Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Liquor License Hearing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kent County extends administrative hearing for Maggie’s Coleman Tavern to March 4
Summary
The county continued an administrative hearing after officials found the tavern’s liquor license out of compliance because of an unresolved trader’s license issue with the state comptroller; the commission set the next hearing date for March 4 and will dismiss the matter early if the licensee provides proof the issues are resolved.
The Kent County Board of County Commissioners voted Jan. 9 to continue an administrative hearing for Maggie’s Coleman Tavern until March 4 to give the licensee time to resolve a missing trader’s license with the Maryland Comptroller’s Office.
The matter was described by Thomas N. Yeager, the county attorney, as “a continuation of a hearing that we had on December 3rd” related to a violation of the tavern’s liquor license. Yeager said the license is out of compliance because the business “does not have a current trader’s license” due to issues with the comptroller that the licensee has been “actively working to resolve.”
Inspector Pearsall of Maryland Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement told the commissioners he had observed ongoing efforts to correct the problem. “She is working on getting this resolved. It's just taking some time,” Pearsall said, describing repeated attempts to file through the state computer system and noting delays tied to the system’s usability and holiday staffing.
The licensee, identified in the record as Ms. Jones, acknowledged health and staffing hurdles that slowed progress and said county economic development staff had assisted by helping file documents. Yeager recommended a 45- to 60-day continuance; commissioners settled on the first meeting in March and approved a motion to extend the hearing to the March 4 meeting. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Yeager and Pearsall told the board that if the licensee provides proof to the inspector before March 4 that the comptroller has issued the necessary clearance, the commission will dismiss the case and cancel further proceedings. If outstanding issues remain on March 4, the hearing will resume.
The board and the inspector encouraged the licensee to continue working with county economic development staff and the comptroller’s office; Pearsall said the tafs in the state’s system have been difficult to navigate and that state staff have acknowledged the need for system upgrades.
The commission recorded the continuance as an administrative action rather than a sanction; no fines or penalties were announced at the meeting.
