Leanna Harrington, owner of Bean and Bloom Coffee House, voiced her concerns during a recent borough assembly meeting regarding the handling of restaurant eating place license number 2611. Harrington criticized the assembly for overlooking critical information provided by the borough clerk's office, which she claims demonstrated a lack of operational legitimacy for the business holding the license.

Harrington highlighted that to qualify for such licenses, a business must operate for at least 240 hours annually and maintain a physical premise. She pointed out that the business in question had vacated its location at 116 West Resinoff Drive two years ago, yet continued to submit applications with a false address. Furthermore, she alleged that the business reported zero income tax to the city while claiming income to the state, raising questions about its operational status.

During the assembly's previous meeting on August 1st, Harrington noted that it was incorrectly stated that there were available licenses within city limits. She reminded the assembly that a petition exists to increase the number of licenses beyond the current cap of four, indicating a clear demand for more operational establishments in the area.

Harrington expressed her disappointment with the assembly's decision to allow the business to retain two licenses without a legitimate operational plan, emphasizing that this undermines opportunities for other local businesses and reduces community resources. She criticized the assembly members for suggesting that local rules could be bent for friends and neighbors, asserting that such practices are detrimental to fair business operations.

In closing, Harrington thanked the assembly for revisiting the topic and offered to discuss the matter further in a more informal setting, inviting members to join her for a conversation at local restaurants. The assembly continues to encourage public participation, inviting community members to voice their opinions on local governance issues.