN ST. MICHAEL'S.
>> ST. MICHAEL'S, BUT HOW MANY DISTILLERIES ARE THERE? MIGHT BE MORE THAN YOU REALIZE BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTAINED TO THEIR LOCAL AREA.
>> WE CAN FIND OUT HOW MANY STATE DISTILLERY LICENSES ARE IN THE STATE.
WE CAN GET THAT PRETTY EASILY.
WE CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY BREWERS, WINERIES, AND DISTILLERIES ARE IN THE STATE PRETTY EASILY.
>> IT'S IN CENTERVILLE, AND THEY JUST MADE A BREWERY ON ROUTE 50 DOWN[OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU GOT BULLING GOAT, TENAIKE. THEY'RE ALL QUEEN ANNE'S.
>> THESE ARE BREWERIES. [OVERLAPPING] SECRETS HAS A DISTILLERY.
>> RETAIL, BUT THEY'VE NEVER OPEN.[OVERLAPPING]
>> SECRETS IS ONE ON THE SHORE.
>> THERE'S A TON OF BREWERIES.
>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT DISTILLERIES.
>> WE WE WANT TO DO IT, BUT THE LIQUOR BOARD DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WHERE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WHOLE COUNTY, NOT JUST A FEW.
>> CAROLINE COUNTY HAS NOT SOUGHT TO GET PROVISIONS.
WE'VE NEVER HAD ANYONE COME TO US AND SAY, I WANT TO HOLD A FESTIVAL, AND I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE YOUR LOCAL REGULATIONS DON'T ALLOW IT.
>> THE ONE COMING TO US NOW, IS SHE LOOKING TO HOLD A FESTIVAL, OR IS SHE LOOKING JUST TO BE A VENDOR AT A FESTIVAL?
>> YEAH. SHE'S LOOKING TO HOLD A FESTIVAL?
>> CORRECT. SHE ALSO WANTS TO BE A VENDOR TO THE FARMERS MARKETS AND SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A STATE WIDE CHANGE.
THE ONLY THING I THINK WE AS THE BOARD CAN AUTHORIZE OR SEEK A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE WOULD BE FOR THE FESTIVAL PERMIT.
>> CORRECT. THEN IT'S UP TO EACH VENDOR TO HAVE THEIR OWN.
>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE EITHER [OVERLAPPING] AFFORDED THAT AUTHORITY TO DO THAT UNDER THEIR MANUFACTURING LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE FESTIVAL OR HOLD THAT OFF SITE CONSUMPTION PERMIT.
>> WELL, IF THERE'S A NEED, I'D LIKE US TO.
>> BUT I THINK THE OFF SITE CONSUMPTION PERMIT IS RESTRICTED TO THE FARMERS MARKETS, AND WHAT ELSE WAS THAT GENEVA THAT THE OFF SITE WAS RESTRICTED TO DO.
[00:40:03]
CAN THE OFF SITE COME TO A FESTIVAL PERMIT OR A BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL? BACK TOWARDS THE BEGINNING, WHERE YOU HAD THE OFFSITE PERMIT REGULATION?>> THEY CAN GO TO A FARMERS MARKET OR A NON PROFIT.
THAT WOULD MEAN IF YOU HAD A LOCAL BEER, WINE, AND FESTIVAL PERMIT, THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD COME THERE IS MANUFACTURERS THAT CURRENTLY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT, OR A RETAIL OFF SITE PERMIT HOLDER.
THEY CAN ONLY GO TO A NONPROFIT OR A FARMER'S MARKET.
I THINK THAT RESTRICTS IT DOWN TO MANUFACTURERS.
>> THERE'S NO NEED IN US CHANGING BEER OR NOT TO EXCEED FOUR FLUID OUNCES, THE QUANTITIES, I THINK THE QUANTITY.
>> I THINK WHAT MS. RITTER WANTS TO DO IS HAVE THAT NONPROFIT REMOVED SO THAT A RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT HOLDER COULD GO TO A BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL.
WHETHER IN CAROLINE COUNTY OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
>> I THINK THAT'S FOR THE FARMERS MARKET.
RETAIL OFFSITE PERMIT, A PERMIT MAY BE USED ONLY ON INVITATION BY A HOLDER OF A NONPROFIT BEER, WINE OR LIQUOR FESTIVAL.
SOMEONE WHO HAS A FESTIVAL PERMIT, THEY GOT TO INVITE MS. RITTER TO COME ON TO THEIR FESTIVAL.
>> THAT WOULD ONLY BE TO NONPROFIT FESTIVALS, WHICH ISSUES THAT LICENSE FOR OR PERMIT FOR?
>> I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT BEFORE THIS WILL EVEN BE CLOSE.
THE JUICE IS GOT TO BE WORTH A SQUEEZE.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T RUSH IT.
