‘Brunch bill’ vote killed in Rome

♦ Commissioners cancel plans for a referendum after learning it could cost the city $20,000 or more.

It will be at least another year before restaurants in Rome will be able to offer early drink service to Sunday brunchers.

The Rome City Commission had planned to call a vote in November, but found out this week it would cost at least $20,000 to put the question to a vote.

“This is an easy decision,” Mayor Jamie Doss said when the board agreed during its Monday caucus to remove the resolution from its agenda.

Commissioners indicated they’d be open to a vote in 2019, when the referendum could be added to the city election ballot at no cost. Doss said the issue would be sent back next fall through the Alcohol Control Commission, which had recommended the vote.

ACC Chair Monica Sheppard, who was present for the City Commission’s discussion, said she supported the deferral after hearing the scheduling complexities.

Although state law sets the starting hour for Sunday alcohol service at 12:30 p.m., the so-called “brunch bill” passed this year lets local communities decide if drinks may be served as early at 11 a.m.

Rome’s call, however, would be considered a special election since the upcoming vote is just for state and county seats. That brings other sections of the Georgia Code into play.

City Attorney Andy Davis is president of the Georgia Municipal Association Board of Directors’ city attorney section. He said they went over the legislation during the GMA’s recent meeting and dubbed it The Election Conundrum.

“GMA says you need separate ballots, separate poll workers, separate paperwork and separate election sites ... Some other cities are doing it, but they’re paying for all that,” Davis said.

City Clerk Joe Smith said it could cost $20,000 to $30,000 to run a special election, and that still could be problematic.

“It’s going to look awkward as all get-out with us using separate polling places for two elections,” he pointed out. “You can do it on the regular ballot on November 2019. That’s going to be a city election and we’re going to be bearing 100 percent of the cost anyway.”

City Commissioners noted that the Georgia General Assembly could amend the legislation during its session early next year to allow for an earlier vote.

“Or they could just pass (the earlier hours) and not make it have to be a local ordinance,” Commissioner Wendy Davis said.