Carroll County Liquor Board Meeting - May 13, 2026
Carroll County Board of License Commissioners Meeting – May 13, 2026
The Board convened at 10:00 a.m. in the Reagan Room of the Carroll County Office Building to hear first-time event applications, two violation cases, and several new business items. The meeting included extensive discussion on nonprofit fundraising events, alcohol sales to minors, food-to-alcohol ratios, and administrative policies.
Consent Calendar
- Approved an outdoor seating expansion for the American Legion Lounge in Hampstead (Chris McLean) for a summer experiment with no more than six Adirondack chairs. The licensee agreed to use no glass containers.
- Approved a one-day beer garden license for St. John Church (Westminster) for its "Priests on the Roof" event on May 31, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with wristbands and a two-beer limit per person.
- Approved a one-day license for the American Legion Post 223 in Sykesville for a Memorial Day beer garden (members and guests only).
- Approved an outdoor seating expansion for Tony Hazio (Mount Airy) to extend existing patio by 28 by 60 feet.
- Approved an outdoor seating area for Patapsco Distilling (year-round) with iron fencing.
- Approved participation of Jeannie Bird in the city of Westminster "Toast of Italy" festival.
- Accepted the automatic pour system rules submitted by Double Burrow (Ashley Ratino): up to 12 ounces of wine over two hours, staff monitoring.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made outside of scheduled hearings.
First-Time Event Hearing – Celtic Star Inc. 5K Run
- Applicant: Celtic Star Inc. (nonprofit) represented by its treasurer, seeking a one-day liquor license for a 5K run at the Carroll County Farm Museum on a future date (under 300 runners currently registered, hoping for 600 total).
- Key Positions: Inspector Ledford and Commissioner Harmony expressed support, citing potential to bring visitors to the county and clear nonprofit purpose. Commissioner Barnhart expressed reservations about the involvement of for-profit sponsor Corrigan Sports Enterprises but ultimately joined the majority.
- Outcome: Approved 2–1 with conditions: (1) supply a list of all charities benefiting from proceeds, (2) provide a detailed post-event accounting of all income and disbursements within 60 days, and (3) confirm that no for-profit entity receives profit (only reimbursement of expenses).
Violation Hearing – Case #6610: Johansson’s Dining House (Sale to Minor)
- Licensee: David Johansson, Champs Inc. t/a Johansson’s Dining House. Inspector Ledley testified that on April 6, 2026, an underage volunteer was served a Corona after the manager, Sarah Redding, misread the date on a vertical Maryland ID (thought DOB was Feb. 2026, actually Feb. 2027). The server, Jane Evans, had asked for ID and deferred to the manager.
- Positions: Licensee and manager accepted responsibility, noted 15 years without a violation, and stated they have since reinstated a policy of no vertical IDs.
- Outcome: Found culpable of sale to a person under 21. Fined $300, to be paid within 30 days. The board noted the long clean record and that the violation was a mistake, not deliberate.
Violation Hearing – Case #6614: Ernie’s Place (Rule 20 – Alcohol vs. Food Sales)
- Licensee: Ricky Jones, Ernie’s Place. The renewal packet showed 83% alcohol sales (violating the 59% cap). Jones contested, claiming accounting errors due to a computer system crash and an accountant using wrong data. He provided new, uncertified figures showing approximately 47% alcohol sales.
- Discussion: The board questioned discrepancies, unpaid taxes (workers’ comp/unemployment) that had placed a hold on the license, and whether the licensee had followed proper procedures. The board tabled the Rule 20 violation to June 10, 2026.
- Key Outcomes: The board directed Jones to obtain from the Maryland Comptroller written confirmation that all taxes (sales, unemployment) are paid and the hold is released. Additionally, Jones must provide quarterly sales reports for 15 consecutive months (Jan. 2025 – March 2026) and a certificate of workers’ comp insurance for 2025. The $50/day late fee from April 20, 2026, will apply until the state confirms payment. If the hold is not resolved by 30 days from April 20 (i.e., May 20, 2026), the license is subject to suspension and a new hearing for reinstatement.
New Business: Distillery Legislation Update
- Jennifer Young (Covalent Spirits) reported that House/Senate bill allowing Class 1 distilleries to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages passed and awaits governor’s signature, effective July 1, 2026. She requested that the $500 on-premise permit fee not increase. The board noted the update.
