Council Passes New, Expanded Liquor Licenses

The village council approved both the creation of a BYO liquor license and the expansion of 's existing liquor license during its Tuesday night meeting.

The BYO license was voted on and approved unanimously after being discussed at the October 4 meeting. Since that meeting, an update to the ordinance was made stating that, “at a patron's request, any unconsumed portion of wine shall be re-sealed by the Licensee in accordance with State Law.”

For more information on the ordinance, the following was supplied at the meeting:

BYO shall be permitted in conjunction with the purchase and consumption of a meal while seated at a table and served by wait staff where no more than one (1) 750ml bottle of wine or more than 36 ounces of beer may be carried in per person. Licensees may charge a corkage fee. Employees will be required to obtain certified training program and must be (19) years of age. Dram shop or equivalent liability insurance shall be required. Licensees are liable for any violation of the Liquor Code as is the holder of any other classification of liquor license, including but not limited to, violations for service to minors and the over-serving of patrons.

The other, less unanimous liquor decision voted on concerned expanding Lemon Tree Grocer's existing liquor license to allow the consumption of full alcohol on-site. Currently, Lemon Tree can serve beer and wine, but not other alcohols.

Commissioner William Waldack, leery of the idea at the last meeting, voiced additional concerns during Tuesday's meeting, taking issue with the idea of laws being passed “for the benefit or detriment to one person or entity,” adding that it goes against his sense of fairness.

Waldack said he viewed the Lemon Tree liquor license adjustment as a “designer license” tailored for the individual establishment and mentioned he'd like to see a revised liquor code that removes such licenses.

Waldack also felt the argument that expanded liquor options would boost sales was “kind of a fallacy." In the end, he voted for the license, saying everyone approaches and researches issues in their own way. He also noted Lemon Tree already has a liquor license and is required not to over-serve.

Ultimately, the vote passed 5-2, with commissioners Marilyn Schnell and Sean Durkin voting against it.

“I just feel they're a grocery store and not a bar,” Durkin said.