Board fines Prospect Pantry $350 after no-show at violation hearing

The Frederick County Board of License Commissioners voted Feb. 9 to fine Prospect Pantry $100 for failing to display its issued business license and to charge a $250 administrative fee after the licensees asked for a hearing but did not appear.

Dawn Sugars, licensing staff, read the inspection and notice history into the record, saying the inspector visited Prospect Pantry several times — June 27 and Aug. 28, 2025, and most recently on Jan. 14, 2026 — and that each visit found only a 2025 application posted, not the issued business license. "The fine remains the same, dollars 100," Sugars told the board as she summarized staff's recommendation and noted the notice of violation was dated Jan. 16, 2026.

Legal counsel asked the board to put a formal finding on the record and read the regulatory sections alleged to have been violated. On a motion by Commissioner (speaker 5), the board approved the $100 fine and the $250 administrative fee for requesting the hearing and failing to appear. The board recorded the vote as unanimous, 3-0.

County staff noted state business-tax rules require the posted business license and that inspectors could notify state authorities about the missing state-level license if the board chooses. The board directed staff to proceed with the assessed fines; per the motion, the licensee must pay the $350 within 24 hours. The board also noted it could pursue a failure-to-appear charge, but did not seek that outcome at the hearing.

The action is final for the board’s part; staff may notify state agencies as appropriate and will file the board's finding and payment timeline. The case summary, the incident report and the notice of violation are part of the administrative record and were read into the minutes during the hearing.