I DO THINK WE SHOULD SEE WHAT THE JURISDICTIONS THINK.
LET'S SEE HOW MANY PERMITS DORCHESTER AND QUEEN ANNE'S HAVE ISSUED.
I KNOW THEY USED TO HAVE DOWN TO THE AIRPORT ON TOWN.
THEY USED TO HAVE A WINE FESTIVAL DOWN THERE YEARS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL DO OR NOT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS BEEN USED AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
>> THESE FESTIVALS, THEY CAN GET PRETTY BIG, I KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN [NOISE] COUNTY.
BEER AND WINE ENCOMPASSES ALL, BUT USUALLY YOU HAVE YOUR BEER FANS, AND YOU JUST HAVE YOUR WINE FANS.
REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE JUST A BEER FESTIVAL WINE FESTIVAL.
>> YEAH, BUT I THINK THEY COMBINE IT BECAUSE LIKE, IN MY HOUSEHOLD, I'M NOT DRINKING WINE SO THEY COMBINE IT TO GET-.
>> YOU GOT SOMETHING AGAINST WINE.
>> BUT SOME OF THEM ARE VERY LARGE.
>> WHY, LET'S DO THAT. THAT'S PROBABLY THE COUNTIES, [OVERLAPPING] THESE THINGS EXIST.
>> CONTINUE TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH, AND WE CAN CHECK WITH OUR LOCAL TOWN TO SEE WHAT THEY ALLOW IN TERMS OF ZONING.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY REGULATIONS ARE.
> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOCAL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE DENTON AND [OVERLAPPING].
> IF THEY WOULD ALLOW A BEER WINE AND LIQUOR FESTIVAL.
IF THEIR ZONING REGULATIONS WOULD ALLOW THAT.
THEN WE'LL CHECK WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ADJACENT TO US TO SEE HOW MANY FESTIVAL PERMITS THEY'VE ISSUED.
>> I KNOW IT'S ASKING A LOT GENEVA, BUT MAYBE DO WE ALSO WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY DISTILLERIES, HOW MANY BREWERIES.
>> YEAH, WE CAN GET THAT FROM THE STATE, HOW MANY LICENSE HOLDERS THERE ARE.
THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO GET A HOLD OF.
>> BECAUSE I STILL THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE SHOULD ONLY PROMOTE STATE MARYLAND PRODUCTS.
[00:45:05]
>> MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS, IS OUR BOARD ADMINISTRATORS REPORT?
[Board Administrator Report]
WE HAVE TO GO BACK A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING HOUSEKEEPING.
WE WANT EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE.
JUNE, WE CANCELED THAT MEETING, BUT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING IT RECORDED, WE HAD A TOTAL OF SIX LICENSED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE, WHICH INCLUDED THE AMERICAN LEGION, CAROLINE POST 29, WINGS AND WHEELS WEDNESDAY, WHICH WAS HELD JUNE 18TH, AND THE MARKET STREET PUB HOUSE, THIRD THURSDAYS ON JUNE 19TH.
THAT CONCLUDES THE MONTH OF JUNE.
FOR JULY, STAR GAS AND DIESEL.
THEY PROVIDED US WITH AN UPDATED FLOOR PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY RULES AND REGULATIONS 2.02 TO NOTIFY THE BOARD WHEN THEY DO ANY TYPE OF RENOVATIONS, AND THAT SITE PLAN WAS SUBMITTED ON 71 TO ME.
DID YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE THOSE SITE PLANS? IT WAS JUST A REARRANGING OF SHELVES.
>> THEY ACTUALLY TOOK SHELVES THAT WERE THIS TALL OUT AND PUT WIDER AND TALLER SHELVES SO THAT THEY COULD HOLD MORE BEVERAGES.
>> YES. IN JULY, WE HAD TWO SHOW CALLS WRITTEN DECISIONS, WHICH BOTH FINES WERE PAID AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY.
TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF FIVE TEMPORARY LICENSE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN LEGION CAROLINE POST 29 WINGS AND WHEELS WEDNESDAYS, AS WELL AS THE MARKET STREET PUB HOUSE 3RD THURSDAYS.
FOR AUGUST, WE HAD TEMPORARY LICENSE.
WE ISSUED A TOTAL OF FIVE TEMPORARY LICENSES, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED, AGAIN, AMERICAN LEGION, CAROLINE POST 29 WINGS AND WHEELS WEDNESDAYS, WHICH WAS HELD AUGUST 20TH, AND THE MARKET STREET PUB 3RD THURSDAYS, WHICH WAS HELD LAST WEEK THURSDAY ON THE 21ST.
THE CAROLINE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ONE DAY EVENT FUND RAISER THAT WAS APPROVED LAST MONTH, THE LOVE FOR LISA.
