Monday, November 18, 2024–7:43 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
On Monday, the Rome Alcohol Control Commission voted to table an amendment that would eliminate future variances and another that would no longer count food truck sales toward the ratio.
“First and foremost, the members are going to decide what they consider me there individually and then they’re going to seek input from the community,” said ACC Chair Billy Cooper. They will then come back to be better informed to really slice and dice beyond where we have already been and done in this past year.”
The main concern that was being expressed was about the impact on the three businesses that already have variances. Although they would be grandfathered in, the variance would not transfer to another owner or location.
“That was the original thought, but upon additional reflection, we really feel like that that may not be the best position to take,” Cooper said.
Cooper believes there could be room for some variances in the future.
“But eliminate the opportunity for someone just to come in and apply for a variance because we have a precedent, that we don’t have a reason not to deny it,” he added. “I think ultimately that’s where we need to be is to guard rails in place so we have criteria from the ACC standpoint. Right now, we don’t have criteria. All we can really do is say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ and in the past, we’ve been saying ‘yes’ and we send it city commission and they pretty much do the same.”
The issue will be discussed again during the ACC’s first meeting in January.
