Liquor Board Agendas/Minutes/Recordings - Regular Meeting

Our witness today, Monday, September 14th, and this is our Liquor Board hearing. Please join us as Commissioner Glass leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

First order of business is to adopt the August 10th hearing minutes.

Madam Chair, I move that the board adopt the August 10th, 2026, Frederick County Liquor Board hearing minutes.

Second.

Okay.

And all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Next motion, I mean, our next item are violations. The heat of grande would you please join us at the table.

Servers with him madam chair side out thank you like her to also niche everybody good morning.

Everyone who's prepared to go testimony to the board of license commissioners please raise your right hand and respond, I will follow me out in the matter of. He had a grande violation. Do you soundly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury that the testimony you're about to give to the Board of Licensed Commissioners and the matter now pending will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If so, state I will, followed by your name.

State I will with your name?

I will.

And your name?

Mondomedia.

Okay. Mohamed Mia.

I will Christopher Smith.

I will Dawn Sugars. Okay. Don't. You have your introduction. Yes, I do.

Wait a minute.

Alright, you are before us today for a violation on.

One or about August 13th, 2026. Do you wish to admit or deny the violation? You admit and you understand what admitting does. Okay, thank you very much.

Madam Chair, with the admission, I will read the charges into the record and move through our hearing procedures. The charges are on August 12th, 2026 at approximately 5 p.m. A minor entered Fajita Grande. The minor who was 20 years old at the time attempted to purchase a Modelo beer. The minor reported that the server who was 17 years old at the time did not request the ID when taking the order. The underage server then asked another employee to deliver the alcoholic beverage to the table. Shortly thereafter, Frederick County Liquor Board inspectors entered the establishment and cited the server who delivered the alcohol, later identified as Amanda Hernandez, for the violation. Noted for the file, the server was not alcohol awareness certified at the time of the infraction. For the record, the notice of violation is dated August 13th. The incident report is stated August 13th and Exhibit C will be the buyer's report dated August 12th. If necessary, we will take the testimony of Inspector Christopher Smith. And since we do have the admission, we will now move into the finding of fact.

Right, Charney? Based on the testimony provided, either written or verbal, does the board find that the licensee violated Section 6-304 and 6-309 of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Article, and Section 1.1 and 7.12 of the Frederick County Alcoholic Beverage Regulations, when the licensee or one of its employees sold, provided, and allowed a minor to possess an alcoholic beverage. Yes.

Yes.

Yes, thank you very much.

With the finding of fact, we will now move into our penalty phase of our hearing, which we will then have our history handed out.

I'm sure I may ask a technical question.

In the documents that provided, our minor who came in has a vertical license. He's under 21. I noticed hers is a horizontal license at 16. You mean the server's?

Yeah.

Or Amanda's. She's the server.

Right.

But if I'm doing the math correct, she's a minor. Right. Did the state issue of horizontal? I just noticed that in the documents. Whereas our other minor is of vertical license under 21. Hold on. Her birth is 2001, so she is not 21. Oh, my bad. Okay, so sorry. We can make mistakes, too, on the math. This is why you double-check things.

So we're good. Okay, just making sure. It's okay. So you have the history in front of you. This license was issued May 1st, 2005. They have held a license for 21 years. August 3rd, 2017, there was a fail to file a complete alcohol ratio. There was a written warning. September 25th, 2017, there was a sales to minor, a $500 fine. November 14th, 2024, there was a sales to minor, $500 fine, 250 admin, 200 VPC, and they were completed within six months. October 10 2025 infusions were not properly labeled and there was a warning issued and then during this incident, no alcohol awareness on duty, a warning was issued. I will let Mohammed go ahead and speak to that fact he would like to share with the board before we issue the actual penalty. The staff recommendation, this is a little bit different. I normally would read it out to you. Debbie, you usually make a lot of notes, but this is a little bit more convoluted, so I asked legal counsel to pass it out to you so that you could follow while I read it because I want to make sure that there is a fair, transparent... We set a precedence with a previous case, so we want to make sure that that follows through on the additional cases that may follow that for a third offense, sales to minor. Would the board prefer to talk to Mohamed first, then let's talk about the staff recommendation, or which way do you want me to do it?

I think if the board's in agreement, let Mohamed speak.

Okay. Mohamed wrote each one of you a letter.

Can you read it, Mohammed, so that we have it out loud on the record?

He wants me to read it. He doesn't English. But this is what he wants the board to also know. He's putting it up in this location. To whom it may concern, I sincerely apologize for what happened. There was a misunderstanding between two servers. Amanda thought the other server had checked the customer's ID. Unfortunately, they both assumed the other person had checked the ID. Amanda is a very strict bartender. The inspection on August 21st, 2025, Amanda had properly checked the customer's ID and passed the inspection, and that is noted on the record, which I'll read during the My recommendation, too, that they did pass that one. We have signs at the entrance of the doors and throughout the restaurant of no ID, no drink. Since this has happened, we have a new rule that no one can serve alcohol without the server checking the ID and getting it confirmed by a manager. I assure you, Your Honor, this will never happen again. Thank you sincerely, Mohamed Mian, Fajita Grande, Frederick.

Thank you. And for the record, I want to make note that our director read your testimony, Muhammad's testimony.

And for the record, too, a year prior, August 21st, 2025, there was a did not sell to a minor. So they did check the ID appropriately, and it was the young lady sitting before you today. Right. We have that on our record. And for the record, also, they did register for an alcohol awareness immediately. We squeezed them into a class the very next weekend. And Amanda did get certified. If the board wants to see it, I'm attesting to it because I taught them. But they did get into a class and get everybody up to date.

Did the citation go to just Amanda for serving or the first person?

The first person we could not cite because they were juvenile.

And the juvenile's age?

17. That's where I was getting my confusion. No, 100%. Unemployee certification. Right. They do have 100% coverage of their alcohol awareness. And if you want to talk about Natalia being on duty that day? Yes. Okay. Cassim, Natalia, and Rinaldo. Three people. When we went in, there was the Inspector Harris, or no, Inspector Smith could attest to this as well. There was a lot of emotion. There was a lot of things happening at the same time. Um, so at that time there was no noted alcohol awareness for us. Um, you know, we don't know who's who, we don't know who's where, but there was no noted alcohol awareness at that time after Muhammad had some time to settle in, realize what was going on. Him and I had a couple of phone conversations and he would like it noted for the record. And again, I'm just helping him, uh, with, with, you know, just articulating it and the language and things like that is, is that he feels that the alcohol awareness was covered. He had three people on that day, and they had their 50% coverage. So there will be a discussion of that warning, whether we retract that or not. That will be part of our discussions.

Okay. Anything else?

Thank you.

Nothing?

We are guilty. Okay. I appreciate you helping me to keep continuing business. That's my request, please.

I understand. I assure you. This is the third one, though. This is so we had two other assurances prior to this third violation.

Only the two girls miscommunication, communication, miscommunication. Otherwise, nobody can give liquor or beer without the manager permission.

I understand that, and I appreciate that, and I appreciate the efforts made, but I need you to appreciate the fact that this is the third violation. So each violation, you could have said the exact same thing. So what happens next? Yeah, I'd love to see. Okay.

Commissioners?

I've been on the board for all, this is, Three of these. And I started the board in 2017. And understand that, you know, at those times, things are made. So besides getting the training, what other steps to avoid miscommunication between your servers are you taking? What internal processes have you developed so that one person doesn't take the order and then another delivers the drink like this happened? So what are you? I mean, it's great to have everyone trained, but what are they doing in terms of the day-to-day delivery of drinks?

It is no more confirmed when they ask the ID from the customer and check and they will take to the manager. Manager has confirmed all this good. Then they give the liquor beer to the customer.

Otherwise, no. That is his new policy that he put in his letter that he's going to start, yeah, start doing that.

What was your policy prior to this violation?

Before was that we had trained the servers in two-time meeting every day, no ID, no drink, and checked the property, two days date in 2005. And everybody checked and unfortunately that day happened.

And he does have the signage posted all over the restaurant. No ID, no drink before the actual compliance check happened.

I put on the, you know, the name tag like this on the pocket also. No ID, no drink.

It's very unfortunate. Trust me. I understand that. And that's to the customer, meaning I see that sign if I come in and eat there or come into your facility. I see the sign. It is for the servers. Customer can see. This is what I was getting ready to say. The customer sees the sign, but it's up to the servers to enforce it. Yes.

How many servers do you have that are under 18? Zero. Okay. She quit after that.

No, I'm not hiring anybody.

until they got the ID, the training ID. Once they complete training, take the ID, then they start properly training.

Something Commissioner Burrell always brings up, and I think it's a great item, is do you check yourself? Do you have people come in and check other than our inspectors showing up? or the state, do you have monitors for yourself? Do you have your cousin come in and try and get a drink that's underage? Self-monitoring is really important. No. That's a good idea. Yes. I have to give credit to Commissioner Burrell. Good idea. I like it.

You understand?

Any other questions? I'll turn back to Dawn to...

Once I give the staff recommendation, I believe there will be more conversation that Mahomet would like to have with the board. So if the board is ready for me to read the recommendation and we'll walk through it. Okay. All right. The background of this license has had a 21-year history and has committed three sales to minors in the last nine years under three compliance checks. First offense was 2017. Second offense was 2024, five-year gap. Third offense was 26, a two-year gap. With the third offense, we recommend the same thing across the board, regardless of someone's history, so that the board and that license holder has an opportunity to talk to the board. Staff just makes that recommendation so that it's a standard. So the standard, and that's why I have a lot of notes on this, because we have set the precedent with a previous case that is very similar and in the same shopping center as Fajita Grande. Okay. So the fine that we're requesting increased due to the third offense is a $3,000 fine. That fine is to be paid within 24 hours. Recent cases with the three sales to minor, the board has chosen to reduce the fine to $2,000 and held 1,000 in abeyance. A three-week suspension is requested with the two weeks held in abeyance, which was 16 days for the specific place prior. and one week to serve, which was five days. No option to buy back since it is a third offense. One week, five days will be served, requested to be served. It will begin, the request will begin today or whatever that conversation is with the board. We will come out to post signage if the board so agrees. Food sales and non-alcoholic sales may continue during the suspension, but no alcohol sales. They will be on a two-year probation, and any new violations that occur during the probation, the remaining two-week suspension that's held in abeyance will be imposed, and any new violations to the $1,000 fine that is held in abeyance will be opposed. There is an administrative fee of $250. There is mandatory VPC training. Those scheduled dates for classes are October 8th and November 12th. We would like them to have that completed by November 12th and registered in Within seven days. I think I've put it all out there. That's why we typed it all out, because there's a lot to digest here and just understand that this is a third offense and that we had a previous case with a preference that a precedent that was set.

