Local legislation offered on slots, alcohol licenses

One bill would allow up to five slot machines for area nonprofits

Matthew Bieniek Cumberland Times-News


CUMBERLAND — Several bills relating to Garrett and Allegany counties have recently been filed by Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Wendell Beitzel. One of the more far-reaching bills, Senate Bill 466, filed by Edwards, would allow nonprofit organizations in both counties to have up to five slot machines.
Edwards filed the bill after requests from veterans groups during public delegation meetings before the General Assembly session opened last month.
At that meeting, John M. Martin, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Oldtown, was among those supporting the idea.
“We would like to be on a level playing field with the other organizations in the state of Maryland,” Martin said. The machines are already allowed in some counties on the Eastern Shore, he said. “It would be another source of income for the county,” he said. The added funds would help the VFW and the rest would be distributed to the many charities the VFW supports, he said.
Senate Bill 205 tweaks the already existing “Correctional Officers Bill of Rights” with language already used for Cecil County and St. Mary’s County officers.
Essentially, the bill allows local authorities to transfer or reassign officers as long as the transfer is not punitive and is in the best interests of managing the facility, according to the Department of Legislative Services.
Beitzel has filed several bills relating to Garrett County.
House Bill 222 would give the Garrett County Board of License Commissioners discretion in handling offenses relating to nudity or sexual displays that occur at a licensed establishment.
The board, who asked Beitzel to file the bill, is the authority for issuing or suspending liquor licences in the county.
Current law requires the revocation of the license without regard to the circumstances.
If the bill passes, the board could decide on less severe penalties than revocation if the circumstances warranted a lesser penalty. Beitzel said the issue is rare in Garrett County.
House Bill 224 would give Garrett County commissioners the ability to raise the maximum hotel rental tax rate to six percent, up from the current five percent maximum. Edwards has filed a companion bill — Senate Bill 333.
In fiscal year 2009, those taxes raised $1,426,900 for the county. Garrett County commissioners asked Beitzel to introduce the bill. Those funds are used for tourist promotions and other county projects, Beitzel said. The delegate emphasized that the bill does not raise the tax, but does give commissioners the option.
House Bill 512 allows the Garrett County Sanitary District to charge a late fee for unpaid water and sewer bills.
Currently, no late fee may be assessed, Beitzel said. The only option for late bills has been to turn off the water, but in the county, many homes are on public sewer but not public water.
While a lien can be placed against the property, it is usually a lengthy process to get a payment. It also would allow the district to require payment of those fees before reconnecting water service. The rate of the late fees would be set by Garrett County commissioners.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

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