wbozzelli posted on September 26, 2011 08:24
FULTONDALE — For the next month, the city of Fultondale has halted the granting of new licenses to sell alcoholic beverages.
On Monday, the city council adopted a 30-day moratorium on issuing licenses for the on-premises sale and consumption of alcohol at “night clubs.”
Businesses that have an existing license will be able to renew them during the moratorium, according to city attorney Charlie Waldrep, unless the business is not in operation.
John Douglas, owner of Home Field Sports Grill in Fultondale, asked Waldrep and the council if the moratorium will apply to his business since it has been closed for five months due to tornado damage. The grill’s license to sell alcohol is good through the end of the year.
Waldrep told Douglas to submit his question to city hall, along with a copy of his licenses. Waldrep said he would respond after reviewing the inquiry.
Mayor Jim Lowery said surrounding cities are passing similar laws regarding night clubs.
Waldrep said he has been studying some of surrounding cities’ ordinances regulating night club activity, and said he thinks it is necessary for Fultondale to strengthen its own ordinance, which was adopted more than 20 years ago.
Lowery said the point of the moratorium is to give Waldrep and the city council enough time to draft a permanent, stronger ordinance to regulate night clubs.
In other business, the council:
• authorized Lowery to enter into an agreement with Alabama Power for an easement for the new fire station at 2600 Walker Chapel Road
• authorized Lowery to request two street lights from Alabama Power that were damaged in the storm; at 601 Mountain Drive and at 524 2nd Street
• approved merit raises for employees who have not reached the top of their pay grade under the Jefferson County Personnel Board
• authorized Lowery to enter into an agreement with the Jefferson County Office of Senior Citizens to administer the senior program from Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012
• approved a business license for A&C Local Delivery at 618 Decatur Hwy.
• set a public hearing for Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m., for non-compliance for three safe buildings located at 1308 Old Walker Chapel Road, 704 Broad Street and 1208 3rd Ave.
• changed the Oct. 10 council meeting to Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m., because city hall is closed for Columbus Day.