All but one of the four members of the Maysville City Council declared Thursday night that they will listen to the majority of the people in their district when voting on whether beer and wine will be allowed to be sold in the small town that sits in both Jackson and Banks counties. And the mayor said he is opposed to the issue and, if it was up to him, the matter would not move forward.
“If I had the choice to stop it, it would stop tonight,” Mayor Jerry Baker told the crowd who attended a council meeting Thursday night.
The meeting was held to discuss items on the agenda at the Sept. 14 meeting and the pouring license ordinance was addressed. A town resident, Melanie Stancil, asked each council member to tell the crowd their stand on the issue.
Mayor Baker spoke first and said he believes the majority of the people in the town are opposed to the pouring license. “I think the majority of people have said ‘no’ and I would say ‘no,’” he said.
Councilman Clay Dorsey said, “I listen to my constituents…The majority are against it.”
Councilman Rebecca McNeely said, “If the majority of my ward came to me and said ‘no,’ I would vote no.”
Councilman Stephen Lewis said he “knows that the majority” of his ward is against the issue but he believes a public hearing should be held by the council.
Councilman Lynn Villyard addressed questions about whether she made comments at her district hearing that she supports the ordinance. “I didn’t say I was in favor of it,” she said. “I said I’m not opposed to it…I don’t know and I’m not going to make a decision just because…”
A first reading on the proposed beer and wine ordinance will be held when the council meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, at the public library. A work session will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the public library.
The Maysville City Council is considering an ordinance that would allow beer and wine to be sold at restaurants in the town. The council is reportedly considering the ordinance because a restaurant owner requested it earlier this year. Another resident of the town is reportedly renovating a building to locate sports tavern and wants to be able to offer beer and wine.
At the work session on Sept. 3, several people spoke in opposition to the ordinance. None of the approximately 40 citizens present spoke in favor of the issue.
Councilman Villyard brought up several issues that she wants resolved before a vote is taken, including the additional costs the city would incur if the ordinance is approved, who would be in charge in overseeing that the regulations are being met; and the percentage of alcohol sales vs. food that would be required. She agreed to gather some of this information for the council’s review before a vote is taken.