THAT WAS CANCELED ON AUGUST 7TH BY TRACY SNYDER VIA EMAIL.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THAT WAS CANCELED.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW BREWERY THAT SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION THIS WEEK.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO OPEN SOMETIME IN OCTOBER, AND THEY WILL BE ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA.
>> RUN THROUGH THE STATE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A STATE.
>> WE'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME QUESTIONS AND WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE THE STATES IDENTIFIED THAT THEY NEED A LOCAL LICENSE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO BEYOND.
>> BECAUSE WE HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING.
>> I ASSUMED THAT ALL THAT WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE?
>> WE DID TOO BECAUSE WE HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM.
>> THEY REACHED OUT A YEAR AGO AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE DOING THIS, AND WHAT LICENSE DO I NEED TO OPEN A BREWERY? WE SENT THEM TO THE STATE, AND NOW THEY'VE RECENTLY COME BACK AND SAID, WE'RE READY TO OPEN IN OCTOBER, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE STATE PROVISIONS SAY WE CAN OFFER SAMPLES AND TASTINGS, AND WE CAN SELL ON PREMISE BEER THAT WE BREW AND WE CAN ALSO SELL IT TO GO, BUT THAT'S ONLY IF THE LOCAL JURISDICTION GIVES YOU THE LICENSE TO DO THAT.
>> CATCHING UP AND TRYING TO GET THEM IN HERE IN SEPTEMBER WITH THEIR APPLICATION IN PREPARATION FOR AN OCTOBER OPENING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU READ THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> ANY OTHER TIME WE'VE HAD ANY PRODUCTION, IT'S ALL BEEN HANDLED THROUGH THE STATE.
[00:50:03]
>> RIGHT. UNDER THAT BREWERY LICENSE PORTION OF THE CODE, IT STATES THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE THINGS, AND THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THE STATE LICENSE COVERS THOSE THINGS, BUT THE STATE HAS SAID NO.
WE LET YOU AS A LICENSED BREWERY HAVE THOSE ACTIVITIES PROVIDED THE LOCAL JURISDICTION STILL GIVES YOU THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM COMING IN AS A CLASS D BEER LICENSE, WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO SELL ON AND OFF PREMISE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT GENEVA'S BOARD ADMINISTRATOR.
>> BUT I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ON THAT.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO GET TO NO WORSE.
>> JUST LITTLE HISTORY, AND THIS COME OUT IN OUR RESEARCH.
THE CLASS D BEER, BEER WINE, AND BEER WINE AND LIQUOR THAT CAROLINE COUNTY CAN GRANT.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON UNDER 21.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE BECAUSE OUR CLASS D LICENSE HOLDERS HAVE BEEN TRUE TAVERNS OR BARS.
THEY WERE PLACES YOU DID NOT WANT UNDER 21 THERE.
THERE WERE DANCE HALLS, POOL HALLS.
IF YOU GO WAY BACK, THAT'S THE HISTORY BEHIND THAT.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT LOCAL PROVISION THAT SAYS, ANYBODY WHO HAS A CLASS D, CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY UNDER 21.
NUMBER OF YEARS BACK, BETH BREWSTER'S SISTER WAS SEEKING TO OPEN A PLACE IN DOWNTOWN DENTON OF MORE OF A MEETING PLACE CAFE, WOULD HAVE SOME OPTIONAL SEATING AREAS IF YOU WANTED TO COME IN AND HAVE A BUSINESS MEETING WITH SOMEONE, GRAB A QUICK BITE TO EAT, AFTER WORK, GRAB A GLASS OF WINE.
MAYBE SHE HAD SOME PREPARED SANDWICHES OR SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD BUY, AND SHE ALSO, AT THE TIME, WANTED THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY WAS SEEKING FREE INTERNET.
IF KIDS WANTED TO COME AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, DO THEIR HOMEWORK, USE THE FREE INTERNET, HAVE A SNACK WHILE THEY WAIT FOR MOM AND DAD TO GET OFF WORK, IT WAS A PLACE FOR THEM TO COME, AND OUR LOCAL PROVISION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM DOING THAT.
THE BOARD PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND A LOT OF TIME INTO PROTECTING THAT UNDER 21 FOR A TAVERNS, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO OPEN THE DOORS BY MAKING A REGULATION CHANGE THAT WOULD NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAVE THE TAVERNS COME IN AND SAY, I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY LICENSE TO THIS TYPE BECAUSE I WANT THE UNDER 21.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU CHANGED YOUR CLASS D BEER AND WINE, LIFTED THE UNDER 21 PROVISION FROM THAT AND SET SOME STANDARDS THAT SAID, IT'S ONLY A SIX DAY LICENSE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE SEVEN DAY BECAUSE THE TAVERNS ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO GIVE UP SUNDAY FOOTBALL IN NASCAR.
