Owner of Empire Sports Bar urges Brooklawn to resolve disputed lien payment

Auk, who identified himself as the owner of the Empire Sports Bar, told the Brooklawn Borough Council on Dec. 19 that a lien placed against his property was erroneous, prevented a mortgage closing and caused "millions of dollars" in lost business and additional interest charges.

"They put a lien against my property and I lost a deal," Auk said, asking when the borough would pay the money he says was taken from him. He said a mortgage company paid liens he says he did not owe, and that the bank later assessed interest and additional fees that drove his total higher.

Mayor Grans and multiple council members told Auk the council wants to make the borough whole when the town was at fault but that they cannot make any payment without legal guidance. Council members said the borough's solicitor is not present at the work session and that an ongoing investigation and the solicitor's advice are needed to confirm the amount and legal responsibility.

"We agreed to pay if we made a mistake," one council member said, adding that staff and the solicitor must determine the correct figure before the borough issues payment. Mayor Grans also urged Auk to provide proof of any attempted wire transfers or checks so the borough can coordinate with relevant agencies.

The council repeatedly emphasized it lacked the necessary legal and investigative information at the meeting and asked Auk to await the solicitor's findings. "We're not professionals to handle that," a speaker said; "we're utilizing his guidance."

The exchange lasted beyond the five-minute public-comment time frame, and council members signaled they would address the matter once the solicitor and investigators provide clear guidance.

The council made no commitment to a payment at the work session and asked staff to follow up once the legal review and any related investigation are complete.