SLA Chairman Meets with Association Board

State Liquor Authority Chairman Daniel Boyle joined the Association’s Board of Directors at its Spring meeting in Lake George this month for a wide-ranging conversation. The Chairman discussed the Authority’s new license processing policy (see last month’s report) and his hope that these changes would help reduce the waiting time to get a new liquor license, the ongoing work of the Law Revision Commission to study and recommend changes to the alcoholic beverage control law, changes to the SLA’s website, and efforts to improve the agency’s operations. The Chairman was joined by the Authority’s Counsel, Tom Donahue, and its Deputy CEO, Tom O’Connor.

Members of the Board engaged Chairman Boyle and his staff in a discussion about club licensees and their restrictions, the Authority’s enforcement methods that emphasize discipline rather than compliance, and the possibility of imposing a limit on the number of licenses issued or instituting a “necessity test” to determine whether the area can support new premises that seek to be licensed. We had a good exchange on these and other issues and continued to build our relationship with the Authority’s leadership. The conversation demonstrated the value of having an ongoing dialogue with the SLA, but it also reminds us of the gap between how the Liquor Authority operates and how we think it needs to function in order to fulfill its mission.

The Board also acknowledged the service of Sue Myers, the association’s Recording Secretary, who chose not to stand for re-election due to the impending sale of her business. Sue has diligently transcribed the association meetings’ minutes and provided valuable input into the Board’s deliberations during her term of office. Peg Heffern was elected to fill this important position for the year ahead. The Board also re-elected the following officers for another term: Paul Pettinato – President, Brian Butler – Executive Vice President, Brian Rexhouse – First Vice President, June Coarding – Treasurer, Jack McCarthy – District 1 Vice President, Pete Caiola – District 2 Vice President, Brad Dixon – District 3 Vice President and Bill Wood – Chairman of the Board.