Yes, I have recently been reminded I have a blog. It's been neglected, I know, but I have a number of things to write about, beginning with a special liquor committee meeting held this week.
The committee called in owners of businesses seeking either liquor, entertainment, outdoor consumption and tobacco license renewals, but still owing money to the city, including rooms, meals and entertainment tax for 2007 (2008 figures are not yet known, or due, since taxes were just filed this week), and water and sewer fees.
According to a chart Treasurer Wendy Wilton put together for the aldermen's April 6 meeting, those businesses include 3D's Cafe and Sidelines, which owe RME tax, and the Paramount Theatre, which owes RME tax as well as about $5,000 in water and sewer fees, according to Wilton. Meanwhile, other businesses - Magoo's and Sirloin Saloon - were listed as working with the treasurer's office to rectify their debts.
Bruce Bouchard of the Paramount and the ownership of Sidelines were both in attendance at this week's meeting. Prior to the meeting, Wilton spoke with a representative of the theatre's board about setting up a payment plan for the theatre, which will happen sometime next week when the theatre's bookkeeper comes back from vacation. Still, Bouchard came in to vouch for the work he's done to alleviate the theatre's many debts in the year he's been at its helm. According to him, he's reduced that debt by 45 percent already. The committee unanimously voted to approve the theatre's liquor license which, like all others on the list, is set to expire May 1.
Sidelines' debts and permit issues were also quickly rectified. The current owner is actually in the process of selling the business - which may be made official next week - and so was quick to pay that balance. Sidelines was in for renewals on all four types of licenses, which the committee approved after speaking with the owner.
In a tangential issue, the committee also called in the ownership of Jilly's Sports Bar to address the year-end figures for the number of police calls made to the business. It was more of an informational discussion than anything, as Sgt. Jamie Tarbell and the committee all noted that the bar management has taken a proactive approach to keeping its customers in check - originating most of those police calls themselves. To further address issues like noise or fights, the business may seek to add video cameras and a stationed staff member to its back deck, its owners said.
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