THERE'S NO LIQUOR. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP LIQUOR.
IT ALSO RESTRICTED THE HOURS OF OPERATION TO MIDNIGHT OR 9:00 PM.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY WERE. BUT ANYWAY, THE BARS ARE GOING TO WANT TO STAY OPEN LATER.
THEY HAD TO SELL SOME CERTAIN CAFE FOOD ITEMS. YOU FELT THAT THAT WAS ENOUGH RESTRICTIONS THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A REASON THAT ANY OF OUR LICENSED TAVERNS WOULD WANT TO SWITCH LICENSES.
THEY NEVER APPLIED FOR THE LICENSE.
NOBODY EVER SINCE THEN HAS, BUT AT THE TIME, WE WERE JUST FOCUSED ON THE BEER AND WINE.
WE DIDN'T DO THE SAME FOR A BEER ONLY.
I THINK FOR EDENTON BREWERY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOCAL REG CHANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SEEKING A BEER AND WINE.
THEY'RE ONLY SEEKING THE BEER.
THE BEER STILL HAS NO ONE UNDER 21.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LIFT THAT FOR THE BEER AND JUST SAY THE SAME PROVISIONS APPLY FOR BEER AND WINE THAT APPLY FOR BEER.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO AND WE CAN PREPARE AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER IF YOU'D LIKE A DRAFT OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THEY WANT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
FIRST OFF, THEY'RE GOING TO BREW AT EDENTON.
THEY'RE GOING TO MANUFACTURE THEIR BEER.
THEY'RE GOING TO OFFER TASTINGS, AND THEY ALSO WANT TO HAVE A TAP ROOM WHERE YOU CAN COME UP, HAVE A DRINK.
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE THEY WANT TO SET UP CORNHOLE TABLES.
AGAIN, THEY WANT IT TO BE FAMILY FRIENDLY IN THE UNDER 21.
THEY ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROOM WITHIN THE BREWERY WHERE YOU COULD POTENTIALLY RENT, SET ASIDE FOR A PRIVATE PARTY, BIRTHDAY PARTY OR SOMETHING.
THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH CAROLINE'S TO HAVE A PERMANENT FOOD TRUCK THERE AT THE SITE.
THAT PLANS TO BE OPEN AT ALL HOURS THE BREWERS OPEN.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY IF THE BREWERY IS NOT OPEN,
[00:55:03]
THE FOOD TRUCK IS NOT OPEN, AND THE FOOD TRUCK WILL BE OPEN AT ALL TIMES THE BREWERS OPEN.THAT IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
RIGHT NOW THEIR FOCUS IS GETTING OPEN AND GETTING THE PROVISION TO DO THE BEER, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SELL WINE AND/OR LIQUOR.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE YET, AND WHETHER THERE'S A LICENSE THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM TO DO THAT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE YOUR A RETAIL TO GO, B RESTAURANT THAT HAS THE 51% FOOD VERSUS ALCOHOL, AND THEY'RE UNSURE IF THAT THEY'LL MEET THAT THRESHOLD WITH THE FOOD TRUCK, BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE LIMITED FOOD ITEMS, SO THEY DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO NECESSARILY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF MEETING THE DEFINITION OF FOOD.
PLUS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING WHEN WE'VE GOT TWO SEPARATE BUSINESSES ON ONE SITE, AGAIN, IS IT A THING WHERE THAT BREWERY HAS TO PROVIDE THE FOOD, NOT CAROLINE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT IF WE WERE TO POSSIBLY ENTERTAIN A RESTAURANT TYPE LICENSE FOR THEM.
CLUBS DOESN'T FIT, AND THEN WE HAVE THE TAVERN.
WE DO HAVE THAT BEER WINE AND LIQUOR TAVERN.
BUT AGAIN, THAT BEER WINE AND LIQUOR WOULD HAVE THE UNDER 21, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LIFT THAT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO DO A CARVE OUT UNDER THAT, AN EXCEPTION TO SAY, A BREWERY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE UNDER 21.
IN THAT WAY, YOU'RE PROTECTING THE EXISTING ONES.
THERE'S THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK FIRST, WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT, CAN THEY UNDER THEIR STATE BREWERS LICENSE, ALLOW WINE AND LIQUOR? WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER BREWERIES IN THE STATE THAT DO. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
CAN THE BOARD GRANT THEM A LICENSE TO DO WINE AND LIQUOR AT THAT BREWERY? RIGHT NOW IT TALKS ABOUT JUST BEER UNDER THE BREWERYS LICENSE.
>> I MEAN, YOU HAVE THEM CLOSE IN THE COUNTY NEXT TO US.
