Oasis will have an opportunity to present its appeal of the Alcohol Control Board's fine and suspension of its license at the next city council meeting.
The city council set the hearing for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17 at which time the restaurant will present its case for why its fine and suspension of its alcohol license should be reduced or waived all together.
The restaurant was fined $7,000 and its alcohol license suspended for 120 days last month after the Alcohol Control Board found it had charged a undercover police officer a different cover charge than a female and also had a portion of the restaurant reserved exclusively for women, thereby denying him service.
At the Alcohol Control Board hearing, an audio tape was played that reported to show one of the workers at the door telling the officer that it was a $3 cover for men and $1 for women. The tape was difficult to hear, but at least one of the board members said he heard the employee say there were two different cover charges.
Once inside, the officer, Det. Ken Scott, walked to one side of the building where men were prohibited from going. He was able to stay in that area for a few moments before another employee came and escorted him to another area of the building.
Oasis' attorney, Michael Classens, argued that Scott was never denied any service while inside the restaurant and also said there was no evidence presented showing a woman paid a different cover charge than men.
The ACB concluded, however, Oasis had committed two separate violations and imposed the maximum fines and suspensions allowed for a second and third violation.
The city has allowed Oasis to continue to serve alcohol until its appeal has been heard.
When reached Tuesday, Oasis owner Glenn Campopiano declined to comment on the pending appeal.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the city set December 20 as the date in which property taxes are due.
The council had been waiting until they received word from Bulloch County as to when their due date would be before setting a date for the city.
For the past several years, the city has tried to match its due date for ad valorem taxes to that of the county's to try to avoid confusion.
Other action taken by the council included:
‰ approved a request to rezone property at 17 West Jones Avenue from R-3 to Commercial Retail;
‰ approved a request to rezone property at the corner of West Main Street and Bay Street from R-10 to R-8 and allowed lots that do not maintain the minimum lot width for the entire depth of the lot;
‰ approved the rezoning of 63.962 acres located at the southeast corner of West Jones Avenue and Cypress Lake road to Planned Unit Development;
‰ approved a 14-foot variance of the 20-foot side yard setback requirement for property located at 302 South Main Street;
‰ approved on second reading an ordinance amending the parking regulations for the Central Business District;
‰ approved a resolution deeding property along Fleming Drive to the Bulloch County School District for parking at Statesboro High School;
‰ authorized the mayor and city clerk to execute a two-year renewal contract with City Solicitor Keith Barber for professional services.
The city council set the hearing for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17 at which time the restaurant will present its case for why its fine and suspension of its alcohol license should be reduced or waived all together.
The restaurant was fined $7,000 and its alcohol license suspended for 120 days last month after the Alcohol Control Board found it had charged a undercover police officer a different cover charge than a female and also had a portion of the restaurant reserved exclusively for women, thereby denying him service.
At the Alcohol Control Board hearing, an audio tape was played that reported to show one of the workers at the door telling the officer that it was a $3 cover for men and $1 for women. The tape was difficult to hear, but at least one of the board members said he heard the employee say there were two different cover charges.
Once inside, the officer, Det. Ken Scott, walked to one side of the building where men were prohibited from going. He was able to stay in that area for a few moments before another employee came and escorted him to another area of the building.
Oasis' attorney, Michael Classens, argued that Scott was never denied any service while inside the restaurant and also said there was no evidence presented showing a woman paid a different cover charge than men.
The ACB concluded, however, Oasis had committed two separate violations and imposed the maximum fines and suspensions allowed for a second and third violation.
The city has allowed Oasis to continue to serve alcohol until its appeal has been heard.
When reached Tuesday, Oasis owner Glenn Campopiano declined to comment on the pending appeal.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the city set December 20 as the date in which property taxes are due.
The council had been waiting until they received word from Bulloch County as to when their due date would be before setting a date for the city.
For the past several years, the city has tried to match its due date for ad valorem taxes to that of the county's to try to avoid confusion.
Other action taken by the council included:
‰ approved a request to rezone property at 17 West Jones Avenue from R-3 to Commercial Retail;
‰ approved a request to rezone property at the corner of West Main Street and Bay Street from R-10 to R-8 and allowed lots that do not maintain the minimum lot width for the entire depth of the lot;
‰ approved the rezoning of 63.962 acres located at the southeast corner of West Jones Avenue and Cypress Lake road to Planned Unit Development;
‰ approved a 14-foot variance of the 20-foot side yard setback requirement for property located at 302 South Main Street;
‰ approved on second reading an ordinance amending the parking regulations for the Central Business District;
‰ approved a resolution deeding property along Fleming Drive to the Bulloch County School District for parking at Statesboro High School;
‰ authorized the mayor and city clerk to execute a two-year renewal contract with City Solicitor Keith Barber for professional services.