Rome to make ACC a citizen board

The plan would replace the three elected officials on the alcohol panel with three more appointed residents.

Rome Mayor Jamie Doss is proposing to revamp the city’s Alcohol Control Commission by making it an all-citizen board.

The panel, which reviews alcohol permits and penalties, has been made up of three city commissioners and three appointed residents since it was formed in the early 1970s.

Doss said the new structure would be based on the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to the elected boards. While a city and county commissioner are appointed Mayor Jamie Doss to attend meetings, they do not weigh in on the deliberations.

“The planning commission model has been very successful and it avoids city commissioners voting twice,” Doss said.

No change is planned in the ACC’s powers. Members will continue to approve pouring and package permits and forward recommendations on penalties and ordinance amendments to the city commission for action.

It will be at least March before the structure is changed. City Clerk Joe Smith said he would have a new ordinance drafted for presentation at the board’s Feb. 12 meeting. The next ACC meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19.

Doss said his plan is to keep the three current members — Colin Doss (no relation), John Kendrick and Monica Sheppard — and look for three more residents to appoint. Joe Smith, Rome city clerk

The mayor makes annual committee assignments.

Doss made the announcement during the board’s Monday caucus and said Commissioner Craig McDaniel would be the ex-officio member of the ACC when it is reorganized. He also assigned Commissioner Bill Irmscher to the newly created post as liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission.

During their regular meeting, commissioners also approved an ordinance amendment that allows documented sales from on-site food trucks to count toward the 50-50 food-to-drink ratio required for an establishment to serve liquor.

Previously, venues had to meet the ratio from an internal kitchen. Craig McDaniel, Rome city commissioner Bill Irmscher, Rome city commissioner