The version of the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance before Statesboro City Council for its 5:30 p.m. regular meeting includes requirements for bartenders, restaurant managers, servers and bouncers to receive a specific kind of training and for bouncers to get a special city-issued permit.
However, the draft of the ordinance in the council's packet for Tuesday's meeting did not include an insurance requirement for places that serve alcohol. When the proposed ordinance was discussed two weeks ago, council members said they wanted to require general liability and liquor liability insurance.
But one of two council members telephoned Monday, Councilman John Riggs, said he had been asked if leaving the insurance requirement out would be OK and had said yes. Councilman Phil Boyum, who had announced that he would abstain from the final vote because of his managerial role with SpringHill Suites, an alcoholic beverage licensee, said he noticed the insurance requirement was not in the draft but had not discussed it with City Attorney Alvin Leaphart or Mayor Jan Moore.
"I had read that and I did see that," Boyum said. "I figured it would be discussed as we got ready to pass this, and if it needed to be held for another week or another meeting, so be it, but I know we're anxious to get some things moving forward."
Other provisions council members discussed March 1 have been added to the latest version.
TIPS requirement
The draft available on the city's website Monday would require that anyone responsible for "handling, serving, mixing, dispensing alcoholic beverages, verifying the age of patrons, or providing security" in an establishment with a pouring license complete a TIPS course or similar training approved by City Council. TIPS, or Training for Intervention Procedures, is a nationwide program, and the Bulloch Alcohol and Drug Council provides courses locally. They cover methods for preventing underage drinking, excessive drinking and drunk driving.
Employees would be required to complete the training within 30 days of hire and to maintain the certification. Most of the provisions in Statesboro's proposed new city alcohol law, a complete replacement of the old one, would take effect July 1, 2016. But the training requirement would take effect Jan. 1, 2017.
A requirement for bouncers to get an alcoholic beverage security permit would also take effect Jan. 1. Getting one would require a criminal background check showing a record free of felony convictions for 10 years, free of any current felony charges or indictments, and free for five years of misdemeanor convictions involving violence, alcoholic beverages, gambling or prostitution.
Bouncers also have to be at least 21 years old, but since last July, that has been a requirement under Georgia law.
The proposed new Statesboro ordinance has been under discussion for two years, through a number of variations.
Other new provisions of the latest draft include an in-room service permit for hotels, a provision allowing open-container outdoor drink consumption at special events with a time-specific permit from City Council, and a requirement for places that change managers to pay a fee for a background investigation of the new manager.
The agenda calls for "consideration of a motion to adopt" the ordinance.
Also on the agenda, the council is slated to act on a proposal to merge the city's in-house information technology and purchasing departments. Several motions are also possible related to a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant application for drainage, street and utility improvements on Kent, Lovett, Bryant, Floyd Street and James streets.
Herald reporter Al Hackle may be reached at (912) 489-9458.