January Board of License Commissions of Carol County Order.

As has been tradition for many, many years we begin our meetings with the pledge to the flag, and also observe Mamma Science in memory of those who have gone before us and sacrificed to make our country free.

And to the Republican with liberty and justice for all the maybe seated.

Are there any corrections or additions?

Hearing none.

To appear to answer questions about the DUIs reports from Liquid Library.

As you all know, we uh keep a yearly total.

And we're just wondering.

Liquid Library seems to, in twenty twenty five, unfortunately, be at the top of the list.

We take alcohol violations very serious whether they're sales or whether they're operations of vehicles or whatever the case might be.

So Ms.

Kelly, with that, I guess you're gonna lead the charge.

Thank you.

Yes, good morning.

I will Kelly Schaefer Miller, 73 East Main Street, Westminster, Maryland, 21157.

I'm here this morning on behalf of Liquid Library.

I have seated immediately to my left, Andrew Schuster.

Um if you recall from the licensing hearing, Andrew is the license holder and a fifty percent owner of Liquid Library.

Um seated to his left is Chad Ferrari, who is a 50% owner of Liquid Library, so Andrew and Chad are co-owners and they both serve as general managers at the establishment.

Um seated to Chad's left is Mr.

Tony Cavachi from the City of Westminster, who has come to just speak a few words on behalf of the establishment.

But initially I'd just like to kind of recap a little bit for the board.

Um first of all, I think it's important to just give you a little bit of a recap on the original license hearing and some of the policies that are in place at this establishment and have been in place since it's opened.

So as a very brief reminder, um this establishment does not accept vertical IDs.

The policy uh for all staff is that they will card everyone who appears over the age of 40, or I'm sorry, under the age of 40.

Um they have a training and shadowing program for all new employees.

All of their employees are trained on the board's handbook, the board's rules and regulations, the state's attorney's diversion program, and almost all of their employees have gone through alcohol awareness uh certification process.

So uh the the as I think you're all aware, this is a a small restaurant um on Main Street.

And so while they do have several staff members, umership is very involved in this establishment.

Um I would say, and Andrew and Chad can can perhaps speak more specifically, but I would say that at least 80% of the time that the restaurant is open, one of the owners is on site, on the floor, um working with staff, helped over sight um of the establishment.

And then during the peak hours, which you know, Friday, Saturday hours, one of uh the owners tends to be manning and stationed at that front door.

And I bet if any of you have ever gone, you've seen them there because I certainly have in my office is kind of right at Caddy Corner as well.

So there has heard this from other establishments in the past.

Obviously, we take this very, very seriously.

These are two members of the community who value their business incredibly and who take their license very seriously.

They have had the uh gift of having a successful establishment since opening.

So they do see uh a great amount of patrons coming in through the door.

They often have wait times.

It's it's a great thing to see for the city and for the restaurant.

Um I think that that, you know, not just as a result of that, but as a result of sort of their their vision for the business, they have taken a very, very hands-on role in that management to ensure that the quality has maintained.

Um so uh one of the the observations that we just wanted to point out to you that we've had in the establishment is that as you know, and as you've heard from other establishments, you can't control what people are drinking before they come in the door.

And um sometimes you can't control what they're doing after the fact.

You have a limited, a limited opportunity of of service and of management of that service.

And one of the things that we have observed is that there have been miniature bottles in the bathroom trash cans.

People are sneak are sneaking alcohol in and consuming it in a closed-off private space.

Um also there is a rear parking lot where we are observing these as well.

Uh again, I know that this is not a unique experience.

I have heard in this hearing room other establishments who've shared these stories of patrons doing this.

Obviously, I think the the most staff can do about that is just keeping a close eye on tables and doing the best they can to ensure that they're not seeing anything like this happen.

I think it's fair to say that they they have not been seeing it happen, but then they see the evidence of it happening after the fact.

So it's something that they are aware of and constantly keeping an eye on.

Um there because ownership is so present and involved as both owners and general managers, um, staff is very comfortable with them, and on occasion, staff will come to them and say, can you please help us?

We're in a situation where we need to refuse service to this patron.

And occasionally it's because a patron has come in from another establishment already inebriated and cannot be served upon entry.

And occasionally it's because they've been in the establishment and they've reached a point where service needs to be stopped.

And so management, if needed, steps in and helps in any of those situations.

Um we uh uh Chad and Andrew remain vigilant and have reinforced uh with staff all of these trainings and continue to send staff to the alcohol awareness certification.

So we are here to hear any um additional feedback and concerns that the board may have, but I do think this is an example of owners who are doing everything they can be to try to prevent this.

Um and as we all know, no nobody can be perfect, and so these situations have have unfortunately happened, and we're going to do our best to try to prevent any future instances and um from happening going forward.

Um I did ask Mr.