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Garrett Sunday alcohol sales bill being considered

Matthew BieniekCumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND  — Bills that would allow voters to decide whether to expand Sunday on- and off-premises alcohol sales in Garrett County are being considered by the General Assembly.

The House Economic Matters Committee considered the on-premises sale bill on Monday. That committee will decide whether to recommend the bill move forward to the whole House. The off-premises bill was heard by the same committee Feb. 17. Together the bills would allow voters to OK sales at taverns and restaurants as well as package stores.

The bill was submitted at the request of the Garrett County Liquor Control Board. Some election districts already have Sunday sales and other merchants want to be able to do the same. Del. Wendell Beitzel introduced the bills. The sales would be allowed from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce also supports Sunday sales for alcoholic beverages, chamber officials said during a public meeting in December.

More here.

Garrett commissioners seek liquor law changes

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission on Wed-nesday voted to ask state legislators to approve a referendum for both on- and off-premise liquor sales and to extend enterprise zone tax credits for Strata Safety Products LLC through the state Department of Business and Economic Development, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.

The commissioners also agreed to support Garrett Cooperative Ministry’s request for a $99,500 bond to go toward a $1.1 million new facility and a legislative request to modify the county code of ordinances to add a member-at-large to the salary study commission.

The commission also approved the Liquor Control Board’s requests to remove obsolete language in the statutes regarding wineries, a refillable container and a beer festival. Chairman Robert Gatto voted in opposition to all the Liquor Control Board’s legislative requests, according to Pagenhardt.

Numerous establishments have on-premise sales for alcoholic beverages and can sell an alcoholic beverage with a meal on Sunday between 1 and 10 p.m., and the vote would allow other establishments to do the same, according to Debbe Owston, administrator to the Garrett County Liquor Control Board.

“There are several precincts or election districts that can’t do that and they compete with the other establishments that can,” said Owston during a public prelegislative meeting in December. “We have had 0 complaints about Sunday sales in a restaurant with a meal. This is the first time the liquor board has proposed a referendum vote.”

The off-premise sales would allow package stores to sell take-out alcoholic beverages from 1 to 10 p.m.

Several owners of service stations voiced their support of Sunday sales during the prelegislative meeting.

More here.

Liquor board requests Sunday sales referendum

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — Debbe Owston, administrator to the Garrett County Liquor Control Board, requested that local legislators support a referendum vote for Sunday liquor sales both on and off premises. Numerous establishments have on-premise sales for alcoholic beverages and can sell an alcoholic beverage with a meal on Sunday between 1 and 10 p.m., and the vote would allow other establishments to do the same.

“There are several precincts or election districts that can’t do that and they compete with the other establishments that can,” said Owston during a public prelegislative meeting Thursday evening at Garrett College. “We have had zero complaints about Sunday sales in a restaurant with a meal. This is the first time the liquor board has proposed a referendum vote.”

The vote would be for districts and precincts of a district, according to Owston.

The off-premises sales would allow package stores to sell take-out alcoholic beverages from 1 to 10 p.m.

Jim Laskaris, owner of Deep Creek Beverage; Gary Sisler, owner of Exxon in McHenry; and Richard Stuck, owner of the Exxon in Grantsville, Oakland Oil & Propane, and several other businesses spoke in favor of Sunday sales.

More here.