Woodfin Council expands ABC board to five members, appoints three candidates in 3–2 vote

The Woodfin Town Council voted Oct. 21 to expand the town's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) board from three to five members and to appoint three applicants to the board.

Councilmember (moving the motion) said, "I will make a motion to increase the Woodfin ABC board from three to five members and appoint all three candidates to the ABC board," naming Michael Carroll, Jackie Craig and Ronnie Lunsford. After a second, the council conducted a roll-call vote. The tally recorded on the record was Cohen — nay; Irvin — aye; Thornton — aye; Young — nay; the presiding officer recorded the measure as approved 3–2.

Council discussion leading up to the motion focused on several procedural and policy points: whether candidates should be interviewed before appointment, how to stagger terms for the newly created seats (staff said terms for new seats would be three years as dictated by state rules), the recurring annual cost to the town (cited at $1,800 per member), and whether expanding membership was a response to recent difficulties filling three-member boards.

Those who supported the change argued a five-member board could broaden participation and reduce procedural problems when members are absent. Opponents said appointing the three candidates without interviews could discourage additional applicants and cautioned against making the change on short notice.

After the vote, the council asked the three appointees to come to the podium; each accepted the appointment on the record. The presiding officer encouraged the new members to prioritize store operations and to include topics such as a potential billboard in their discussions.

Next steps: the ABC board will convene under the five-member structure. Council members discussed confirming term staggering details and noted state ABC commission rules govern changing board size in the future.