>> YEAH, TEN EYCK. [OVERLAPPING] TEN EYCK HAS THE FOOD.
>> DO THEY HAVE UNDER 21 THERE?
>> YOU'VE HAD EVENTS FOR, LIKE, SCHOOL.
>> THEY HAVE KIDS EVENTS OUT BACK AND STUFF.
>> WE'VE BEEN IN THERE AND WE TAKE HIM IN THERE TO WATCH FOOTBALL.
>> WE'VE HAD SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO IRON OUT THESE THINGS AND NOT UNDERSTANDING FROM EDENTON THAT THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN DO.
WE WANT TO GET THEM IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TO APPLY FOR THE LICENSE AS THEY NEED TO, AND RIGHT NOW, THE FOCUS IS DEFINITELY ON THE BEER SO THAT THEY CAN HOPEFULLY GET THAT UP AND OPERATING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET ANSWERS TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN DO THE WINE AND LIQUOR AND HOW THEY COULD DO THAT.
BUT I THINK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY APPLICATION FOR THIS CLASS D BEER ONLY LICENSE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A CRITERIA THAT CAN'T BE UNDER 21.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN DOING THAT LOCAL RULE AND REG CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER AS WELL WITH THE APPLICATION, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GET SOMETHING DRAFTED.
ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TO HAVE THE SAME CRITERIA THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE FOR THE BEER AND WINE? GENEVA.
>> COULD YOU POSSIBLY PULL THAT RULES AND REGS UP AGAIN AND WHAT THOSE SPECIAL PROVISIONS ARE FOR THE BEER AND WINE CLASS D? WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.
>> BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT IT NOW.
>> THAT WAY WE CAN GET SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND HOPEFULLY ADOPT.
>> THE CAROLINE COUNTY RULES AND REG.
>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT GOING TO IS IT CHAPTER 3 OR 4 WHERE THE CLASSES OF LICENSES.
>> WE CAN ADOPT IT ON THIS LEVEL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND IT UP TO THE STATE.
>> CORRECT. BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LOCAL.
YOU'RE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE STATE.
BECAUSE THE STATE SAYS YOU CAN HAVE UNDER 21 OF THE CLASS D. YOU'RE MORE RESTRICTIVE IN THAT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S BEEN THE NATURE OF OUR COUNTY AND WHAT OUR CLASS D LICENSE HOLDERS HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE.
WE'RE DOWN TO VERY FEW OF THEM LEFT.
RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE ONE WE WOULD WANT TO AMEND, IS 4.01 CLASS D.
>> THERE WE GO. CAN WE ALL SEE THAT?
>> WAIT A MINUTE. DID WE PUT THAT ALREADY IN THERE FOR THE BEER.
MAYBE WE DID AT THE SAME TIME. I DIDN'T READ IT.
>> ME TOO. [LAUGHTER] I WAS THINKING WE ONLY DID IT FOR THE BEER WINE.
[01:00:02]
MAYBE WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.>> I WAS ON HERE WHEN WE DID THIS, AND I REMEMBER WE CHANGED AND IT HAD TO DO WITH BEST.
>> YES, SHE WAS TAKING THE BEER AND WINE, BUT SHE PROBABLY DID THE BEER TOO.
>> I REMEMBER THE FRUITS AND THE SALADS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SMALL PLATE STUFF.
>> NOW, THIS IS CLASS D ON SALE.
SHE ALSO WANTS TO DO OFF SALE.
BUT I THINK AGAIN, DOES THE STATE BREWERIES LICENSE ALLOW HER TO SELL HER OWN CANNED BEER FROM THAT LOCATION, OR DOES IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH DISTRIBUTOR.
OR DOES THE LOCAL JURISDICTION HAVE TO GIVE HER THE OFF SALE LICENSE TO DO THAT? I THINK WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK TO DO BEFORE SEPTEMBER MEETING JUST TO MAKE SURE.
>> IS HE STILL PRODUCING [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S BREWING ANY MORE.
>> BUT HE WAS DOING IT IN THE GROWLER.
REMEMBER THAT THE GROWLER? THEY WERE FILLING PEOPLE, WERE BRINGING IN THEIR OWN GROWLERS. HE WANTED TO SELL HIS GROWLERS.
>> YES. HE HAD THAT PERMIT TO DO THE GROWLERS, WHICH WE HAVEN'T.
>> BUT THAT WAS THROUGH THE STATE.
>> THAT WAS US. IT'S CONFUSING.
>> IF YOU'RE FILLING THAT GROWLER, AND YOU'RE TAKING HOME REFRIGERATOR.
THEY HAVE THOSE CRAWLER AND GROWLER PERMITS FOR THE REFILLABLE CONTAINERS, WHICH THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO DO THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT JUST CANNED.
