The Alcohol Control Commission is reviewing city regulations. What changes do you suggest to encourage new businesses while maintaining local values?

As chair of the ACC, I have led a year-long community conversation about changing our outdated alcohol ordinances. There are several areas we can update to make our city more lively and business-friendly, such as changing our licensing fee structure to encourage new growth, while retaining a family-friendly atmosphere.

It is always important to evaluate areas for improvement. The decision to not pursue the outdoor alcohol ordinance was the right decision to maintain our family friendly atmosphere. Preserving our restaurant style with a food/drink ratio is the best solution. Kudos to Downtown Director Amanda Carter and her board!

I support keeping the 50/50 ratio. The open container law for special events could be experimented with. It could be broadened but not to the extent of the last proposal which was voted down.

This past year the ACC has gone in search of solutions for problems that don’t exist. We need to continue to keep downtown family friendly. The alcohol license fees need to be reevaluated. The 50/50 food to drink ratio is appropriate.

Our current guidelines have been in no way been a deterrent to the attraction of new businesses. The local values of the citizens of our town run deep and relaxing these rules was best stated in the Rome News-Tribune as “A solution in search of a problem.”

I serve as a citizen member of the Alcohol Control Commission. I believe the fee structure we are drafting will encourage business and discourage lax practices at local convenience stores. In the recent proposal for open container, I had hoped for a trial period as a testing ground for how this idea could work.