Discussion Items
- Advertising Violations & Posting Signs: The board agreed to (1) advertise all violations in the newspaper (not just hearings) for transparency, and (2) post a standard-sized sign on the premises of any licensee with a violation hearing (same as for new applications). A policy email will be sent to all licensees.
- CJIS Retention Policy: The board approved a written policy for retention and destruction of fingerprint and background check records, as required by the state Criminal Justice Information System audit. Records are kept under lock and key, then destroyed after scanning (within three days of hearing completion).
- Alcohol vs. Food Sales Ratio: The board discussed reforming the renewal form to require “food sales” and “alcohol sales” rather than “gross sales.” This would remove non-food items (e.g., bowling shoes, arcade games) from the denominator. A grace period of one year will be used to collect true data, followed by a public hearing and possible ratio adjustment or creation of a new entertainment license. The board will also discuss at the annual seminar.
Key Outcomes
- Votes & Decisions:
- Celtic Star one-day license: Approved 2–1 (Harmony and one other in favor, Barnhart opposed).
- Johansson’s Dining House: Culpable, fine $300 (unanimous).
- Ernie’s Place: Tabled to June 10, 2026, pending state tax release and quarterly reports.
- All consent items and new business approvals (outdoor seating, beer gardens, distillery update) were approved without objection.
- Next Steps:
- Celtic Star to provide charity list and post-event accounting within 60 days.
- Ernie’s Place owner must obtain state clearance and submit 15 months of sales data by June 10.
- Liquor Board staff to update renewal forms, advertise violations, and post hearing signs; send policy notification to all licensees.
- Future Meeting: June 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
So Celtics, it started out in Baltimore with uh with we do have a Celtic Star 5K race that we do. And off of there, uh and a lot of the charities that participate or help in that, they all get proceeds back from that event. Okay. So then it then has it's expanded to where? Then it expanded to like we do the Annapolis Running Festival. So we use, like I said, we happen to use the WISP Ski Patrol a lot because they're we trust that group when it comes to the beer part of it. That's your main beneficiary. Correct. Right. And you've also done other people. And then we do the Baltimore Running Festival again, we use that organization that helps us with the beer distribution, and then proceeds go back to them. Let me jump in here. Um the uh Celtic Star Inc. signed by you. You're the treasurer? Correct. Okay, you're the treasurer of Celtic Star Inc. Yes. Okay, okay. Um in this letter you gave us, it says Wisp Ski Patrol will receive proceeds for the distribution of beer. Correct. Okay. Now, who is distributing the beer? Uh WISP Ski Patrol is. They'll be in that distribution center. Um WISP Ski Patrol explain to me how they are handing out beer to anybody. Um are they bringing the beer in? Uh or are are they hiring someone else to do this for them? How does that work? Um, well we have uh Mikel Ultra Light, who is come uh is bringing the beer, so it's a beer company uh bringing that in. It'll be in a usually a refrigerated uh truck, and then we'll set up, like if we have the map here, we have a section where we'll set up uh probably two or three tables where the runners well first be f before the runner can even get a beer is they'll when they pick up their uh the runner's bib, which would look like this, and on this bib there's a little spot over here where it shows if they're of age if they can even allow to have a beer or not. But they'll also be checked at that time too. And if they're of legal age, they'll get a wristband that they have to wear to come over and claim claim their beer. And then there's right next to where the beer distribution is, there's also going to be a tent right there where IDs will be checked, and once again they'll get a wristband if they are of legal age, and if they don't have a bib at that tent right next to the beer distribution, they will be ID will be checked, they'll get a wristband, and then they'll get a red ticket, and then they go to the beer distribution, so they either have the bib to get their one free beer, which will be checked off, or they'll have a red ticket to to claim a beer. Okay. So they will be handing out the beer, but before they get to them, there is the ID check right there. Um you say they will be handing out the beer, you're talking about the WISP Ski Patrol. Correct. It's actually serving the beer. Yes. And the beer is also going to be available to spectators for a price, yes? Correct. Okay. Yes. Dr. Benver? Yes. No, no. Yeah. Yep.
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