Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Liquor License Hearings Tonight

The City Council, in its role as the local Alcoholic Beverages Control board, will hold hearings tonight on two liquor license holders.

The council chose not to renew the licenses for Pueblo Viejo and Clinton Deli, both on West Front Street, until the owners answer questions about their operations. Pueblo Viejo, at 311-313 West Front Street generated 100 police calls over a year and Clinton Deli, at 1314 West Front Street also required numerous police responses.

The hearings will begin at 8 p.m. in City Hall Library.

Every year, the council as ABC board goes through the liquor license renewal process for bars, restaurants, stores and clubs. Owners who do not get their licenses renewed by June 30 have to pay for day-to-day licenses until they clear up whatever problems are holding up the process, such as owing state sales tax or infractions of ABC rules. The city currently has 32 places where liquor may be purchased and council members, especially Councilman William Reid, have complained about the need for frequent police response to a few of them.

The governing body heard police reports at the June 14 meeting including one regarding more than 100 calls to Pueblo Viejo for problems such as fights, drug activity and weapons possession. Clinton Deli was singled out for allegations of drug dealing, shots fired and sale of alcohol to minors, among other incidents requiring police response.

--Bernice

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