Would you like to discuss with us any of this recommendation? Okay. Help me something I appreciate by the law. Otherwise, I'm guilty. Mr. Burrell, you want to address anything? I'm good. I can make the motion if you're ready for that. Yeah, I think we're ready.

Yes. So I will concur, and Madam Chair, I move that the board find Fajita Grande guilty of a third offense for a sale to minor within the last nine years. As part of it, that the board impose a $3,000 fine With 2000 payable within 24 hours and 1000 held in abeyance a 3 week suspension with 2 weeks in parentheses here 16 days held in abeyance with what with must serve one week. Which we will consider as 5 days starting today. There'll be no option for the buyback. and that time must be served. That does not mean they have to close their doors. There can still be food sales and non-alcoholic sales that can continue during the suspension period. I said today. Okay. Sorry. Probation would be two years of probation. If there's a violation of probation with another sale to minor or other serious offense, the 16-day suspension will be immediately imposed and the $1,000 fine that is held in advance will need to be paid within 24 hours of that new infraction. There's an administrative fee for $250 that also must be paid within 24 hours of the hearing and mandatory violation prevention class training to be either scheduled October 8th or November 12th, a one-time fee of $200 covers all employees, but it must be completed by November 12th and registered for within the next seven days of the hearing by September 21st needs to be registered. Again, repeating, if there's any further violations that require a board hearing during the probation, the two-week suspension will be immediately imposed and the $1,000 fine will be additional $1,000 to bring it to the $3,000 will need to be paid Within 24 hours. And there still could be an additional hearing and additional penalties that could be applied.

Second.

That second just two quick questions, Debbie. I appreciate the probationary period where you said immediately. What is the expectation? Should the mandatory training not be met? Do you?

do you throw everything that was put into abeyance out and that is all due at that time or not um i actually think that's covered here if any further violence because it requires hearing occurring during proficient it's already so stated yes so if it if they don't complete one of these issues right it automatically terms of getting the reduced fine and the reduced

Suspension period.

And I agree. I read that. It's a great point, but I think it's already covered.

All I'm asking is that, does that go into effect immediately or do they have to come back before us before it goes into effect?

Any violation of any one of these parks that requires that goes into immediate within 24 hours. Everything has to be paid and the 16 days starts then. Thank you. That's all I was confused about.

All right. Any further discussion?

All right. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye. All right. I hope we don't ever see a fourth. I really do. But you've got to stay on it. You cannot even blink because history has shown that it happens. The next time may be losing the license.

Thank you. I just want to make sure it's really clear that suspension starts to counts today starts today. So the five days will start today. So we will send inspectors out later this afternoon, but when you open at 11, you will not be able to sell alcoholic beverages. So we can get out there today and post the signage, but just so you're aware when you're opening. And then your fines, um, we'll have a discussion again once our hearing's over. We'll send you an email that summarizes it, but I know you don't do electronic very well. You know, you don't like to do electronic, so we will hand deliver. So we will have that discussion in person. That's right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, whether you do the... These guys will have to walk away.

We're going to move into new applications. Diablo Barr, all license holders or licensees, please join us at the table.

It's application 262653.

Thank you. Everyone who's prepared to give testimony to the Board of Licensed Commissioners, please raise your right hand and respond with I will follow you. In the matter of Diablo Barr, Application, do you solemnly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury that the testimony you're about to give to the Board of Licensed Commissioners and the matter now pending will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? If so, state I will, followed by your name.

I will, Akash. I will, Kirtan.

I will, Pavel.

I will, Ben Harrison.

I will, Dawn Schogers. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Good morning.

I'm going to turn to our beloved director.

What the board has before them today, this was postponed last month. So we're bringing Diablo Bar back before us today for a request for an approval of a new application, a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license. And the open items we have is retail sales and use license, business license, workers comp security plan and some of the discussions that went into this from the last time is and we also still have health zoning occupancy taxes and inspection report but i don't believe we're going to have another report because we really didn't go out do a re-inspection because really they needed to come back with a plan a proposed facility alcohol plan that was for security and what the board left off with the last time was you wanted to see the full diagram which is in your book A cooperation agreement between the pickleball court and the lease, the sublease, which we do have the pickleball court gentleman here. And the 24 hours modifications, we were talking about hours and different things like that. So those are some of the concerns from last month's hearing to paraphrase it. And I'll let the board go ahead and have those conversations. And as we're having conversations, we can talk about. But what you do have open for us is, you know, health. Obviously, your kitchen is not open yet. So I don't know if you've done final inspections. So that's a no. You're zoning. You are zoned within the even though the pickleball court has occupancy, you have to be zoned to be within there. And there is a city of Frederick application with a link. that was sent in the email that you have to apply for to reside within there. Okay. So, so you have that open and then the tax release, all those things will come after that. But I'll let you guys have all those conversations with the board as well.

Do you want to turn it over to Diablo to start or would you, do you have questions you want to ask to begin with? I think if they go ahead and start, it would be beneficial. Okay.

Whoever you want to speak for you. Good morning again to the board and everybody in the room. Just to clear out any confusions regarding timings, Diablo Bar operates from Monday through Thursday and Sundays, 11 a.m. till 9 p.m. only. On Friday and Saturday, we'll be operating 11 to 11. I also understand that we had requested that we would be doing some event nights. For the event nights, We would plan to kind of phase it out initially. Maybe we could request the board if we could get a permission on a probation for the event nights where maybe we are watched for the 90-day period or something like that or however the board is comfortable. And during that time also, what Diablo has decided is that we will close all events latest by 1.30. So nothing happens after 1.30 anyway in the premise of the facility. Yeah. So that's something that I wanted to just put out.

Even with the encompassing the pickle board, you're not talking about 24-7 anymore.

Oh, no. Well, I think there was a confusion. Diablo was never operating 24 hours either way. It was just the playing facility, which was going to be operational 24 hours, whereas Diablo had its limited timings all through. And I think that was not communicated well enough from our end. So therefore... I'm thinking there was confusion there. And you have a way of completely securing them. Absolutely. We do. We do. We were out there yesterday evening also to figure out the execs after the meeting with you all just so. Ro, could you share that the facility is not even operating at 24 hours? Yes, it's not at this juncture. That's correct. And I think Motilla would be able to let us know what is their plan on being 24 hours operational. As of now, I think they're looking at a couple of months before they are 24 hours.

8 to 10. The people are going to open 8 to 10. But we are not ready to open 24 by 7 yet.

So everything we heard last time, we can wipe out. Absolutely.

I'm sorry. It's in the future plan, but it's not ready yet.

So may I ask a question based off of your diagram here? Is this just bar seating or are there tables too? Because in the regulation, it always says seating for 28, but then there needs to be tables and chairs too. And I don't see that on your diagram.

So madam, the seating would be separate, which would have chairs and tables. We are not counting the bar stools as you had recommended. The bar stools are not part of the seating. I'm sorry if it's misrepresenting anything. Do not include the bar stools. I just didn't see it on the diagram, so that's why.

For the lounge area, I'll look to Dawn.

The lounge area covers the... We then have tables and chairs off to the side in that lounge area, but... We would have about a seating of 12 as part of the lounge.

And they're not tables and chairs, no bars. Yes, we are not counting the lounge couches as part of those 28. Right. Right. Yes. Okay.

So the players lounge is what you're considering where you're eating it. Okay. Yes. It just wasn't clear. Okay. It's hard to see. Yes. I see players lounge, but you know, you don't, we told them that connected or not connected is that will be a light part of the license premise.

Okay. You brought up a good thing. John license premise is the entirety.

So drinks can be carried around the entire premise. something that we had a discussion on because if somebody wants to watch their friend play pickleball they want to walk down to the they don't carry it on the court but they want to walk down to the bench and watch them play pickleball and drink their drink right so we had said because at first we said okay do you lock it down to just the diablo area right well then you got to keep the people in and not so we didn't think it would work well so there's been those conversations and this is a unique uh what first time for us at at a 24-hour facility. And we talked about what does that look like? You know, what does that, and knowing that now it closes at 10 p.m., we could add that in there as a modification that it would need to be monitored or approved if it does flip to 24-7, where it's open that they have to be secured off and closed. So that would have to be a discussion between the board and the applicant. But yes, they would like to be able to carry their drink down to the other pickleball courts. But the entire floor plan did.

The square footage for the entire building is going to be licensed.

Is that the premise? Well, either way, Madam Chair, we would not be allowing any kind of beverage or food going beyond a certain. And they've put barricades there. And as of yesterday evening, I saw everything was in place. Nobody would be around either way to carry food and beverage, even beverage. Definitely not an alcoholic. And we would be putting out signs, alcoholic, no food or drinks to be carried after a certain point, which is where I think Don has... Are you saying so they still could sit on the benches, but they can't get into the... Because you don't want your coats to get messed up. Even for events, they are not allowed to carry it beyond that barricade. And you've seen that area? We have it without a re-inspection. Do we have the... transparent looking barricade yeah let me see if i have it's like a partial fence i've seen pictures of it it's about um about a four visit height 36 before patio probably taller yes i have the video yeah i mean so there are barriers there you can't they don't want the the food and drink on their court you don't want it spinning over the course anyway so Oh, okay.

Every pickleball player wants something sticky to step in while they're playing pickleball.

It costs a lot, but of course, I don't want to bust a pickleball.

But yeah, we have this. Okay. They're all glass.

Okay. So I just have a question. So on the entertainment form, then we would need it modified to say 1.30 a.m.? Because right now the one we're looking at says... Dancing nights, it says no alcohol past 2 a.m., but then dancing will end between 2 and 3. So you're saying the dancing will still end later, but the alcohol will stop at 1.30.

That's right. Okay. Let's talk. What do you think?

So, yeah.

So, this form needs modified before we... And we didn't want to do any additional until we had... There's been a lot of discussions between us. Coming up with plans. So, I said it's for them to present to the board what are you going to land on. So, they needed to present what they want to land on. So, you're right. A modification to this entertainment portion. Okay. Just making sure what needs all modifications.

Yes.

So... Because there are so many modifications and they're all positive. I appreciate that. I feel like we almost need another work session with you to get the modifications and present us with a clean. I can't, they presented today.

