Council Scuttles Liquor Store License Sale

A proposal to sell a liquor store license died without a governing body vote Tuesday night.

The Township Council declined to move a resolution that would have authorized bidding on a plenary distribution license at its regular meeting, effectively killing the measure that had when initially proposed.

"I don't believe we need to put the license out to bid at this time," said council President John Ducey, who indicated he would have voted against the resolution.

He didn't get the chance. None of the five other council members present offered to "move" the resolution for a vote, which prompted light applause from the back of council chambers.

"Now isn't the right time," Ducey said.

The resolution would have solicited applicants for the public sale of one license necessary to run a liquor store at a minimum bid price of $620,000. Township Administrator Scott Pezarras has said the revenue for a sale would be marked as surplus for future use.

Currently, nine plenary distribution licenses exist in the township. Population size dictates the number of licenses a municipality can issue under Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations, and the 2010 Census results allows Brick to hold 10 such licenses.

However, those Census numbers hold until the 2020 Census, meaning the township can only issue one more license until the next population count. Ducey cited that fact as a reason for not issuing a license now, although the governing body could change course and issue it at any point before the 2020 Census results are released.

"We only have one left," the council president said. "Now isn't the right time."

Charles Villano, owner of Forbes Liquors on Brick Boulevard, cheered the non-vote.

"I think you were right on the mark," he told the council members. "It was a very wise and just decision."

Opponents had expressed concern over the sale of another store license possibly hurting existing distributors in the township. Others felt the township could make more money on the sale if it was to wait a few years.

Brick Patch readers also were firmly against the measure, with the vast majority who voted in an unscientific poll registering "no" votes when asked if the township should sell the license. Seventy-one percent (227 votes) of the 319 respondents voted no, with 28 percent (92 votes) voting yes.