What happened at the Liquor Board on February 6, 2014.

The Board heard testimony from two community members who were present in opposition to the application: Lauren and James Pringle. The Pringles also submitted a letter in opposition to the project. Read the letter here. The Pringles asked that the applicants meet with the Greektown CDC as well as the Greater Greektown Neighborhood Association and two homeowners’ associations in the neighborhood. Chairman Fogleman noted that the Board does not want to force applicants to meet with four different community groups but that they should make an effort to meet both with the CDC and the community association. The file also contained a similar letter protesting the transfer from a Ms. Louisa Germann, which you can read here.

Chairman Fogleman noted that Mr. Richard Bloom did not properly fill out the application section which asks for information on previous employment. Mr. Bloom responded that he is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland in the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. The application was amended to include this information.

Mr. Ed Bloom asked for outdoor table permission; they already have a permit from zoning to have outdoor tables.

Commissioner Smith asked the two applicants about their plan for trash and loitering issues outside of their establishment. The licensees, through their attorney/translator, told the Board that they will hire available manual laborers to remove trash and debris and they will post “no loitering” signs. If people continue to loiter, the applicants told the Board that they will call the police. Commissioner Smith added that, even if you can’t find someone to clean up the trash, the applicants are still responsible for it. She noted that this area is prone to high traffic and a significant trash problem, and she encouraged the applicants to monitor that situation.

There was a note in the file that the employment history for the two applicants was incomplete, but Mr. Kodenski argued that it was complete. Both applicants had worked for the Baltimore City Public School system for more than ten years. Chairman Fogleman agreed with Mr. Kodenski but noted that it was confusing to the BLLC staff, since most applicants don’t happen to work at the same place. This will be the first time that either applicant has held a liquor license, but they promised to become alcohol management certified.

The details of the transfer of the business were incomplete in the application; Chairman Fogleman requested that the applicants complete this section at the hearing. The applicants are paying $170,000 for both the business and the property, with a $55,000 down payment.

Mr. Mike Hilliard, on behalf of HARBEL Community Organization, testified in support of the application. He told the Board that the applicants are taking over a building which has been vacant, and they’ve done all the right things.

Commissioner Jones noted that he doesn’t live too far away from the proposed establishment, and said, “I hope you abide by what you’ve agreed to.”

Mr. Ezeala informed the Board that the establishment has been in existence for over ten years but that the owner had suffered a stroke and is therefore selling the business due to his health problems.

Mr. Farooq owns several small businesses, inclduing an Exxon gas station and another independent gas station in Baltimore City and County, and he has been a resident in Baltimore City for more than two years. He has not sold alcohol before, but he will go through the alcohol management training. He has sold cigarettes before at his gas stations, so he is familiar with the requirement to check identification. He said that he had tried to contact the president of a nearby community association, but that she has refused to meet with him.

When Ms. Benton Jones was called to testify, she realized that the applicant will be keeping the license on Baltimore Street. She had thought that he was moving the business to Fayette Street. When she realized her mistake, she withdrew her opposition.