HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/2001LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY MINUTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
7500 W. 29th Avenue, Municipal Building
January 11, 2001
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The Liquor Authority Meeting was called to order by Chairman Davis at 9 00 a m Liquor
Authority Members present: Dan Wilde, Frank Sanzalone, Kent Davis, Laura Leprino, Rocco
Gioso, Judith DiCroce, William Snell Robert Alldredge was absent. Also present: Deputy
City Clerk, Christa Jones, City Attorney, Gerald Dahl, representing the Police Department,
Officer Steve Berkowitz.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF December 14, 2000
Motion by Mr Gioso for the approval of the Minutes of December 14, 2000, seconded by Mr
Sanzalone, carried 7-0
Item 1. Show Cause Hearing regarding alleged liquor violation at "Vern's", 7605 West
44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge
Item 1 is a show cause hearing regarding an allegation that a violation of Section 12-47-
901(1)(h)(1) occurred on the night of October 10, 2000 at Vern's Restaurant. It is alleged that
customers consumed alcoholic beverages after 2 00 a m
Steve Lee, attorney for the applicant was present at the hearing
Officer Dan Griffin of the Wheat Ridge Police Department was sworn in by the Chair and
gave testimony as to what he observed on the night of October 10, 2000 at Vern's Bar He
was subsequently questioned by City Attorney Dahl and cross examined by Mr Lee
Sergeant James Lorentz of the Wheat Ridge Police Department was sworn in by the Chair
and gave testimony as to what he observed on the night of October 10, 2000 at Vern's Bar
He was questioned by City Attorney Dahl and cross examined by Mr Lee
The officers testified that they saw alcoholic beverages sitting in front of customers after 2 00
a m , but that they did not actually see anybody taking a drink.
LIQUOR AUTHORITY MINUTES: January 11, 2001 Page -2-
Chris Goettlein, 4560 Yarrow Street, was sworn in by the Chair He was a customer at
Vern's on the night in question and testified as to what he observed and did He was
questioned by Mr Lee and cross examined by Mr Dahl
Ken Wyatt, 16110 West 69th Place, was sworn in by the Chair He was a customer at Vern's
on the night in question and testified as to what he observed and did He was questioned by
Mr Lee and cross examined by Mr Dahl
Dianna Boldon, 3551 Parfet Street, was sworn in by the Chair She was the bartender at
Vern's on the night in question and gave testimony as to what she observed and did
The witnesses for Vern's all agreed that alcoholic beverages were still sitting in front of
customers, but that nobody took a drink after 2 00 a m
City Attorney Dahl and Mr Lee each presented their closing arguments
Motion by Mr Davis to find that a violation of Section 12-47-901(1)(h)(1) of the Colorado Liquor
Code has occurred on October 10, 2000 at Vern's Restaurant, the violation being consumption
of alcoholic beverages after 2 00 a m , this was determined according to testimony presented
today; seconded by Mrs Leprino, carried 5-2 with Mr Snell and Mr Wilde voting no
Prior to the Penalty Phase of the hearing, Thomas Little, owner of Vern's Restaurant, gave
testimony as to the type of establishment he runs and how he cooperates with the Police
Department. Officer Berkowitz of the Wheat Ridge Police Department agreed with Mr Little,
but stated he felt that at least 1 day of suspension should be imposed and served
Motion by Mr Gioso to direct the City Attorney to prepare findings for this meeting and further
moved to suspend the license for Vern's for a period of 2 days, to be held in abeyance for 6
months, seconded by Mrs Leprino, carried 5-2 with Mr Snell and Mr Wilde voting no
Mr Lee asked that if a future violation were to occur, he wanted to be on record as to asking
for a fine in lieu of suspension This was noted for the record
LIQUOR AUTHORITY MINUTES: JANUARY 11, 2001 Page -3-
Item 2. Motion by Mrs DiCroce to accept the Findings regarding the Show Cause
hearing for the Rockette Bar and authorize the Chair to sign the document and have the Clerk
mail it to the licensee, seconded by Mr Sanzalone, carried 6-1 with Mr Snell voting no
Motion by Mr Gioso to adjourn, seconded by Mr Wilde, carried 7-0
Meeting adjourned t 12 15 p m
Christa Jones, Deputy,City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE LIQUOR AUTHORITY ON JANUARY 25, 2001 BY A VOTE OF 1 TO U
Kent Davis, Chair