Charles County Liquor Board Chair Pamela Smith asks a question of Port Tobacco Marina prospective owner William T. Sandy, left, while board member Steve Lowe and Associate County Attorney Matthew Clagett look on.
La Plata, MD – Port Tobacco Marina has a new owner and Thursday, Jan. 12, the establishment got a new liquor license.
The Charles County Board of License Commissioners (Liquor Board) approved the transfer from former owner Michael F. Mona to William T. Sandy.
Sandy told the board this was his first time running an establishment with a bar.
“You’re in for a wild ride,” Liquor Board Chair Pamela Smith said. “Your staff needs to know the rules and you need to know the rules.”
“All bartenders will be required to be trained,” Sandy asserted. The new proprietor said he goes to settlement at the end of this month.
“It won’t be until after Jan. 31 that we will be able to enter the premises and conduct the work we need to do,” he said. “There are some minor issues that need to be addressed.” He added there was quite a list of things to do before inspections by the county health department and fire marshal. Sandy affirmed that while it is his first foray into the restaurant business, one of his managers has 10 years of experience.
“That’s good,” Smith said, “Because what you think can’t happen will happen. You have to remind them that if they serve alcohol to a minor their fine could be as much as $500.”
“You need to set policies in place,” Board Member Guy Black stated. “When you are not there, your people need to know every day what the regulations are or you’re going to end up back here. I would have meetings every day before their shift that they need to follow the rules and regulations.
“If you come back here and tell us, ‘I told them, but they didn’t listen,’ that’s not going to save you,” Black stressed.
“We will have 100 percent ID check,” Sandy said. “I want to have zero tolerance [serving to minors].”
“We’ll be coming to check on you,” Smith warned, before the board overwhelmingly approved the transfer.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com