Yeah.

Well, they can, but we've got to change all of this.

Well, we can walk part of the motion that we could walk through some of that. And the board has the right. Here's what I want. So, again, this is unique. So I know this is to the board diversity. We appreciate being able to put that into the motion that they will only be approved for entertainment for this time frame or night, whatever the board wants to keep this control, because really this was about establishing enhanced controls from our last hearing and. We were working through a lot of that, and Parul, we talked about her being here in person would be a lot better. Her hands are, you know, actually in it. These young men are still, you know, learning and feeling their way around. And so having them all here together is a plus.

And also, we would, if the board likes it, we can restrict initially. Right. Three events max, I mean, you know, a month. And then you can watch us over the events and see how we have done. And that could be like a probate. And not be at 2 a.m. For us, it's 1.30. In our heads, we are doing 1.30. Nothing beyond 1.30. So, those events would be on a Friday or a Saturday? Between Friday or Saturday. So, I know this is reaching, but can you give us dates as to when they might be? You wouldn't know, Madam Chair, about the events. Actually, it's depending on who, maybe some band is available on a particular day. They want to do it. That's what I'm thinking. So every time there is an event, it's normally, I'm sorry, but it's impromptu. Like sometimes they could reach out 10 days before and they say, okay, is your venue available? We want to do something like that. So what I could propose is every time we are doing anything, even in future, an email goes from one of the licensees telling the board that we are having this event. This would be the timing. And this is what, like giving a little brief on what the event is about, if that's needed. And- If anything else.

Actually, the events, seeing as they're 1.30, that's perfect. That's right. Yeah, we are not going beyond. How would you feel if they decided three events within the first 90 days to see how it goes?

It will just be a little restricting, and I'll be honest. This is the time after September when business picks up for us. We've already gone a little slow on openings. as you, you know, for whatever reasons that we were not in compliance. When do you expect to open? Well, immediately, actually, within like 15 days or so. But we have to obviously work for our getting the equipment installed, et cetera, and get our permits and all in line. So that's why it will also push us more. We're not even looking at probably three weeks, I'm saying, if we get a go ahead today.

So the definite events within nine days would be.

adequate because you're not going to open right away so you're doing it the need for the restriction i'm not i don't want to just my preference is not to open it up to just um open-ended i think we want to monitor any events so i'll put a restriction on i think you were saying you know three in a month a month let's give it a shot and see how either way we're going to be be monitoring it. So I don't know that we need to make.

I mean, once we move the show, we can definitely communicate with them within a week. We would definitely communicate a week before.

I'd actually like to see it. We can say a week. Sometimes they come with a show of that request.

No, they understand. They understand.

So you understand that two weeks prior to wanting to do a special event, you need to reach out to the labor board. Sure. Okay. All right. As long as I was thinking you were doing something different. So that's fine.

The events, if you want to know a little, it's going to be mostly band nights. So nothing really easy.

It's going to be band night, dance nights. My question back to you for Pickleball, you know, these courts are expensive, right? So what are you going to pull the floor up in an area?

It goes over top of it that protects it.

I'm just curious of the area when it expands into there, what you're going to do with that. Okay. Do it.

Right. That is all like, that's all like, that's what we'll start.

It's good and all that.

Yes. So I have a question of just logistics. So they want to try to open in three weeks, but we still got retail sales and use business workers, comp health department, zoning, occupancy tax, and a re-inspection. Obviously our re-inspection, we can control and do that quickly. Health department zoning and occupancy are big, long poles in the tent.

Yeah. Zoning, that zoning certificate applying. Dustin is pretty good. I don't know if you guys have even talked to Dustin at the City of Frederick, but you have to, that zoning certificate, there's a link that's within the email that we just resent you that you need to get online and get that applied for immediately. Okay, sure. It is pushing it. A three-week window is pushing it. Now, Dustin is great enough. Again, if you submit it and then pick up the phone and call him. Can help. Yes. I appreciate that.

Some things that I see right now, make sure I'm correct, that need redone in here are one, we've got the hours, I think, corrected except for the special events. You only still plan on having two people work or how many employees do you have work that will be involved in the service of alcohol?

to bar manager energy on this one.

Okay, so I would want to make sure that we had everyone alcohol trained. Sure. And I only see two in here with the alcohol plan.

Some additional folks there. Okay, which we need to update that.

We need the entertainment request form updated to reflect 130. And I'll Also put on there, make sure that highlights in there the two-week free to get the special event pass. On the nights of the special events, what is your staffing situation going to look like?

So we're going to have three security guards on the floor checking in and out.

Wait a minute, sir. Tim, you haven't been sworn in, and I don't know who you are.

I am. Or better off.

That's not how it starts.

We swear you win that way. You'll be held to that the rest of your life.

Just bring your chair up and sit next to it so you can be on the line.

He's basically the event person for us, ma'am. And he's done a lot of work in Maryland already, in Baltimore, and in Owings Mill. So that's why I look to him for any kind of event-related late nights. He looks to you for permission. To you. So that's why he'd be basically the main operations person for any events. Okay. And he's, I would say, 99% always present at events himself, personally. Okay. So, yes, over to you.

Uh, obviously I've been doing events for a while now, you know, and then I have one more restaurant in Virginia, uh, which we do regularly events on Friday, Friday and Saturday, and I have three security guards on the spot, checking in and out with no alcohol coming in and out from outside. Uh, 1 30, the lights are on and by 15 minutes, every, everybody has to go out. That is the reason why we have the security guards in place. For me to host the music event is to make sure that everything is in order. No other stuff required from outside, you know, no fights, nothing. That is the reason the security guards are our own place. And they've been with me for the last seven to eight years, which we do events on a regular basis here. So for me, the security and comfort for my guests is the number one priority.

Now, the entertainment will be within the Diablo footprint, or will it also be in the pickle section? Pickle pickleball core area.

So the location where the bar is is going to be right in front of that which will be covering code one and two or in case if there are more guests then you know we have an agreement with the Pickle Park management as well that they would you know give it to us.

So I think for each of the special event then I would want to see which courts marked off that there's a diagram. Yep. It's part of the request. And I kind of think it's on there, but I'm not sure if I'm reading it correctly. I just would like a big X to say this court, that court. And so then our inspectors know exactly when they are going out to monitor, they know exactly what it should look like. So, again, the alcohol, I saw the little clear glass areas. What about alcohol on the dance floor?

Not allowed.

It's not a lot. Yeah, that's always thicker. I've been to enough places in Baltimore. I mean, I know what that gets like and you've got pickleball courts. That would be and that also becomes challenging for monitoring. The monitoring system do we talked about last time cameras and things like that? What is the situation with cameras?

Right now, all the, sorry, go ahead.

Okay, for all the courts and the bar area?

Okay. Share your name with us for the record.

Okay.

And you're the pickleball king.

Yes. Okay. So with that, the cameras are monitoring everything on one system and who's monitoring The the the facility is that going to be? Will you guys have access to the cameras or you have access to the camera? Who's monitoring the cameras?

Is that we have a staff GM and manage it? Right also as owners we have access and they will also get the access to.

So is that staff GM person also have an awareness of alcohol training or so that they at least know what they should be looking for? Is that a special training like? Because usually whoever's looking at the cameras, you want to make sure their alcohol, at least they know what to be looking for.

So on behalf of whatever the camera system they have, I'll be installing my own, monitoring all the bar stuff, which the access area. So that's going to be done as well from our side.

Okay. So then it would just be on the special event nights for the pickleball where it goes beyond that area. So will your cameras monitor all the area where you will be able to serve alcohol?

Yes.

Okay. We're all in agreement. That needs to be updated in the packet so that our inspectors can be able to check and monitor. I'm just going to say this straight up. You don't want us to be doing your first compliance checks with this. I would strongly encourage, like other counties do, where they have a secret shopper program, I would, when you start to have your first event, send people in that are minors and see what happens. Test your staff. Don't let us be the first ones to test you. Because it is a new concept. Yes. Being a kid who grew up in the county here, I know where there's a will, there's a way. And so you guys are going to have like the bullseye on you at first. And it'll be the cool new hip thing to do. And some of our new establishments in Frederick have felt that pain when things didn't go exactly. Fights break out, other things. So just want to make sure that you're doing that. Because, again, it is something new. I would also, and I can't, we can't mandate this from the board, but because you're not in an area where generally people are going to be walking home, take advantage of posting these drive services, other things, really be watching the over service. Because you want to be a good neighbor out there where you're going to be located. You got residential right up against you. So, yeah. Just want to minimize one of our duties is also for the public safety component, and so making sure that you're thinking through everything you can do on your side when people go and get behind the wheel of a car.

So along that lines, you got good connection with your security guards with respect to. The County Sheriff's Office just to make sure if you back up so you have this protocols in place in the city, right? Are they city?

They are considered city. They're right at the lot. Yep.

Are they inside city?

Because when you go further out, Fallinger is where it becomes Catholic.

Definitely get that one set up as soon as possible.

Just so they have an awareness of what you're doing. And because, again, you're going to have at 1.30, you could have crowds of people all leaving at one time with alcohol on board.

And you know that from security. That's where the problem is. Outside, not necessarily inside.

Okay. So I would like to have those few little, like we can't mandate that in there, but I think the security cameras, all of that added into this placement, just so it's on the graph. So our inspectors know what they should be looking at when they come in. And then I think the one, the security one, we just need to have that updated with the correct hours and what you said too, because I think it's on the entertainment form, but it also needs to, there's a couple spots in there that that just needs to be updated. And then the surveillance camera piece will be updated. And on your diagram, just make sure those tables are clearly marked so that we make sure we can do the chair count on there. And updating alcohol plan.

I think we talked about Super Rule. I met with them. They came to ABLE on Thursday, last Thursday, and we talked about like. 24-7 facilities, like outside containers, because when you're playing pickleball, you are not going to not bring your water bottle in. You're going to be thirsty. So we talked about that, but those things also could happen at a hotel. But what we talked about was the difference between the 24-hour facilities that we ask all across the state about monitoring is there was a live person, not cameras watching them, but a live person. So her and I talked about transition when that transition happens so i want to make sure that's in the motion as well or at least discussed if there's a transition to 24 7 open pickleball um because people say to you and we were very blunt with each other who plays pickleball at 2 a.m that's true i mean who plays pickleball at 2 a.m but some of the older season folks they want to come at 5 a.m maybe you know what i mean so maybe we have that conversation so before it becomes 24 7 I feel like there should be a discussion or an awareness of what we're going to do to monitor with live bodies. Okay.

