Stories indexed with the term ‘liquor permits’

At its March 7, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved the appointment of Tony Derezinski (Ward 2) as a hearing officer to make recommendations to the city council on decisions not to renew liquor licenses. The original resolution, as a general principle, appointed all members of the city’s liquor license review committee to a hearing board to make those recommendations to the council. The three-member committee consists of Derezinski, Mike Anglin (Ward 5), and Stephen Rapundalo (Ward 2).

The resolution was amended at the meeting over the objection of Sabra Briere (Ward 1), Marcia Higgins (Ward 4), Stephen Kunselman (Ward 3) and Stephen Rapundalo (Ward 2) – who chairs the liquor license review committee.

The city code provides that before any final decision is made not to renew a license, a business must be provided with a chance to present arguments on its behalf, confront witnesses, and possibly be represented by an attorney.

The establishment of a hearing officer is prompted by a Feb. 25, 2011 meeting of the council’s liquor license review committee meeting, when the members recommended non-renewal of annual licenses for some on-premise liquor-licensed businesses.

This brief was filed from the boardroom in the Washtenaw County administration building, where the council is meeting due to renovations in the city hall building. A more detailed report will follow: [link] [Full Story]

Stopped. Watched. correspondent Bill Merrill filed a report on Wednesday alerting readers that the Blue Tractor Brewery sign was about to be lifted into place by the Huron Sign Company. By the time The Chronicle arrived on the scene on Washington Street just east of Fourth Avenue, the sign had been affixed firmly to the front of the former home of Jewel Heart, just down from Cafe Habana. Blue Tractor partners Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell also partnered on Cafe Habana, which will be physically connected to the Blue Tractor’s dance area on the lower level. [Full Story]