BUT WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN OFFER THE ON AND OR OFF FOR THE CLASS D. I THOUGHT IT WAS AND OR WITH OUR CLASS D BEER LICENSES IN THIS DATE.
>> IT'S ON, AND THEN IF YOU KEEP GOING.
>> I DIDN'T SEE. WHAT WAS UP? KEEP GOING UP.
>> KEEP GOING BACK TO JUST BEER ONLY.
THAT'S BEER AND WINE. KEEP GOING.
>> OR DO THEY GOT TO HAVE BOTH THE CLASS A AND THE CLASS D? BUT WE DO GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ADVERTISE FOR SEPTEMBER.
WHETHER IT'S A CLASS D ON OFF OR IT'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF YOU GO TO A BEER AND WINE.
>> IS IT A CLASS D ON AND OFF?
>> BECAUSE I'M GO TO SAY IF THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THEY WOULD ADD WINE AT A LATER DATE, WHY WOULDN'T THEY DO THE BEER AND WINE NOW AND CALL A DATE?
>> WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THE STATE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO SELL WINE BECAUSE THEY'VE TOLD HER NO?
>> THEY TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T SELL WINE OR LIQUOR THAT COME FROM ANOTHER [OVERLAPPING].
>> SHE BECOMES A RETAIL STORE AT THAT POINT.
>> CORRECT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DOES QUEEN ANNE'S OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE BREWERIES THAT ALLOW THAT TO BE DONE, WE DON'T KNOW.
>> BECAUSE I THINK 108 HAS WINE AND LIQUOR FROM OTHER VENDORS.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT HER QUESTION IS.
WHY IS THE STATE TELLING ME THAT I CAN'T? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ANSWERS TO.
BECAUSE THEY'RE TELLING HER NO.
SHE CAN JUST DO BEER. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
WELL, IF THAT'S SO, HOW'S QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY DOING IT?
>> DO THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY CHANGED AT THE STATE LEVEL TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.
>> DO YOU HAVE A CONNECTION AT QUEEN ANNE'S THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT TO?
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST BEEN MOVING PRETTY FAST, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HER ON THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER.
BUT THERE'S THE LIKELIHOOD WE MAY BE COMING BACK FOR A CHANGE IN LICENSE AT SOME POINT. THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
>> AT THIS POINT, TRYING TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF, CAN WE JUST GET HER WITH THE BEER?
>> SO THAT THEY CAN PROCEED AND MOVE ON?
>> THAT'S OUR GOAL. BUT IN HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS WHEN THEY CAME IN TO SAY, I WANT TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE, THEN WE IRONED OUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO THAT WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE THEY FIT.
AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.
>> BUT I THINK ALSO THE BIG THING IS, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A CLASS D ON PREMISE.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO IRON OUT IS I THOUGHT THERE'S AN ON OFF FOR CLASS D. AND MAYBE I'M WRONG.
>> WELL, IT WOULDN'T BE HERE, IT WOULD BE IN THE ANNOTATED CO.
>> D AND B HAD THAT SIX DAY LICENSE?
>> BECAUSE D AND B HAS IT ON OFF PREMISE.
[01:05:01]
>> ARE THEY GOING TO WANT JUST THE SICK DAY LICENSE?
>> THE RULES AND REGS IN IT SHOULD SAY ON OFF.
>> THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO WANT TO BE OPEN SIX DAYS?
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A SIX DAY LICENSE.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE LOOKED AT AT SOME POINT.
I'VE GOT FOUR BOOKS OPEN ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW FROM.
[LAUGHTER] ONE BOOK SAYING ON OFF, ONE BOOK SAYING ON SOMEWHERE, IT WENT FROM SIX DAY TO SEVEN DAY, AND WE'RE NOT SURE IF THAT HAPPENED WHEN WE DID THE HOURS CHANGES, GREG, YOU WERE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE HERE THEN THAT WAS WHEN RON RUSSELL WAS [OVERLAPPING].
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN THAT FAR BACK.
>> BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT CAME TO THE BOARD AND SAID, CAN WE PLEASE ALIGN OUR HOURS OF OPERATION? BECAUSE WHEN I GO OUT HERE AND DO INSPECTIONS, AND I'VE GOT THE RESTAURANT THAT CAN'T SELL MIMOSAS BEFORE ONE O'CLOCK BECAUSE IT'S LIQUOR, AND YOU CAN'T SELL LIQUOR IN CAROLINE COUNTY BEFORE 1:00 P.M.
AND BEERS AT 8:00 FOR THIS CLASS AND BEERS AT 6:00 A.M. FOR THIS CLASS.
THE HOURS WERE SO VARIED ACROSS THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LICENSES.
