Neighbor News
Washburn: If It's Monday Night, It Is Live From Concord City Council Chambers
Former Concord City Councilor: Oh boy, here we go again.
I admit it. I watch the City Council meetings. It is usually to watch in disbelief at how the mayor and a majority of the city council invent ways to squander taxpayer dollars. It is difficult to tear away from Monday Night Football this time of year, but this meeting had a curious agenda item, expanding social districts to facilitate the sale and consumption of alcohol.
I’m not a lawyer and did not sleep at the Holiday Inn last night, so I have no legal expertise. But that said, how can the council put something on the ballot with so many unanswered questions?
Currently, the city is immune from legal liability unless they have been notified of a hazard. The “dram shop” rules govern the liability accrued to the seller of alcohol and are regulated by the NH Liquor Commission.
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So, what is the city’s liability when it creates these zones, when a patron who has legally purchased a beverage in a Go Cup leaves the seller's property and causes a tort on city property?
The other unanswered question is why should the city be in the business of promoting and facilitating the consumption of alcohol?
Find out what's happening in Concordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At the next council meeting, the council will have a useless public hearing on something already on the ballot. Is it possible that a councilor who voted for this nonsense to vote to reconsider? Highly doubtful.
And then there is the Keno question on the ballot, which, if you vote yes, Keno is prohibited, and if you vote no, Keno is allowed. Much has happened since the city voted against Keno sales. You have unlimited cell phone gambling, including lottery ticket sales and, yes, Keno ticket sales. Authorizing approved outlets to sell Keno tickets would just be another profit center for these retailers.
October’s council meeting will be another fun-packed event. Holding a public hearing on something that has already been put on the ballot appears to be a waste of time, but at least it takes away time when they could be frittering away our tax dollars.
