Fee Hike Eyed for Liquor Licenses

Commissioner Gerald W. "Jerry" Clark (R-Lusby), himself the owner of a Solomons area liquor store, said the new fees will help pay for more police in the late-night hours. "I think this liquor board is trying to be proactive instead of reactive," he said.

The commissioners unanimously supported raising the liquor board chairman's annual stipend to $4,200 from $2,100 per year -- $3,300 less than what the liquor board originally requested. Under the commissioners' plan, liquor board members' stipends would double to $3,600, and alternate members would receive $200 per meeting.

In another unanimous vote, the commissioners opposed a proposal requiring new restaurants to have a minimum capacity of 35 people, or at least $200,000 invested in their building and equipment, to obtain a liquor license.

Those requirements were aimed at ensuring that fast-food restaurants could not serve alcohol, said Gibson. The liquor board chairman also said that any restaurants currently licensed that do not meet the new standard would be grandfathered into the law.

Chris Chubb, co-owner of the Crooked I Sports Bar and Grill in Chesapeake Beach, said he would never be able to start a new restaurant if the proposal passed. "This is really killing mom-and-pops. Anybody who doesn't want to own a chain business is screwed," he said.

New penalties for employees and licensees who sell alcohol to minors also are included in the liquor board's proposal. Gibson said he would ask state legislators to amend their bills to align with the commissioner's recommendations.

Kullen and O'Donnell said citizens can still offer input on the legislation.

"Unless I hear an outcry, I will probably support it," O'Donnell said.