And making sure that that's maybe a way to accommodate a craft of water being within the facility so that we don't have to bring bottles.

Yeah, we have people are going to bring their Yetis in like that. I mean, you're playing pickleball. You're going to want your drink.

You're going to be on the courts. I do have a question on the patio because right now that's a future thing, right? So, I would want to just have that, you know. Not just automatic in this right now that it needs to come back before the board. with updates to the security plan and things when you want to open that patio, when you get closer to putting a patio outside. Because again, that creates a different, now you're going outside the facility, just so that we see it just in advance of that before.

If we can put that in, it is in my delegation to approve any endorsements, but for this situation, obviously it's unique. I could, I could present it to the board, like the drawing, the diagram, made sure they do the inspection for them to have to appear again.

I mean, that's your choice, but I mean, just so that I make it, make you don't just say that it's in there now with us, just looking at a grassy area saying, envision this. Absolutely. So I would want to have that and then a re-inspection by that. And then if, you know, you can just, I don't think that has to come before us.

You just tell us what's in my delegation of authority. I can do it, but I want to make sure that you guys are aware because it is unique.

It is unique, and our whole premise is to educate and to enhance and make business available. So we're not trying to stop you. We're just trying to protect you and the citizens in Frederick County. Absolutely. This is not a mandate, and I have a question for Pickleball King. Right now, what are your hours? What are you planning your hours to be, if you don't mind?

As of now, we are running from 8 to 10. Okay.

Okay.

Once we get ready with everything, systems and all that, like to open. And also right now we are assessing the, what you call, customer traffic. I just mentioned at 2 a.m. no one should usually come, right? So that's what we are assessing and we are understanding the traffic and how the customers are responding either from 8 to 10. If there are more requests for us to open in the midnight or something like that, So we are still in like understanding the business and assessing the customers in this area so that whether it makes sense to open by 24 by 7 or not. So it's in plan, but we are not ready yet to make that happen.

And you'll give Diablo's prior notice? Yes. And then you'll give us prior notice.

We work hand-to-hand in everything around the princess.

Besides, my friend is my landlord, so he's charging me more as well.

Oh, my gosh. Okay, so I feel more comfortable knowing that you're aware of and there will be no drinks in the area where the pickleball courts are. That was concerning.

Okay.

So...

Sorry, I'm just looking at their diagram of where they are and given are the neighbors and the houses that join up to try to get everywhere they get access to the major roads. You're now talking to close at 10 p.m. Now you're going to have maybe a whole slew of cars coming through to the neighbors around or in the NAC. Have you guys met with the NAC, the Neighborhood Act Committee? just to make sure they have an awareness that, you know, yes, this is a great new event. It could be opening up, but that last stretch there that looks like, as you come down Ballinger Center Drive, that there's just that increased traffic at that night with the housing units and things like that.

You guys did, there was just a grand opening of some sort with all the neighborhood. And I just saw that as well with everything Frederick. I know there was a grand opening kind of, that happened with the neighborhood. So, I mean, they're aware you're there.

It's one thing to have pickleball where you've got maybe, what, four people on a court, 28, 40 cars versus maybe two, 300 cars at a dance, you know, just to make sure that they just have some awareness so that those complaints don't come in. Being a good neighbor and being proactive versus reactive. I think just sometimes it's helpful in that just just looking at where you guys are, where they have to come out through. And, you know, just wanted to make sure that, you know, it's not like it's in an urban area or more urban part of Frederick where they're constant traffic at late hours and nights.

I think that would come back more on you, quite frankly. Yeah. So you may you may want to take the initiative on that.

And to put their fears at rest, this isn't going to be every night. It's only going to be on X, you know.

Yeah, we bring that up for, I mean, because we've had cases before where the neighborhoods just get really, really upset. The noise is loud. They didn't know anything about it in advance. The overcrowding. And then the police are brought in. It can get really messy. So if you have built a good relationship with the neighborhood, it goes a very, very long way.

And the city of Frederick does require within the city limits what's called a ZBA approval, which is Zoning Board of Appeals. We will also send you that link. They do not like you to play music after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday unless you have that approval. So we will send you that link as well.

And I say that because there have been some establishments who used to have a dance zone. place here that are no longer because fights and stuff it got to the point so many fights were breaking out in the parking lot the neighborhood got in outrage dancing is a a needed venue there's i mean i i've been to one of the places here that does line dancing and who would have thought on a wednesday night the place is packed so there is a need for that type of you know entertainment But it comes with but they also stop it at like 11 o'clock. Music stops at 10. It's in the city as well. But again, just just so you have situational awareness around it, because that was the beginning of the end for that place. And they haven't had another large, real dance place since then. So just.

Thank you for the idea.

Yeah. Just the outside regulation of your facility is going to be key.

Sure.

Even though that's not necessarily.

I agree with Commissioner Burrell. We've had numerous dancing facilities and they've all gone by the wayside because of issues.

We're trying to be on top of this. It's always good in downtown Frederick. There's lots of dancing that goes on there late at night.

Well, again, this is what I said. There's a lot of walking other areas. There's things that they don't really have a dance floor, but they make a dance floor. Yes. You're you're providing a dance floor where people have room that you could probably get more people coming, which means you're going to have more crowd control issues.

We have to be on top of that. We want to set you up as an example of what to do. Thank you. So we're trying to be proactive versus reactive. And so much of what happens, what Commissioner Burrell is talking about from the noise and the fights and everything, so much of that is out of our hands. That's city police and everything else. And people will automatically come to the liquor board because they think, you know, alcohol and fights go hand in hand. But we don't have a whole lot of control once it happens. So just keep that in mind. It's city police at that point.

I know we've belabored that point, so I want to make sure we get back to all the different issues. So changing of the entertainment form, the patio piece for coming back for re-approval with delegation to Don, the training and making sure all of those that are trained are updated, the camera plan, and then marked on the facility and then the clear marking of the tables, chairs, dancing area on the diagrams. And did I miss anything?

You spoke about the special events, right?

Yeah, the special events form needed to be updated. And then the 90 days that we would, you know, you can Do the special events, but we'll have the 90 days really kind of working with you all, coming out for compliance and inspection, just to make sure, working through those issues. Do you have cameras on the external or just on the internal?

I want to do an external also, but I don't come from again, sorry.

Yeah, you should. I just want to think about that in your security plan as you update that to us.

Don, how much?

time do they realistically need as far as the rules parade i'm hoping again if you're very proactive you you're gonna have to be proactive with the city promise i will be more yeah i mean i'm gonna suggest to the board a later time so it gives us room to because if they shorten it down then you got to come you do have to come back before the board so i am gonna blinds

I would suggest we give you up to six months. Okay. But you don't have to wait. You don't have to wait, but there's plenty of time. If you get everything done, you can get your license. But I'm afraid that it's not going to be 15 days. It's going to take much longer, and I'd rather give you more time than less.

And with the holidays, I just want to – I mean, hopefully it happens before the holidays. Absolutely. I would definitely – possibly push into February as a conditional approval. If you get it done prior, great. You don't have to wait until people look at it and go, February.

You can operate under conditional approval, but what will be needed is all of these different things I'm going to try to list in the motion. Yes.

Can I... I think if we can move this event part for later, let's open the restaurant and the bar for now. Will it work? to start with and then leave.

That approval is out of our jurisdiction and out of their jurisdiction. They can give you conditional, right? They can tell you to go, but you have, in order for a license to be issued legally, zoning, occupancy, health, tax release, you have to have all those. Now, the ZBA approval for music, that can be later. That can be- You just can't have music. You couldn't have after the hours, right? 10 p.m. 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, 9 p.m. during the week. So yes, those things could happen pretty swiftly, but they're going to have to be tenacious with the city in getting that. But ZBA approval, and we'll massage through this. But the key here, the key, and I want to parole you too, communication, key, key, key. You need to understand, give that feedback back. Let me know you've read it or you understand it or here's where we're at, but communication is key. Thank you. And follow-up phone calls every day.

We are definitely a county to request permission, not after the fact. No, if it's after the fact, you could lose everything. Right. So try to be very communicative. We work very hard in Frederick County. I know Dawn's done a great job of being very open and transparent. Ask questions. Ask a lot. Get it right the first time versus coming back and asking for forgiveness.

There is no forgiveness.

Alright, so with that, Madam Chair, is there anything further from the licensee? I'm prepared to try to make sure I include everything. No, I think you covered a lot. Alright, so with that, Madam Chair, I move that the board grant conditional approvals to Diablo Bar inside of the Pickle Park through February 28, 2027. With The following items to be re corrected on their application. To include and this might not be all to re include a re inspection from our inspector. You have the hours on the entertainment request form corrected to 1.30 AM. You have the alcohol a plan all those updated onto their plan that have been trained and their plans for alcohol service on the facility. The to any improvements to the patio area would need to be presented, inspected and then delegated to Don for future. on the security plan, the hours of operation, camera placement, and how this service would be for the special events, as well as the normal business hours needs updated on the security plan. The chairs on the diagrams need to be updated. The courts that will be used potentially for future dances need to be clearly marked for inspectors, so when they come out and inspect. And then all of the external things that need to be completed, retail sales and use, business license, workers' comp, the updating of the security plan, health department zoning, occupancy tax relief, and reinspection by our inspectors. Upon the completion of all of that and review by our staff, of all state, county, local, Laws, ordinances, and regulations, the conditional approval will be given through February 28, 2027.

Or before.

Or before. But that means you just don't have to come back if you get everything completed before then. It just saves you your business time and hours. And we delegate Don the authority to be able to review and work out any discrepancies.

Don, are you comfortable with this also? Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay, are you comfortable with this? I know this is highly different and unusual, so we need to get a second.

As everyone gets done talking, I'll second it. So second, but with one addendum on the hours sheet with respect to entertainment, it's only Friday and Saturday it needs to be changed to 1.30 a.m. Gotcha. All other hours are correct, but Friday and Saturday need to be corrected to 1.30 a.m. It's second.

But you're doing that just while we're on discussion. The 1.30 is only for when you have special events, not as a regular.

Otherwise, it's 11 to 11 for Diablo. Yes.

On Friday and Saturday, right?

Yes, Madam Chair.

If everybody's comfortable with that.