IT WAS MAKING IT AN ENFORCEMENT NIGHTMARE, AND WE WENT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAID, WE WANT CONSISTENT HOURS, WHETHER YOU SELL BEER, WINE OR LIQUOR.
THEY SHOULD ALL BE THE SAME, NOT LIQUOR AFTER 1:00 ON SUNDAY AND CLEAN THAT UP SO THAT THEY WERE ALL CONSISTENT MY THOUGHT IS, THAT'S WHEN THE SIX DAY WENT TO SEVEN DAY, BUT I CAN'T FIND IT ACTUALLY SPELLED OUT.
I HAVE THE BILL. I STILL HAVE THE BILL FROM BACK WHEN WE DID IT.
BUT I'M TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT HISTORY AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHERE IT WENT 6-7.
TO TRY TO FIND WHERE IT WENT FROM THAT 6-7.
BECAUSE IT DOES CLEARLY SAY IT RIGHT NOW.
IN THE ANNOTATED CODE, IT'S SEVEN DAY LICENSE.
BUT ALL OF OUR PAPERWORK IS STILL SAYING SIX DAY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO TRACK WHERE THAT CHANGED.
DID IT ACCIDENTALLY GET CHANGED? THAT'S POSSIBLE, TOO.
>> DID THEY SAY WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE?
>> WHEN THEY WROTE THE BILL? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
>> DID THEY SAY WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE AS FAR AS HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK THEY WERE GOING TO BE OPEN?
>> SOME BREWERIES AREN'T EVEN OPEN THAT MANY DAYS.
SOME OF THEM ARE ONLY OPEN LIKE THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, OR SOMETHING.
>> THE THING IS FOR SEVEN DAY, IT'S SUNDAY.
IT'S NOT YOU GET THE OPTION TO PICK YOUR SIX DAYS.
IT'S IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OPEN FIVE DAYS AND IT INCLUDES SUNDAY, YOU GOT TO GET THAT SEVEN DAY LICENSE.
>> SO YOU DON'T GET TO ACTUALLY PICK WHAT YOUR SIX DAYS ARE.
IT'S THE SUNDAY THAT MAKES IT THE SEVEN DAY.
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT SOME STUFF WE'RE STILL IRONING OUT IN TERMS OF REGS.
>> WORK UNTIL BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
>> MY CONCERN WAS THE UNDER 21, AND DID WE HAVE THAT IN THERE FOR THE BEER ONLY? IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO, SO I'M HAPPY. THAT'S GREAT.
>> AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE D FOR CAROLINE IS ON AND OFF.
>> THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, THERE'S ANOTHER CLEANUP IN OUR LOCAL RULES.
WE SHOULD IDENTIFY THAT AS A ON OFF.
>> IT'S JUST A CLERICAL CHANGE.
>> YES. NOW THAT WE HAVE GENEVA ON BOARD, WHEN WE HAVE SOME FREE TIME, I'D LIKE TO DIVE INTO OUR RULES AND REGS AGAIN.
IT'S TIME. I MEAN, IT WAS 2015 WHEN YOU LAST LOOKED AT THEM.
WE'VE DID A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THEM SINCE THAT TIME, AND WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THOSE AMENDMENTS INTO THE CODE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO READ AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THERE.
AGAIN, CLEAN UP IN A FEW AREAS THAT WE NEED, AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT TO POSSIBLY CHANGE OR ADD? I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME THIS UPCOMING YEAR TO START LOOKING AT THAT.
WHEN WE HAVE SOME LIGHT AGENDAS AND IN THE INTERIM GENEVA IS GOING TO START LOOKING AT THAT AND WE'LL TACKLE THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD. IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS.
>> INSPECTOR'S REPORT, YOU CAN SPEAK.
[Inspector's Report]
OBVIOUSLY, I'VE BEEN DOING CODES, BUT ALSO BEEN GOING OUT AND I WILL BE BRINGING A VIOLATION TO YOU PROBABLY NEXT MONTH.
LAST NIGHT I CAME ACROSS BUSINESS THAT I HAVE TO GO AND THEY PUT A TABLE RIGHT ON WHERE YOU TOLD THEM THE ORDER IS.
LIKE I SAID, HAVE A TABLE, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY VIOLATION, BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I'VE BEEN HELPING WITH THE FAIR.
THE FAIR HAD A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY HAD THE FAIR AND THEIR DRINKING.
ALSO BEEN HELPING THE AMERICAN LEGION WITH SOME INSTANCES THEY'VE BEEN HAVING.
I'VE JUST BEEN WORKING ON SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
[01:10:02]
>> OH, DID YOU WANT TO MENTION THE HUMANE SOCIETY?
>> OH, I DID GO TO SUMMERFEST. I DID DO THAT.
