Anniston council adopts temporary moratorium on new bar and tavern licenses

The Anniston City Council voted to adopt a temporary moratorium on the approval of business licenses for bars and taverns after adding the item to the agenda and holding a roll-call vote.

Mayor Smith moved to amend the agenda "to add a resolution declaring a moratorium on the approval of business licenses for bars and taverns," and the motion was seconded and approved to place the item on the agenda. Later, when the council voted on the standalone resolution, the roll call recorded Councilman Downey voting "No," Councilman Tolleson voting "No," Councilman Harrington voting "Yes," Councilman Herrington voting "Yes," and Mayor Smith Ross voting "Yes." The presiding officer declared, "That resolution has passed."

Council members did not state a detailed timeline for the moratorium in the meeting record; the resolution language as read at the meeting was limited to declaring a moratorium on approvals. The transcript contains no specific ordinance number, effective period, or stated exemptions for existing license applications.

The vote followed procedural steps to add the item to tonight's agenda and a brief presentation by the mayor. No public comment on the moratorium itself was recorded in the transcript. The council proceeded to other agenda items after adopting the resolution.

The council did not record in the transcript any formal motion to define the moratorium's sunset date or implementation steps; those details were not specified during the meeting.