10/19/1977 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTORNEY BLOCK INFORMED THE BOARD THAT HIS CLIENTS CONSIST OF MOTELS, HOTELS, LOUNGES AND RESTAURANTS, AND THEY EMPLOY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 780 EMPLOYEES, WHOSE GROSS WEEKLY WAGES AMOUNT TO $72,000, AND PAY MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS AND SALES TAX AMOUNTING TO 1.7 MILLION DOLLARS. ATTORNEY BLOCK NOTED THAT QUITE A FEW OF THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A MINIMUM OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS INDUSTRY IN THE COMMUNITY. HE STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT NOW TALKING OF THIS MERITS OF THE SITUA- TION, BUT MERELY DESIRE THE BOARD TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A PUBLIC.FORUM WHERE THEY CAN PRESENT THEIR SIDE AND THEN HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. COMMISSIONER SCHMUCKER STATED THAT HE IS WILLING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. COMMISSIONER LOY NOTED THAT THIS BOARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN EX- TREMELY LIBERAL IN GRANTING PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT SHE FELT UNLESS ATTORNEY BLOCK HAS SOME VERY GOOD REASON THAT MAKES THIS INDUSTRY SO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTY, SHE WOULD PREVAIL UPON HIM NOT TO MAKE THE BOARD PUT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS AGAIN. ATTORNEY BLOCK STATED THAT THIS INDUSTRY IS DIFFERENT; THEY ARE RESTRICTED BY A 1 O'CLOCK A.M. CLOSING HOUR. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOW CHOSEN TO TAX.THE CIGARETTE AND LIQUOR INDUSTRY TO MAKE UP A DEFICIT IN THE BUDGET, AND, THEREFORE, THESE OWNERS DO HAVE PROBLEMS. HE CONTINUED THAT THESE TAX FUNDS GO INTO THE SCHOOLS AND COME DIRECTLY BACK TO US, AND HE FEELS THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PRESENT THEIR PROBLEMS TO THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC. ATTORNEY BLOCK NOTED THIS HAS BEEN A CLEAN INDUSTRY AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH ENFORCEMENT. COMMISSIONER Loy POINTED OUT THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS IN- DUSTRY CHOSE IT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT IS HIGHLY REGULATED, BUT STATED SHE WOULD NOT VOTE AGAINST A PUBLIC HEARING IF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WANT IT. 34 CT 191977. RON 293