Oh, do we have any public comment on this? If everybody is comfortable with that, then I will turn to you and ask for both. Others in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Okay, unanimous approval, conditional approval. And I keep saying conditional as... Commissioner Burrell, because conditional means you've got until February 28th. For some unknown reason, if it doesn't happen by then, then you come back and see us. But right now, you've got to get all your ducks in a row. Dawn will get the new.

This is going to send you a summary email of everything. Please feel free as you're going through it as a checklist. We'll send you reminders, but. Feel free to call and say, well, what am I supposed to be doing with this again? It was a lot to take in. So we'll help walk you through it. We appreciate that. Thank you. Because zoning is different from a zoning board of appeals. Two different things. For music and for just regular being able to do business. You want the zoning first. I'll keep borrowing your brain.

Okay. You will get the education that you need to do all of this better from our staff. Absolutely. Any other... place. We appreciate that. They are amazing. They are here not to tax you or fine you. They're here to educate you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. application is it chun yes please join us up front hello have a seat we're going to square everyone in and ask you to um give us your name when you're being sworn in the chairs will slide very easy sorry

Everyone who's prepared to give testimony to the Board of Licensed Commissioners, please raise your right hand and respond with, I will, following the oath. In the matter of trial and application, do you solemnly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury that the testimony you're about to give to the Board of Licensed Commissioners in the matter now pending will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? If so, say I will, followed by your name.

I will say I will, followed by your name. I will say I will, followed by your name.

I will say I will, followed by your name. I will say I will, followed by your name. You have to speak up to catch the mic. Patrick person. OK, thank you.

I will put theirs.

Hold on sugars. Thank you. What the board has before them today is a request for approval for a new application for Chun Class B beer, wine and liquor. As you can see, there is no open items except for an inspection report which will get Inspector Harrison to give you here momentarily. They do have other liquor licenses. Tony, this will be the first for you, right? Tony, this will be a first time for him license. But Bobby is currently associated with Galay Thai in Alexandria, Virginia. Regent Thai in D.C., Crubba in D.C., and D. Thai in Baltimore. So he's on several different. You both are license holders.

Yes, yes. I mean, you're the application. Yes. Okay, now I'm confused. Who goes by Bobby?

You do? Aditya?

Aditya?

Aditya? Okay. And then Tony. So is that the first one here, listed name?

Shushar. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Just making sure everyone's looking at it. Checking out.

And then obviously who will be running the location, young lady here, she's been the voice since the man, you're going to be the general manager. What is your role there? Tell them your role.

Hi, my name is Pairaya Ratchapanya, but you guys can call me Perry. I'm going to oversee day-by-day operations in our restaurant. And partially, you can call her Biggie. She's going to be... like work with me as well. We both going to be try to like management and corporate everything. Always see day by days over there together.

Okay. So the license holders, what is your role in the business day to day?

Yeah.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Day to day, the two license holders, Bobby and Tony. Tony. Yeah. What is your role day to day in this business?

I am a chef.

You're the chef.

Yes, so may I explain a little bit for them so sure shot, he is 100% owner option restaurant and Tony he needs to be the head chef and the head managers of our restaurant most of them is going to be like mostly at in the restaurant. But the day when this guy not come, they're going to be there for sure. So they're going to be like a little bit on some of the day, but most of it, they're both going to be there. So they're active. Yeah, they're active.

All right, Dawn, I'll turn back to you.

With the history, I do have to bring up in the Virginia one, we do have a little bit of a history. He's had a license there since July 2007. But at that particular one, there was a warning for keeping a manager on duty. There must be some strictness on that in Virginia. Failure to keep records in 2012. Another manager not on duty in 2014. A sales to minor charge, 2018. And then annual reports, 2022 and 2024. The ABC in Virginia must, it sounds like they're pretty, well, you've had a license there for a long time. No history that we could obtain on Regent Ty. And no history was able to be gotten either on Kruba. And then no violations were noted for their Baltimore location, which they've had since 2019. So just giving you a little background on Bobby. That's for Bobby only. Tony, brand new to the game. So that's the violation history. And then I'll let Ronnie go ahead and give his inspection report.

26-2026, I've performed a new license inspection at Chung, located at 46 South Market Street, Frederick, Maryland. The applicants are applying for a class B, beer wine, and liquor license. The establishment was not open and operating at the time of my inspection. The projected opening date is September 21st, 2026. The notice of public hearing time was posted on the front window of the establishment on August 26th, 2026, in section 20-1405. No reinfection will be required before the license can be issued. Thank you.

I visited the location also on Saturday. We were out doing some inspections on Saturday, and they were doing their little soft opening, and they definitely… Can I explain a bit on that?

That one we not call like a soft opening yet. Okay. We call like a special event. We call first-hand options. So after that day, right now we close.

Oh, okay. Okay. Which we didn't mind you being open. It was great for people to be able to see your facility. It was an opportunity because it was in the streets for them to be able to showcase what Chan's all about. Thank you so much. Yes. So, and they're right on it for situational awareness. They're right diagonal from them. So they'll have a patio area, but they're on that corner. right as you enter the creek across going into the creek. But they're on this side of that corner building there, diagonal from what used to be La Paz. And the piano store is on the corner here. And then there's another place. So come up to the creek though, right on the corner. Side of the street, east side of the street. It's going to be on this. It's literally diagonal from, if you looked out LaPaz window, you could look right over at them diagonally. So just so you guys have a situational awareness of where it is. They will be also looking to do some things on the rooftop, which we will work out with them for special events. But other than that, they are ready to, this is like a very clean application, very clean. So they're ready to open. They're ready to go.

So there is one little, it's just a technicality, just a box needs checked. I think it was just over. So on Bobby went on your applicant information sheet, you did your naturalized, correct? OK, because you you wrote down that you're where you were naturalized in the year, but you didn't check the box. It's just to have the box checked. So it's a technical thing, but thank you. Just little things. So how many employees do you plan on having at the site?

Normally we plan at 8 to 10.

And out of that, how many are going to be alcohol trained? Alcohol trained right now is seven people. And you've obviously heard our violations. You're going to be downtown. So what are your plans for the active day-to-day training of staff, making sure that they're checking? Okay.

Okay. So for the management, we will provide a recreation training for our employees, including a provisional alcohol service, and make sure every employee follows the liquor board rule and the recreation of the first day.

Okay. And you mentioned, Dawn, entertainment, rooftop activities. Is that going to be considered now? You're just going to do special events.

You're not really going to do rooftop entertainment. So for the rooftop, the landlord allow us just only 75 times per year. So we're going to, it's just not like, I don't know what the entertainment is. It's going to be just no music or anything up there. So just only like corporate events, things like that. And normally just hold just only like 10 to 20 people only. And we're just going to do like an easy, relaxed dinner for them, like a few hours and just that's it. But every time when we're going to that happen, we're going to fill out a form for a special event before 14 days.

I actually read the book. Yeah.

And then after you got approved and we're going to coordinate with the health department as well, everything's going to go from there. But right now, for right now, we didn't have any plans up there yet. It's going to take for a while. But whatever, we decide to do anything. We're going to let you guys know and ask for the approval first.

Thank you. You're welcome. Normally, we got a little bit out of sync today with all these But normally I'll turn to you, the license holders, and ask you to give us your spiel as to why we should present you with a Frederick County liquor license. You're doing a very good job, but the burden is on your shoulders as the license holders. So I want to let you know, I see one of you, Bobby is 100%, and you are 0% ownership. I just want you to be aware that the burden of a violation falls on both of your shoulders and you will be held responsible okay so share with us why we should give you a liquor license it sounds like we've hit most of it already you're a little bit shy and like you can't be shy in this instance that's why like

so everything that i speak out loud today they already like communicate with me entirely like can you talk for us like what like what okay so for the record you're asking her to speak for you okay go ahead all right first of all i would like to thank you everyone in the freddie community it's very warm welcome and we're very happy to be here it's our first business in the freddie county Because we are, it's like, have multi-location, maintain with the restaurant, work with the liquor board, with, like, Montgomery County, D.C., Virginia, or the Baltimore County. And this is first time here. And whatever things, like, you can get up succession and, you know, toss out how to do is better. And Chan is like a Thai restaurant, including have some part of the sushi as well. And most of the business, we... We like to present like authentic Thai food from the north part of Thailand because most of artists come from north of Thailand. And all the decoration and everything in the restaurant is like we import from the north of Thailand. It's like a craft handmade from support the local person over there. We would like to present like everyone can be there to enjoy like a Thai arts experience and like Eating good food like from the our country. Effectually, if we have the alcohol to let the customer have more experience and happy with that, that's why we're here to asking to get the permit for that. Thank you.

Yeah.

No questions squared away.

So just real quick question. You mentioned you had seven people that were alcohol trained. Do they all need to be listed on the form?

Because there's only three listed. They got him after some of the stuff they have updated AA. Yes.

Okay.

After this was submitted.

Okay. So this will be updated in the record. Okay. Okay.

Great.

I have no further questions. I congratulate you on such a clean application. Yeah. Perfect. I'm guessing you get the credit. Ashley, great answer.

That was a very political answer, but I can't do without anyone helping.

You know, that's perfect, but very clean application. And I thank you all so much. Thank you so much. I appreciate that.

And another than that, I cannot do it without supervisor and everyone in the liquid board email and walk me through every step really clearly.

Yeah, they are phenomenal.

And very fast answers, though.

Thank you. Everybody can pat themselves on the back. Okay. Me, Candy, these girls. Dawn, do you need to share anything else? All right, it's back up here. If you have no more discussion, you can make a motion.

Madam Chair, I move that the board grant approval to shun with just the correction, the box checked on the one form from the applicant, Bobby, and verifying that the updated alcohol awareness form is included effective today.

Second.

Okay. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. You are approved. We are so happy to have you in town, and Dawn will work through everything with you and summarize it. We just did. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Congratulations.

Thank you. Yes. I can't wait to come visit.

Yeah. So we get to have our stop opening on the Saturday coming up. Yeah.

Okay.

And then we will put out for the grand opening. And I would like to enjoy everyone in Frederick because on that day, we're going to bring up some Thai boxing show and have some tasting food as well. Awesome.

Thank you.

Okay, so Saturday. The Saturday is soft opening, but on the brand opening, we're going to have the show and some tasting.

You're the first business that's ever invited us.

Thank you. Thank you. Everyone in the Frank Digg, we love this county. I do too.

