Good Afternoon Everyone.
I took the time today to participate in the County Council Work session referencing the Dispensary discussions. Quite frankly, this was one heck of a topic and we watched the County Council truly show they are a fine tuned machine and do in fact know how to get down to doing business in a very professional manor.
Hoe Holloway quite frankly was pretty ticked off at the LCB because they refused to deliver the information the Council requested. We can get revenues but nothing else from them. "They're Stonewalling Us!"
John Cannon stated the situation they have at hand is a two fold problem. Competing with private industry and we're dealing with taxpayers money. Meaning, there's a serious revenue source coming into the County from the LCB, how do we replace that portion of it?
Stevie Prettyman said that she does not believe the County should be in the liquor business, as did the County Executive. As ca matter of fact, the entire Council agreed with exception of Sharee Sample Hughes. Stevie went on to question expenditures from the LCB as well as Joe Holloway.
County Executive Rick Pollitt chimed into the meeting and stated he was holding his own internal investigation with other Counties to see how they are handling their own changes in the past and or the current systems in place. "I don't believe Government should be in the liquor business," said Pollitt.
No one from the LCB showed up for this meeting, which truly surprised me. Nevertheless, the County Council needs to have some kind of decision on where they're going to go with perhaps putting this up for referendum no later than the end of July for a November vote.
Therefore they discussed creating a committee in which they decided would consist of 7 people.
1. Health Department
2. Restaurant Association
3. Package Store (example, Cheers)
4. Board of License Commission
5. Fraternal Civic Organization (example Elks Lodge)
6. Accountant
7. Council Person
The Council voted 6-1 in favor of creating this committee to further search the pros and cons of perhaps abolishing the Dispensary and bringing it to referendum. Stay tuned Folks!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
19 comments:
Alot of people who visit this area think our system is antiquated.They do not understand why they cannot buy beer or cigarettes at the same time they buy liquor because in most of the rest of the country there are liquor stores on every corner and even some grocery stores have a liquor dept.It is better for the consumer because in order to compete merchants have to offer the best price and/or service.But Somerset or Wicomico County arent about to give up their "cash cow".Unfortunately both counties are rife with mismanagement and hemorrage money.
Way to go Council. It is passed time that something is getting done for the businesses in Wicomico. Let's hope the committee is on a short time frame so the vote will happen in Nov. You're making me proud to call you my council members.
While Pollitt is doing his own internal investigation--he might as well see what or if there is any malfeasance with this group as well.
Nalagirl
I really don't have any suggestion.But it is my opinion that any local governing body that has the power to spend taxpayers money without checks and balances needs to be looked at very closely. Hardhead
Good stuff. Now let's get an internal auditor that the charter requires and things will be looking up.
Speaking of mismanagement...Does anyone know what position Greg Richerts was hired by the county to fill??
Last I heard he was fired and taken away in handcuffs, and the county re-hired him?
Joe
Has the Council looked into issuing a liquor license when the LCB goes away. The license fee would go a long way in replacing the $400 thousand, heck who knows the license fees may even exceed $400 thou.
I didn't know Greg Rickards was hauled off in cuffs I did know he was fired. Gary Mackes hired him over at the civic center. That whole deal was kept rather hush hush. Someone needs to sniff that skunk out of the woods.
Glad to see the County Council and the Exec. are on top of this. I too think a serious audit is probably in order here. It may not find anything, but you won't unless you take the long look!
A. Goetz
Finally! I may get some justice. I'm really glad to hear those kind of comments from the council AND Rick Pollitt. That enity has been corrupt for many years, I can tell you of an 84 year old man that retired from there and he has a lot to say about the place! It always has been. The last of the good ole boyz.
As far as I know the former inspector was double dipping. That's not an uncommon thing that happens, however perhaps someone he found in violation was quick to sniff that one out.
Wow, I can’t wait; imagine a liquor store, a pawn shop, and an adult porn store on every corner. Yeah, free enterprise, competition, low prices and less control. I wonder why some county governments have a dispensary system in the first place. I wonder if the citizens of Montgomery County want to get rid of their dispensary system. I wonder if we let the “cat of the bag” if we will regret it.
There is a big difference with Montgomery County and Wicomico. Montgomery has a system that is run by the county and the employees are county employees. Wicomico is run by an appointed board who think they don't answer to anyone and staffed by employees that don't answer to the county either. Say what you want, the county should not be in the business of alcohol sales and that is the reason there that all counties in MD except 4 have changed to private enterprise.
6:03 has got to be an employee or board member there. That is when they get desparate they want to try to instill fear in the citizens. There wouldn't be as many corner liquor stores as there are corners with crack dealers.
Every restaurant that serves liquor is a liquor store, cut the crap people aren't afraid of you control freaks
Greg Rickards was involved in the Pesto's case and he has been double dipping as well, but he has friends that let him keep his other job.
You need to look at the current Chairwoman at the Board and how she ran a good man off, Leo McNeill, and she is a member of the GOP, how does she still have her job???
Who was the woman that wore so much makup she looked like Tammy Faye Baker and worked for the license board? Didn't she get charged with something? She wound up moving to the Carolina's? oh yea her name was Beverly, I remember now. Seems to be a lot of corruption in those appointments. Wasn't Tom Brown also asked to resign or did he get fired too? That was way back, you think we people forget, you better start cleaning the house.
What does Greg Rickards have to do with this issue? He wasn't involved with the liquor stores, was he?
I think it has to do with the accountability and abuse of power of both liquor boards.
That's 3 members of the license board that have had problems and are no longer there, the public has never really been informed. They really think they are above the county council and the citizens, that's no lie.
i bet alessi is so pissed that while he's having his tantrum his dentures fly out, i've seen that and it's not a pretty sight
Those liquor stores also sell those energy boost drinks, like mixing red bull with liquor, that's just what we need, wide awake drunks.
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