Alcohol Control Commission

ALCOHOL CONTROL COMMISSION Monday, November 21, 2022 The Alcohol Control Commission met at 5:00 p.m. this date in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Steve VanMeter, acting Chair, was present along with John Kendrick, Harold Morgan, Billy Cooper, and Commissioner Beeman. Monica Sheppard was absent. Also present were Rome Police Major Rodney Bailey and Assistant City Attorney Stephen Moseley. Minutes – October 17, 2022 The minutes of the October 17, 2022, meeting, as submitted in writing by the Secretary, were approved by unanimous consent. Sheila Food Mart, LLC – 1439 North Broad Street The application of Sheila Graves, owner and manager of Sheila Food Mart, LLC. 1439 North Broad Street, was presented. Ms. Graves requested that a new beer package license be issued to her at that location. Ms. Graves explained that she is the owner of this business, which is located in the small shopping center on North Broad Street. Ms. Graves currently operates a convenience store at this location and would like to add beer sales. The store is now open five days per week from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. but she plans to expand to a seven day per week operation with hours of 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. each day. Presently there are only two employees along with Ms. Graves; with her expanded hours, she plans to have four employees to assist her in the operation of this business. Ms. Graves explained that she has many years of experience as an alcohol server and has not had an alcohol violation. There were questions by the ACC members and answers provided by Ms. Graves regarding her camera system, currently in place, and her cash register system which has a scanner for IDs, applicable for alcohol sales. While this establishment does not currently have coin operated amusement machines, Ms. Graves informed the Commission that those were possible in the future. There was considerable discussion regarding the training of employees and the proper techniques for alcohol sales. Ms. Graves indicated that all employees would complete some kind of alcohol training, likely an online offering. After further discussion by the ACC, Mr. Kendrick moved to approve the beer license request as submitted, subject to all final inspections and approvals by the appropriate City Officials and that all of the employees at this establishment complete online alcohol training and submit verification of that training to the City Clerk’s Office. This verification is to be submitted within sixty days. Mr. Cooper seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimously in favor. 1 Liquor Pouring Without Food Sales - Discussion The discussion that was begun at the October 17, 2022, Alcohol Control Commission meeting continued today. The October discussion began as a result of an application for a food/drink ratio variance. The request made by Mr. Nathan Roberts who asked to allow the sale of salvaged steel products in lieu of food sales in order to meet Rome’s 50/50 ratio. Secretary Smith explained that for many years Rome has required a food/drink ratio for distilled spirit sales. Basically, establishments are required to sell at least as much food as distilled spirits. Beer and wine sales are not a factor in this computation. There was some discussion at the October meeting regarding a possible change to Rome’s Alcohol Ordinance to allow distilled spirit sales under certain conditions without food sales. This idea was contemplated, rather than considering some unconventional retail products in place of food sales as Mr. Roberts had requested. At today’s meeting, Secretary Smith suggested some considerations that could be attached to an establishment which would be exempt from food sales. The recommendations for consideration were that the establishment be small in size with some predetermined maximum square footage. It was suggested that these establishments also close earlier than other entertainment venues (11:00 p.m. or midnight). There would be entertainment restrictions at these types of establishments; no admission fee would be allowed or special entertainment. The intent would be to not allow any type of entertainment except for incidental acoustic type performers. Since there would be no food sales, there would be no possibility of off premise catering of distilled spirits and no other retail sales associated with the business. There was moderate discussion by the ACC members concerning this concept. The general feeling was this proposal is something worth seriously considering and perhaps recommending to the City Commission for an Alcohol Ordinance amendment. The ACC members wanted time to reflect more on this proposal with more discussion planned for the next ACC meeting. Police Report Rome Police Major Rodney Bailey was present and stated that there were no outstanding incidents that occurred at alcohol establishments for discussion at today’s meeting. Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAM) The City of Rome is opposed to the illegal use of coin operated amusement machines. There seems to be the common practice of the business operators who “pay out” in cash, even though this practice is prohibited by the State of Georgia. It is also commonly known that the State of Georgia allows very little latitude for local governments to restrict the operation of COAMs. Secretary Smith stated he has discussed the possibility of prohibiting alcohol sales where COAMs are present. However, City Attorney Andy 2 Davis indicated that this would likely be prohibited and there has been at least one State of Georgia court case in which that concept was denied. The City of Rome will continue to investigate any other allowed regulatory methods that the State of Georgia allows for local governments. The possibility of requiring these devices be removed from back rooms is being investigated. Alcohol Application Amendment The ACC members stated that they would like to see some of our license applicants better prepared before they appear before the Alcohol Control Commission. There was considerable discussion on this topic and Secretary Smith stated he would amend our alcohol applicants to include a list of standard questions that the applicants must answer, in writing, prior to the ACC meeting. These answers and can be provided to the ACC and will help facilitate future discussions. Questions such as the number of employees at an establishment, hours of operations, detailed information regarding the training program that will be used for employees, the cash register system that is in place, camera system details, etc. Adjourn With there being no further business, Chair VanMeter adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 3