All right. Thank you so much. And if you have any other questions, staff will be within the next 24 to 48 hours. They'll summarize everything we just did. OK, well, that sounds like you too.

Thank you, thank you.

Good luck.

OK. We are on to transfers. Heritage spirit. Application 262700 no.

Everyone who's prepared to give testimony to the Board of Licensed Commissioners, please raise your right hand and respond with, I will, following the oath. In the matter of Heritage Spirits application, do you solemnly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury that the testimony you're about to give to the Board of Licensed Commissioners in the matter now pending will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If so, state I will, followed by your name.

I will. I'll get the other side. I will.

I will, Dawn Triggers. Thank you. What the board has before them today is a request for an approval of a transfer application for Heritage Spirits. It's a Class A beer, wine, and liquor. The pending items are business license, management agreement if necessary, that depends on the settlement, and the inspector's report. Again, another clean application. I'll have you go ahead and do your inspection report, Mr. Harrison. You need the mic. You need the mic. It usually picks up pretty good. Yeah.

On August 25th, 2026, I performed a transfer license inspection at Heritage Spirits, located at 4316 Old National Pike, Middletown, Maryland. During my inspection, I met with the current licensee, the local licensee in the Blankard Class A beer, wine, and liquor license. The establishment is currently open and operating. The notice of public hearing sign was posted by the current licensee in accordance with Section 20-1405. No re-inspection will be required before the license can be issued.

Thank you. And one of my questions is, do you plan on, depending on today, and I know Evelyn is here as well in the audience, so she's the seller. Are we talking about a settlement pretty quickly, swiftly here, once we have conversations today?

Yeah, pending today, we were ready to kind of settle tomorrow morning, take over. Yeah.

Because if that's the case, if there's anything else that would be open, you would need to, if the board's approved this to go forward, the business license, right? So we can have any open items.

I spoke with, I think her name was Cheryl over at the business license. She said as soon as we're done with settlement, we could pop right over to her office and then come here after that.

Okay. Yeah. I just want to make sure some of those are a little nuanced. You've been all over it, so. Yeah.

Is there a management agreement? Because I noticed that box not checked.

It's not because we don't need it yet until unless something would fall through on the settlement, they would need that to bridge the license. So it's an item that we don't need yet, but we left it highlighted there in case we would need it. But if he gets all of his ducks in a row and they do it all simultaneously, we should not need a management agreement between the old owner and the new owner to bridge until the license is ready to Transfer final. Like a 30-day, 60-day? I would hope not 30 days. A couple days. They're talking tomorrow. I would put 30 days. Is that okay, Evelyn, with you? 30 days, just to have it.

It's fine. All things go well. We're hoping tomorrow is the day.

I have to take a moment to congratulate you and wish you the best retirement ever. Thank you.

Absolutely. She doesn't open another store.

Madam Chair, can I ask a couple of questions? I want to get them off.

I had to give him one question.

So how many people will be working at the store?

Yeah, so we're basically taking over all the employees that were currently there, so it's about 8 to 10 under our. Well, and all of them have their alcohol awareness. There's one coming up in November that I'm aware about expiring, but I'm already working on getting him scheduled.

And. He's had his training, right?

Yes, yeah, I did mine about two months ago.

Gotcha. He's done all those ratings. And, you know, you've been sitting here all day. You saw the violation histories. So what are you trying to do to make sure that your employees, you know, it's one thing to be trained once every couple of years, but it's totally different about the day-to-day, how you're monitoring secret chopper program, especially since you're a class A, you know, you've got all three that you sell and people, you can get busy, walk in. So what are you doing to-

You know, I think Heritage has already done a really good job training their employees. I just want to continue that. It's something I had a one-on-one with every employee in the past week, talk to them about their experience, how they work with, you know, IDing. And it's just I think Heritage kind of operates in a everyone gets IDed. You know, there's no chances to be kind of taken. And, you know, other than just the trainings, I've had, you know, four years of straight experience in like the college game experience. Like I had a beer cart. at the University of Maryland. So, you know, we, I think we did a little more training than just the once one time. So it's just a matter of, you know, being able to tell when people might be intoxicated already entering your premise, just IDing at all points. It's not worth taking the risk unless they, we're not even going to kind of judge how people look. So it's just, it's just ID everyone. It's, it's, it's better safe than, you know, experience what we experienced the first meeting today.

They'll come back and haunt you. Yeah.

Yeah. So I think it's a matter of continuity and just like the trust that they've already built in the community with heritage. I think we just want to come in, continue that, you know, always enforced. I'm going to be there basically not 24 seven because we're not open 24 seven, but seven days a week, basically open to close. So it's going to be my job and on my shoulders to make sure that that's what's happening. But I think simply simply just. every person gets ID'd before a transaction can be made. And in our POS system, we're actually able to enforce that an ID has to be scanned before you can continue to the credit card processing.

Will you test yourself, self-testing, rather than waiting for us to?

Yeah, absolutely. I have tons of friends in the area that have younger siblings that can come in and kind of test my employees. I actually heard that in one of the other ones. So that's a great idea. Great savings. Absolutely.

And the other is I'm assuming you have cameras.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. The camera guy is actually coming in tomorrow if things go well here. So there's already cameras up. We just kind of have to get ourselves on the app and stuff so we can monitor it if we're not there or something like that.

And I would periodically just check it yourself. Watch your employees. I mean, just so that you can be situation aware. It's surprising that I know because you get very involved in running the business. But this one component of your employees is the weakest link you have because you can't you can control what you do, but you can't control what others do. So I'm just just trying to make sure that don't let us be the first if there's a problem.

Fair enough.

Make sure your employees know that your business is in their hands. Correct.

Yeah, they all probably know now they can get a citation as well.

Yeah, yeah, that's that's that was in one of the conversations with one of the employees was yeah, they can get find themselves on top of the business. So it's it's I think it's an everybody kind of involved thing.

Anything else? Not unless you're public comment, yeah. Ash, no. OK, then we are back up here. Dawn, do you have anything to add or subtract?

Very good. Very active. Very, you know, attentive. He's been taught by, you know, somebody in the audience. Groomed him properly. Manesh is in the audience.

I was like, what?

So he's been around the industry for a while. very long time. We wish you absolutely the best.

Thank you.

We're back up here. If you'd like to make a motion. Madam Chair, I approve a motion that the board grant conditional approval for Heritage Spirits through October 15, 2026 pending the business license and updating the board on all of the necessary items to complete the application as verified by staff of all state, county, local laws, ordinances and regulations.

Second. Second.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Welcome to Frederick. Welcome to business world. Welcome to her ghost.

Appreciate it. Thank you so much, guys.

You have such a reputation.

Thank you so much.

Evelyn, best of luck with whatever you decide to do. asking that in 30 days. See how that holds. Bye-bye.

Take care. Thank you.

Okay.

Now we go.

I lost my agenda. All right. Hillcrest Wine and Spirits, please join us up at the table. Another long time retirement. Yes. What is going on? Is there something you should be telling us?

You're just done. I have three 90-plus-year-old parents who live with us now because we just lost my father-in-law. Oh, I'm so sorry. My dad is 95 and the mother is 90. We have done this enough. We don't have enough time now. Family first. Thank you to, you know, spend the time that you need. We want to take care of our family. Well, thank you for being here. Make some time for us. So, you know. Best of luck. Enjoy while we're active. Yeah.

And you'll haunt them too. I don't know if you can haunt Brunac.

This is my tenant, so I can't haunt. Yes. All right. I'll turn to Don. Don?

Everyone who is prepared to give testimony to the Board of Licensed Commissioners, please raise your right hand and respond with, I will, following the oath. In the matter of Hillcrest Wine and Spirits application, do you solemnly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury that the testimony you're about to give to the Board of Licensed Commissioners in the matter now pending will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? If so, state, I will, followed by your name.

Ivan Ronakshade. I will, Dr. Harrison. I will, Don Triggers.

What the board has before them today is a request for an approval of a transfer application for Hillcrest Wine and Spirits Class A beer, wine, and liquor. We do have a lot of items that are pending, and I know Jay is working on those things with Ronak. Ronak's, again, a seasoned person who's worked with the process before, but we have the lease to be finalized, which obviously the landlord is the other person. Retail, sales, and use, business license, workers' comp, bulk transfer. Management agreement, if you need it, that again, have to have that conversation. Zoning, occupancy, tax release, inspector's report. And I will read, there is a history for Ronak, but he has since sold this business as well. The Crown Wine and Spirits, there was a sales to minor. He was a licensee from 5-20-2024 to February 23rd, 2025. And he had a sales to minor, took a letter of compromise. with a $1,000 fine and $200 VPC. Ronak is very, again, very well versed in the industry, understand what needs to take place. But he does have a lot of open items for this Hillcrest transfer to take place, but nothing he hasn't undertook before and been able to take care of and address. Again, the articles of organization, I think you were going to update some of those because we were talking about

Yes.

Who's going to own what. Yes. Leaving some of the ownership. So we can square some of those.

We already have some of the documentation ready. Okay. It's just like matter of time, probably two hours by tomorrow.

And remember that email we want to get as well. Yes.

Just stating we want to state. We already have operating agreement and everything. Okay. It's just like once it's agreed, I'll send you the email right away.

Okay. Gotcha. And I'll have Inspector Harrison give his inspection report.

On August 27, 2026, 19. The Transfer License Inspection at Hillcrest Wine and Spirit, located at 1090 West Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland. During my inspection, I met with the current licensee. The hopeful licensee is applying for a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license. The establishment is currently open and operating. The notice of public hearing was posted on the front window of the establishment on August 27, 2026, in accordance with Section 20-1405. No re-inspection will be required before the license can be issued.

A couple little clarifying points I also want to make to Ronak as well is current employees, we're still... Oh, probably, yes.

So I think I have kept one.

Okay, because I had to call awareness here as one, and I've been trying to pass that question.

Yeah, so that employee is already, I'll call awareness. Okay. And most of the employees I'll be just using from other establishments. Right. Okay. Okay.

And then the zoning and the occupancy, just understanding that within the city limits, so getting that transferred over into your name, that sometimes takes a process too. So be very aware of that, that if you've got to, and we usually send the link where you apply to do a name change for the zoning, because we did hear back from them from what I understand is that there was never a zoning permit. And I'm like, it's been in business for 36 years. How did that happen? So just be aware there might be a little bump in the road to that. They claim there was no zoning certificate, but it's been operating for 36 years this way.

But they operated that right before you.

