City council approves alcohol ordinance update, code enforcement appointments

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, 11:30 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council approved Tuesday night Mayor John Royalty’s appointments to the new Code Enforcement Board.

The new appointments include: Margaret Sims (1 year term); Scott Frink and Ann Rosalie Ballard (2 year terms); and Theresa Maddox and Jim Dittmeier (3 year terms).

Councilman France Lydian, left, and Councilwoman Kecia Copeland talk prior to the start of Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting.

The board will be responsible for enforcing city codes and ordinances. Previously, citations for code violations that were unresolved were taken to district court for enforcement. The code enforcement board will handle these citations and enact sanctions if required. The board’s decisions may be appealed to Nelson Circuit Court.

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland asked Royalty if he had biographies on the appointed members to share with the council. “Is it possible — if they are here — to give a small bio about who they are, why they want to serve on the board and things of that nature?”

Because Tuesday’s meeting was a special-called meeting, the new board members in the audience could not speak, Royalty said.

“These are administrative appointments by the mayor, and these are my appointments,” Royalty said.

Councilman Fred Hagan said he did not know all of the appointed members, and asked if they all had expressed interest in serving.

Royalty said that the members signed up for the board at the city’s volunteer fair. “I’ve talked to them individually,” he said.

The council’s approval of the appointments was not unanimous. Councilwoman Kecia Copeland voted against the appointments in order to make a point.

After the council meeting ended, Copeland said the council deserved to be informed about the individuals  the mayor wish to appoint to city board or commission, including information on their backgrounds, qualifications and why they wish to serve.

“We should also look at their character and how they will perform on a board,” she said.

“I know its an administrative appointment, but its also a matter of transparency,” Copeland said of the mayor’s appointments. “Show us who applied, show us who you picked and tell us why you picked them.”

ALCOHOL RULES CHANGE. The council gave final approval of changes to the city’s alcohol control ordinance that will change it to mirror state law.

The ordinance changes the times stores can begin alcohol sales, for both package stores and liquor by the drink.

Restaurants and other businesses that serve liquor by the drink and package retail stores (liquor stores, convenience stores, etc.) will be allowed to begin sales at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday sales at package stores can begin at 6 a.m., though liquor by the drink on Sundays cannot begin until 1 p.m. This includes restaurants, bars and private clubs.

The change is an effort to make the city’s alcohol sales ordinance match state law. The city’s existing ordinance doesn’t allow package sales to begin until 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Many retailers were selling alcohol before 8 a.m. because they were unaware the local ordinance on sales did not match state law.

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland questioned if the change could prompt package liquor stores in the city to open earlier in order to compete with minit marts, drug stores, grocery stores and big box retailers who all can now sell alcohol at 6 a.m.

“That would be a business decision for them if they want to open early,” Royalty said.

In the final 5-1 vote, Copeland cast the sole vote against the measure.

“Let’s think about the quality of life,” she said. “Everyone has the right to drink and buy liquor, but think of the liquor stores … do we really want to see their lights flashing on at 6 o’clock in the morning?”

The old ordinance set alcohol sales at 8 a.m., which some retailers were violating because they weren’t aware of the difference in the local alcohol ordinance. The change will eliminate the difference between state and city alcohol regulations.

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