BERLIN — Despite some late confusion over the inclusion of Pocomoke in the legislation, a bill allowing for a private retail liquor outlet in the corporate limits of the towns of Berlin and Snow Hill sailed through the Senate this week.
Senate Bill 1079, introduced by Senator Jim Mathias (D-38), would allow for a retail liquor establishment within the confines of the town of Berlin. When the Worcester County Department of Liquor Control last year closed its retail establishments in Berlin and West Ocean City in order to direct traffic to its new centrally-located facility on Route 50, it created a void in the town of Berlin. Local attorney Joe Moore petitioned the town of Berlin to support a legislative change in Maryland Article 2-B authorizing the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners to issue a Class D beer, wine and liquor license within the corporate limits of Berlin.
With the blessing of Berlin’s elected officials, Moore took his efforts to the Worcester County Commissioners, who, at first, were reluctant to support legislation that would allow for a retail liquor outlet in Berlin that would essentially compete with the county-run store on Route 50. The commissioners later agreed to support the legislative change for Berlin and ultimately expressed a desire to add language that would also include Snow Hill and Pocomoke.
Mathias later amended the Berlin-only legislation to include Snow Hill and Pocomoke, and that legislation was approved this week by the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. However, after the bill was passed by the committee, Mathias learned Pocomoke was not interested in being included in the legislation and the bill was amended again to remove Pocomoke.
“After we got it through committee in about five minutes, we learned Pocomoke wanted off,” said Mathias this week. “Pocomoke had apparently communicated to their delegate that they had reconsidered and no longer wanted to be included in the bill. So, I amended the bill again and removed Pocomoke.”
The amended bill that included just Berlin and Snow Hill passed on third reader in the full Senate by a vote of 46-0 on Thursday. Meanwhile, Delegates Mike McDermott and Norm Conway have co-sponsored a pair of bills in the House that have not yet been voted on in their respective committees.