The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County on Dec. 13 conditionally approved the transfer of a Class B beer, wine and liquor license for Lovell Tavern to Rochelle A. Jackson, voting 3–2 to grant the application with a list of conditions and a 90‑day deadline.

The board’s vote followed prolonged questioning about the residency and signature certifications used on the supporting petition, the tavern’s documented history of incidents, and several outstanding paperwork issues the applicant must resolve before a new license takes effect.

Board administrator Tammy Hildebrand told the board the Jacksons still needed approval from the county fire marshal, a current trader’s license, a workers‑compensation policy number and clarification on a small personal‑property tax account before the transfer could be finalized. "They need to give me their workers comp number," Hildebrand said during the hearing. "There was some confusion with the fire marshal. I need a copy of their trader’s [license]."

Applicant Rochelle A. Jackson told the board she and her husband were running the business and described steps they had taken to reduce trouble at the premises since opening. "We're not in it for a quick buck or anything like that. We're in this long term," Jackson said, adding that security, visible cameras and a reduced operating capacity were among measures intended to curb problems.

Board members raised sharper concerns about the signature list that accompanied the application. The board read aloud a passage from the state law checklist used in license reviews and noted discrepancies between the original list and a subsequent addendum. The chair, referencing the statute, told members the board must consider whether a material false statement or fraud occurred in the application process before approving a transfer. Several members pressed Jackson on whether the individuals who signed the petition were "personally acquainted" with the applicant; Jackson replied some signers knew her wife or family but that she had been the one soliciting signatures in the neighborhood.

A board member who identified a pattern of past problems at the Lovell Tavern urged caution. "I take the issuing of a license very, very serious," the member said. "When there's forgery on an application, I don't go for it. ... This is serious." The record shows no formal written protest was filed against the transfer.

After discussion the board approved the transfer conditionally; the motion specified a 90‑day period for the applicant to satisfy the four outstanding items Hildebrand listed (fire marshal approval, trader’s license, resolution of a personal property tax discrepancy, and a workers’ compensation policy). The board clarified that the new license would not be effective until those conditions were met and that the Jacksons could continue to operate only under the current owner’s permission to use if that permission remained in force.

The board noted the extension of premises request — permission to use the tavern’s deck and a fenced backyard for patrons — and tied fire marshal review of egress and fencing to any final approval. Jackson said the fenced area already exists and that she planned further improvements if permitted to use the space.

The board’s action was recorded as a conditional approval, 3–2. The board did not enter a separate fine or suspension; instead it left the transfer contingent on receipt of the outstanding approvals and documentation.

Questions and next steps: the Jacksons must obtain the listed approvals and clear the tax issue within the 90‑day period or seek an extension or renewed permission from the current licensee. The board’s administrator will track the outstanding items and notify the applicant in writing if conditions are unmet.