Right. So just just a little awareness that that, you know, if you do need to us to help push things through with Dustin, that sort of thing. OK.

That's a 90-day window?

I would give them a longer window for sure. I'd even go, and again, it's not that you can't get it. You already know the deal. Yes, yes. I would go, yes.

So you mentioned one employee. How many employees do you totally going to have at the location?

So for now, one employee plus me and plus I have other establishment where I'm going to be taking the employees. But I haven't scheduled anything yet. Once I take it over, I'll get a better idea like how I'm going to be juggling around.

I saw your hours, so most of those hours are you and ?

Probably, I would say four people right now, but as I said, all of the employees who even coming from the different establishment are all . You just need to update that form.

Yes. I want it listed right now.

As of now, it's going to be me and the other lady. I can give the details to her.

And just append your form.

And then once I decide who will be working along with me, I'll just send her all the information.

I see all the other different things. Will it require a management agreement if we're going to go out?

If they go to settlement, yes, there will be. And they have the template. Jay is an attorney who works very closely with that. So he knows that if we do need to put that in play, we can. Okay, gotcha.

And you're working on all of these different items. I mean, there's a few items here. Yeah.

Okay. Should be done probably, you know, probably this week. Like most of the stuff, except the occupancy report will be something which will work. That's all I'm saying.

Do you guys still make your sandwiches? No, no, no. It's been years since I've been in there. That's why they used to have a really good sandwich. No, I don't want any sandwiches.

15 years.

Yeah, years ago I used to work up there and come down and get sandwiches there at Ryland Holmes up behind you.

One of the reasons why we closed it is because you came every 15 years.

Oh, you're tall. So we jumped around like we have all day. Today has not been a normal day. Tell us why you would like to do this and have the honor of having a liquor license here in Frederick.

Basically, I do have my wife already in the liquor business. She owns a liquor store in Frederick. I have friends and I'm a part owner in other liquor stores as well. So strongly, I believe that uh because i'm in this in this industry uh it will be easier for me to even uh you know comply with the state laws and stuff like that and you know for the community safety and everything i know the people most of the people in frederick so i think it will be an opportunity for me to expand uh and uh you know serve the community in a best possible way because as i know the community more than like you know this many years okay

Any public comment on this case? We are back up here. If you have anything more to add, then we are back up here to see if I have a motion.

Madam Chair, I move that the board grant conditional approval for Hillcrest Wine and Spirits Transfer through February 28, 2027, pending the verification of all the different outstanding items, updating of the alcohol awareness form, I'm not going to read down the list here, but that the board staff would verify all the things are needed for a complete application in respect to all state, county, local ordinance laws and regulations.

Second. Okay. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. That's 3-0 for the transfer of Hillcrest Wine and Spirits. Best of luck with everything in your future, sir. Best of luck with everything in your future. Thank you both so very much.

Thank you. Thank you.

comment no public comment okay then we are asking our dawn to step up and start our staff meeting this is for you

I just wanted to do a friendly reminder. I will not be here for the October 12th.

We talked about you on Friday.

I really don't want to be joining remotely. I think I'll be in Italy then.

I'm so sorry. I may have a problem on the 28th. For some reason, I think I'm at the Pentagon that day. I don't know that I can get out of that. I don't know why that date didn't come up or it wasn't in the back of my head before, but.

Just keep us up to date.

Yeah, we'll do.

What time is it? 8.30 to 12.30. Yeah. And it may not even go to 12.30. That ending part, 11.30 to 12.30 is really just communication if people want to hang around, ask questions of the board and things like that. We are going to record it, Chris. So we're going to make an attempt to record it in some fashion.

We're not letting any elected people So it should go faster. Okay.

I'll get back to you pretty quick.

What's wrong, Debbie?

Oh, no. I also, not that I have a conflict. I didn't know that there wasn't a virtual option. So I might have to work some.

Well, it's a Q&A with the board. So. Yep. Nope. I will figure it out. Yeah, if they want to be the Q&A with the board. It's a summary of the regulation changes. I don't anticipate, and again, it's supposed to be a listening session. It's in this room here? No, it's at the Frederick Events Center. It's our first of our... That's right. Okay, I need to put that in the brain.

Okay.

Yeah, Frederick Events Center from 8.30 to 12.30. And we expanded it this year to create the opportunities for guest speakers and Also to give more comfort to the licensees where they could come in and, like I said, have this Q&A session with the board, with the delegation. And again, more listening. We'll be taking a lot of notes if somebody makes a suggestion on a change or there won't be any decisions made there that day, because I think that's pretty important for our legal counsel. Then that's what the forum is intended for, is to listen to challenges in the industry, things that we might be able to address outside of that forum with just a meeting. So hopefully, but some of the things we're going to talk about is going to be these summary of changes with our regulations, which are not significant. A lot of it's just cleaning up language, cleaning up, you know, what we say and how we say it.

May I ask Ashley to do something? Because the way it shows up on my calendar invite shows it as a Microsoft Teams meeting. which is why it didn't dawn on me. I don't see a location.

It's required. It does it that way, though. Any invite you do for any meeting, they automatically add it as a Teams link. Automatically. Yeah.

So if there's a way to update the address in there, just that helps. I'll try, but I can't override that calendar because it's not a calendar.

Because it should say event center, doesn't it?

I just put it on the description. I think as soon as they pick the date, put it all through it on the calendar. Yeah. Okay. That could just be updated. That helps my brain. Okay. Thank you.

So I'm not going to go through all of these changes here, but these are what we will put out to the license holders when they're there, the retailers, and just different things that we've added. The only new thing that I feel like is May, someone might ask the question about is the license fee change for manufacturers where we were meeting in the middle. And we're reducing the fee for one and increasing it for another. And we did already have one of the manufacturers ask the question, why this is, I mean, there's an easy why is because we were overcharging one manufacturer and not charging enough for, so you guys decided that we would meet in the middle on that fee. So, but be prepared for that. That'll be a conversation. And again, we can just take notes from her. If she does show up and make that comment that maybe she feels it's unfair and but she may or may not. So we'll see. A lot of people will call you and complain. And then not, right. So I don't want to, you know, so some of these things are going to be general changes. We haven't heard from anybody that want to mention anything significant as far as changes, but they, you never know when people get there and they start talking. So that's just the alcohol form reminders, regulation reminders. These are our summary of changes that Now, yes.

I just wanted to give the board some quick advice going into the forum. Just keep in mind that this really is an opportunity to hear from your constituents, the people that you license and oversee. It can be uncomfortable sometimes depending on the nature of their comments and how they feel. And I think it's natural to feel pressure and a desire to want to address that in the moment to respond to them. I just want to remind you that it doesn't have to be, it's not intended to be a back and forth discussion. I want to encourage you not to feel compelled to have to engage with them or offer a solution right then and there. It is an excellent opportunity to hear from them, to get information from them that you can digest and then decide whether you want to pursue further at a later time.

And I'm putting together like my opening remarks to also say that to the audience, that this is not a, you know, we're not going to, there's not going to be a, I'm going to say it in a nice way, but it's not going to be a bantering session back and forth, that it's more for us to listen, take note. And we'll, you know, if we thank you for your comments, we'll get back to you with some more research or, or whatever. We will take it under. Yeah. Yeah. So either way, like we'll do that in part of our opening remarks. Yeah.

But I like the Congress, former state delegates, really listening and not.

Ashley, we, I mean, we discussed these changes. Do we want the board to consider putting these in play before? Or Jen, what do you, these are, again, these are just wording changes. their fee changes, adopting. Do we want to leave these open as proposed still until we get past the form in case someone does have an objection?

I guess I'm not quite sure I understand practically what you mean. And

As far as I want to make technically versus practically, technically, we've discussed these changes here, but we've not officially adopted the changes. But they're also going to be discussed at the forum. So if we officially adopt them, we'd have to make some sort of change. Should we have the adoption? Yeah, I think so.

So I think what you're asking is, should these go before the board today for for adoption? No, I think and I think no. And that we have forum on the 28th.

That way, if there is any discussion. We've added the third party events. When you guys got it the last time, we did add a description because we're learning as we go that more and more people are renting out their spaces and not really understanding who's responsible. Well, it's a licensed premise and it's your responsibility. So we did add one in there, the third party events, what the responsibility is for those third party events. And we did a description for third party events as well.

So that was the only. So this is just to make sure I understand. So you have some venues in Frederick that don't have any alcohol license and caterers come in. That's not for them. Who's responsible? Because the caterer then is responsible for that. Our life. Yes. And it is going to use a roof facility and someone else would be responsible that rent event. They are still responsible as a light.

Yeah. We had to put that in writing because some people are like, well, they get a lot. No, no, you are accountable. It's in your license premise. So we just had to explain that a little bit more for third party events. So we just added an explanation in there for that. Our violation report, you can see it's a little bit more lengthy. Um, Because we have been out doing our underage compliance checks, and we do still have a couple people that are out of compliance for their business license. We are working with the state on that as well. But you will see there are one, two, three, four letter of compromises that the board should be aware of, of sales to minors that occurred that did not come before you, and they are first-time offenders.

I do want to note, though, a number that's a lot different than it was four or five years ago. is the July to August, you had 121 pass. That's a lot of places you visited at the 93% rate when it used to be 30% pass rate. So that is a remarkable step forward. Although I know there's more now. Out of curiosity, what was your day like in the street?

Day like in the street? Well, my day seemed okay. There were conversations because alcohol was not permitted to be outside of the patio areas. And the only area that they could consume, there was one place, Minoxi Brewing, that was outside of Brewers. Everyone else had a tent with little sides on it. Yeah, the food tent. But you can only have food tents out, the rest of them. And the streets kept it very contained. And then they kept it contained down to the Live at Five area. So my first initial inspections were fine. They went out at night and I think there was a little bit more hot. We didn't get a chance to catch totally up. So I'm going to let them tell you about their night. And I'm going to hear it, too. I know some of it.

Because usually people have had drinks during the day and stay downtown and that's why we visit. And then you're they've had a lot of alcohol on board.

Yeah, I mean, it wasn't terrible. I mean, we just had to do a small correction when they pushed down into the line of fire. And I was just putting a security at one of the points near the end of the creek that was open because we saw people kind of leaving that area. And we went and grabbed the license and said, hey, you might want to put somebody there. Did it instantly, no problems or issues.

During the day, though, that point of egress was covered for me when I was there. So somebody must have just moved.