I SAW A FEW ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WERE HAVING RAFFLES OF ALCOHOL, HAD ALCOHOL ACTUALLY ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OUT THERE.
I JUST ADVISED THEM, ESPECIALLY, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL LAST MINUTE AND JUST SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT WE TRY TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.
I JUST NOTIFIED THEM, HEY, YOU REALLY CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU REALLY NEED TO COME TO THE LIQUOR BOARD, GET APPROVAL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING A RIFLE THAT INVOLVES ALCOHOL, ESPECIALLY, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE LIQUOR INSPECTOR THAT HATES PUPPIES AND CAT.
>> NOT ONLY THAT YOUR WIFE WOULD HAVE.
>> YES. MY WIFE WOULD BE VERY, VERY MAD.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY HAD A BOARD CHANGE IN THEIR BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WORKED WITH BONNIE JOHNSON IN THE PAST IN SEEKING THOSE RAFFLE APPROVALS, WHERE SHE CAME IN FOR INDIVIDUAL ONES, AND THEN AT SOME POINT, YOU SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO DO THIS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT NECESSARILY GOT RELAYED TO THE NEW BOARD FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY TO SAY THAT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY AND THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO RAFFLES TO GET THAT APPROVED BY YOU.
>> I FELT I HANDLED THAT THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE LIKE THAT HAVE HANDLED NOT TO SHUT DOWN AT SUN BEST, BUT ALSO WITH THE CAR SHOT AT RIDGELY.
I DID THE SAME THING FOR THEM IN ANY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND RIDGELY SAME WAY.
SO I'M JUST HANDLING EVERYTHING THE SAME WAY AS LONG AS IT'S LIKE A ONE DAY THING. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT.
SORRY, GREG. HAS EARTH TIMES TURNED THEIR LICENSE IN YET?
>> I KNOW THEY WERE FOR SALE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE CLOSED.
>> THEY HAVE NOT TURNED TURNED THEIR LICENSES.
>> THEY ANNOUNCED SUMMERFEST WAS IT. THEY WERE DONE.
>> SUMMERFEST WAS THEY WERE THERE.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T [INAUDIBLE], BUT NOT HEARD ANYTHING SO FAR.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO US TO REACH OUT JUST SO THAT THEY'RE NOT.
>> ONE OTHER THING, AND I'VE SEEN IT IN THE PAPERS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO DO IT OR NOT, BUT LIKE WHEN TREY GOES OUT AND DOES A LARGE AMOUNT OF INSPECTIONS, THEY DON'T EVER PUT, I THINK IT WAS TALBOT COUNTY THAT DID.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DORCHESTER.
BUT THEY PUT IN THERE THAT, HEY, WE DID 20 INSPECTIONS, AND WE HAD THESE 18 ESTABLISHMENTS PASS WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
THEY NEVER LIST THE ONES THAT DON'T PASS, JUST TO MAYBE DO SOMETHING, REACH OUT TO THE CAROLINA AND REVIEW TO CONNIE AND SAY, HEY, YOU WANT TO PUBLISH THIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE?
>> IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO, WE CAN.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY ON THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TIMES THAT IT GETS PUBLISHED AND THE NEXT MONTH, THEY'RE BACK IN AND SAID, BUT LAST MONTH, I PASSED.
>> I THINK YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.
>> JUST A PAT ON THE BACK SAYING, HEY, THANKS FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.
NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT TREY GOES OUT AND DOES AN INSPECTION, BUT MAYBE TWICE A YEAR, IF HE GOES OUT AND DOES EIGHT INSPECTIONS TO REACH OUT TO CONNIE AND SAY, HEY, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN PUBLISHING THIS? THIS IS OUR ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WERE CHECKED ON, AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT PASS.
DON'T BEAT ON THE ONES THAT DIDN'T PASS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE NEGATIVE, BUT TO PUT THE POSITIVE OUT THERE.
>> WELL, REMEMBER, THE MEDIA CAN ALWAYS ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION AND WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THEY PUBLISH.
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT.
LIKE I SAID THERE'S CERTAIN TIMES I SEE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, AND THIS MONTH, I DID SEE SOME EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT REALLY CAN'T GET INTO YET.
BUT THE GOOSE CREEK THEY WERE DOING AN AMAZING JOB ON WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
THEN ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS GREENSBORO QUICK STOP, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY FINISHED THEIR CONSTRUCTION ON THAT ADDITION IN THE BACK.
>> I STILL THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR OCCUPANCY FROM THE TOWN WHICH IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR THEM.
>> SO THEY'RE 30 IN. THAT'S ALL I HAD.
[Meeting Adjournment]
>> IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
[01:15:04]
FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2025, AT 10:45 A.M. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.>> ALL OPPOSED? SO MOVED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.