Woodstock Liquor Commission?

Is there still a Liquor Commission in Woodstock? Well, yes and no. Maybe no. But there is still a Liquor Commissioner. That's the Mayor.

Now, my logical brain asks, If there is no Liquor Commission, how can there be a Liquor Commissioner?

A few years ago the City Council agreed to disband (or abolish) the Liquor Commission by deciding not to appoint community residents to two vacant positions on the Commission. This consolidated all the power of the Liquor Commission in the one remaining member, the Mayor.

Now what happens is that the Mayor meets with an applicant for a liquor license and has a "discussion". One man sets out the limits and makes the rules. Then the deal goes to the City Council. All the pieces are lined up so that all the City Council has to do is agree.

What got my attention today? I was looking for Minutes of a Liquor Commission meeting for a matter that would have been considered within the past 18 months. The latest Minutes on the City's website are for a meeting on March 15, 2010. That was the last meeting of the Commission.

When the Mayor meets with a liquor licensee or applicant and the issue is to go to the City Council, I was told that he prepares a Memorandum that is included in the City Council packet. As you know from other articles here, many items before the City Council get approved without discussion on the Consent Agenda. In effect, the public never hears about it, unless it digs out the packet at the library or City Hall.

In an era of higher demands for transparency in government, information about City dealings should be more easily available to all residents and other interested parties. This means putting it on the City's website in a place that can be easily found.