I mean, other than that, I mean... People just piled out after it was over and started going to, you know, their little local spots.

But other than that, I mean. Yeah, not a lot of people had an older crowd. Yeah. Probably more. Not a lot of people.

In the streets.

In the streets.

Yeah.

And they might have just piled out after because it ended around nine and we didn't see anybody. People really pouring out too much into the bars.

It's not the in the streets I remember.

Well, during the day, it was rather crowded. Easier to walk on the sidewalk than it was on the street. It was. Similarly, everyone thought, oh, it's good. I can walk on the street. And it's just because I was doing a little, you know, I go out every year just to see. But, yeah, I just noticed a couple of the places. And I noticed this year, like, the brewers had their, here's their food thing. And then they had the tent where you could stand and drink next to it.

Which was monocacy, really.

Yeah.

And the city of... Celebrate Frederick allowed them to do it. So we did have some people approach me and say, why were they allowed? And we weren't. I said, you need to take that up with Celebrate Frederick, not us. That's not our call. So, because we would allow them to extend if they requested it for this situation.

I think the Schwallers had just their little tables outside. They just had that fence. And you could go into that fenced area, but there was a dude standing right there. And then same with Old Town.

Mm-hmm.

They stayed in. They didn't even have their patio. Yeah, but they had someone standing outside checking everybody.

Yeah, yeah. But that led to also our other thing here, our sales to minor compliance checks. We have beefed it up. We're getting, obviously, a lot of them done. We, I believe, after we do some counts and some follow-up, have hit more than 159. but our passing rate is improving, but we are averaging and correct me if I'm wrong, one to two failures per compliance. So, but that's better than five. That's better than, and you will have coming before you next month. Obviously it'll be in a public agenda. It's just YouTube. You will have six cases. So it'll be flipped. Like today was more applications. Next month will be more violations and very few applications. So it'll be a, A fun hearing.

And an interpreter, right? Not after I had to sit for six hours with Winehouse when I was in Hawaii getting up at 2 a.m. to sit for six hours on a hearing. No, I'm not sorry.

We've learned a lot since then. At our passing rate, you're right, Debbie, that it hasn't improved, we feel like. And that's why with this forum, it gives us an opportunity, like Jen said, an opportunity for us to connect. We are really starting to build bridges. And I say build bridges, not that we didn't already have those bridges. But really connect with people on, hey, we're out. We're here. I mean, I got people calling me on a Saturday evening when we're not out going, the liquor board's out. And I had some guy come in without his ID. I did have that happen the Saturday night before as well. And I'm like, what is wrong with you? Like, we're not here to create fear. And we don't operate in that fashion either. You guys are taking this, but I'm glad you're taking it serious. But you have discretionary power if someone looks bad. old it's like a long gray beard i can let him in i'm like yes yes i'm like come on people use like common sense it just has to be you know can they prove they're 21 our presence is being seen and felt yeah seen and felt and you know i'm i'm glad that that is you know that they know that there's an awareness there that they could be checked or verified so july august number is really telling yes i mean that that says it all right there it's really good yeah So the trainings are going well. People and we're starting. We started a new initiative with Tricia. She's taken on that role of and she always has had the role of keeping me straight on alcohol awareness. But now we've added we continuously look for improvement. Right. We do a summit with each other each year and it's called a global leadership summit. And we look for ways and I try each quarter to make sure that staff. I'm always pressing the envelope. You're never if you want to work here, you're not going to be stagnant. You're always going to be learning. I keep saying I'm going to be 90 years old and learning something new all the time. Right. But I'm always pushing them to go stretch their minds, stretch how you do things, stretch the norm, stretch how we think as a government agency, because I don't ever want to be that typical government agency. That's just not how we operate. And they really do that. They leave there with tools to say, you know, maybe I'm not going to react to that or maybe I'm going to do this a little bit differently. So where I was going with this is she's now. you know, with administrative staff and support, she, she now reaches out every month on a rolling pattern for alcohol awareness that's expiring. So it is starting to really also build that momentum of people saying, cause they run their business day to day. And sometimes they don't remember who's expired and who's not. And that's what occurred here with Mr. Fajito Grande. He was expired. They were expired in, you know, So we've started some new initiatives that have really, we've seen the fruits of our labor, you know, the efforts. You see the fruits coming. You see the fruits, what you do here. Then we're starting, we're starting to see a lot of. He even mentioned that someone's expiring in November. It's because I sent him his. Sent him, right. That person was expiring. We're also starting to run into these compliance checks. A lot of people are switching to, not that we've required it, no vertical policy. So now we just not, we're starting to capture that now. We're starting to create a, We now got to get them just to check sometimes. So, but there's a positive momentum. And then when the one or two fail, it's the ones we don't expect. It's the ones that have passed over and over and gotten a little laxed or just didn't. Yeah. So the ones we are see failing or some of the ones were like, whoa, we would have never in a million years thought they would fail. So, and they're seasoned people that are just got laxed.

And we've got fresh eyes. Well, and one is a place that they're used to it because they get so many sports people in, like at least the one I saw in there. Yeah. And they usually were very good. Yeah.

So that was their first time offense, so they got a letter of compromise.

Yeah. A bunch of them I saw got letters of compromise. What about the ones at the bottom? Is those the ones you're talking about? Because it says LOC.

Yeah, there's four of them, the letter of compromise. Elkat, Saffron, and Willow Tree. They all got LOCs. And... Buffalo Wild Wings.

And then there's ones that aren't on there that are coming in October. I counted six. I'm like, it says Buffalo Wild Wings.

So other than that, anything else from staff? Any updates? Anything we need to... I wanted to give the accounts for the forums. Oh, sure, sure. This is going to be big, y'all. The $50 credit has got everybody intrigued.

Even though you will sign up during the hearing as well.

Today is the final day. It's going to be over 200 people there.

Yeah, right now we have 123 establishments. Make that 125 now. 125 establishments and 240 people and less. I didn't pull up. So we might be closer to 250 now, but 240 as of right now, but the ones that came in while we were in here, obviously I don't have those recorded right yet.

It'll be a good platform to be able to share information and for you guys to hear from. And again, we'll record it. We'll And the delegation, we will have six delegation members there that will be present. So I'm excited. And then we'll have safe ride for drinking and driving. That was a thing I'm going to share with the pickle court. That's the guy that I talked to the nonprofit. Yeah. Wayne.

He has this little cool thing too, where they sell the breathalyzers. So we'll have all that there that day. I thought that I stopped his little tent, you know, and it was really interesting because people, when I stopped in where there was three like grownups that were with them. And I was like kind of watching what he was doing and he was talking to him about it. And they just, just to see, cause they'd started at one side and they there's three people older. They all, um, Tested what they had. And it was interesting to watch. Like they had the two women and both of them were not even close and they each had the same amount of drinks. And what one tested and the other tested were one was like 0.004 and the other one was 0.008. And they both had the same amount. And they were both tiny women. Book by its cover. And the guy basically goes, you'd get a DWI. You'd be a DUI, depending on how you act. I was just watching him. He'll speak. He'll be engaging with people. And we are giving away free breathalyzers to everyone.

Oh.

Yes, there's a free breathalyzers for each establishment.

Oh, no. We have one at home.

Because they're expensive. We are giving breathalyzers out. That's kind of a cool thing. We're going to have a little goodie bags, we'll have swag bags. So this is definitely going to be, we're going to step up our game on this forum and hopefully set the precedents going forward.

I wanted to ask you something, mainly because Debbie and Chris may not be there. The board question and answer portion, I think it should be shared with the board instead. I don't want to have us answering questions per se. Yeah.

I mean, you want me to put board staff? Because I'm going to end up answering them probably anyway.

I might be late. It's all going to hinge. I'm going to be three hours away, so I'll just need to get up at four.

Like Jen said, you don't have to feel compelled to. The Q&A might just be basic things.

As I understand, I mean, I think if there's a clarify, question that someone asks right easily be answered hey i'm trying to figure out what i need to do in this situation while it's addressed in the regulations right here versus i want to talk about changes or yes and that's listening listening yeah i mean i i think really this is supposed to be an opportunity for the board to listen to

issues that people may raise and not to answer questions. So we could take the Q&A part off there because there is a lot of things that I can answer. I can answer. And I could too. That are basic things like day-to-day operational things that doesn't need to go to. So we could just leave it as instead of a board Q&A, we could just do Q&A. I think it's really just kind of public comment. True. But some of it I can answer because it'll be black and white.

I guess I'm agreeing with Jen insofar as, and please, you know, because Debbie and I, I know, and I'm guessing you too, being on the planning commission, I got lamb blasted all the time and I had no problem just going, thank you. Thank you very much. I just don't want to put it in a situation since we are a board of three. I think we need to answer as a board of three. I don't think I should speak. or Debbie should speak for the board. So I guess I'm asking not so much Q&A with the board other than share your thoughts with the board, public comment with the board, anything like that. Because some of the questions they may have may also go to the delegation members.

So I don't know how- I would redirect them.

Right.

I would say you can talk to them afterwards, basically.

Right. Yes, which are the delegations coming?

You got that up still? Pippi, maybe Folden, Miller, Kerr, Fair, Valentine, Fair.

I got them all. Folden, Fleming-Miller, and Pippi. Yeah.

Who's chair now of the delegation?

Who is it all? He still is. But Ken Kerr is the chair, the vice chair for not on the delegation, but for the committee. So he's already asked me some questions on some things anyway.

Yeah, definitely directed to after the. Is this in the ballroom there?

As soon as you go in the door to the right. Yeah. Yeah. Same place. It'll be like a continental breakfast. And where's this? At the Frederick Events Center. Where's that?

That's the off-track bedding. Arion. Arion, old FSK Hotel. Oh, got it, got it.

Where you used to have your... We'll still have it there, yeah.

Yeah. But now the hotel's closed because of all the issues they were having. They're going to level it, according to Randy, and put a five-story building, one in. Yeah.

He's doing some other things there, yeah.

Yeah, he's got the off-track bedding, Caesars.

Mm-hmm.

And they at least made that look nicer.

I'm looking to... not answering questions per se.

I can assure you that I will contribute at the same communication level at all board meetings.

I will just say if someone says something, we're here to listen. We'll take it upon advisement as we meet as a board. Thank you. Have a nice day. All right. So we're all in. Got it. No facial expressions, just that poker face. Great.

Smile and have a nice day.

Does Frederick have any parades or anything like that anymore? Do they ever do any day-round parades?