Athens City Council discusses fire code violations with bar owners and fees for artisans selling wares in the city
During Monday night's Athens City Council meeting, the council discussed an ordinance that would penalize bars for overcrowding, drawing the attention of several bar owners who attended the meeting and made their case to the council.
Upon the introduction of an ordinance that would amend the Athens City code, Toy Law Attorney Andrew Grillo, who represents Red Brick Tavern, addressed the council and asked for the ordinance to be tabled for further negotiation.
“We are simply asking to table this for today,” Grillo said. “I know a lot of bar members would like the ability to work together with you guys to try to establish some kind of some sort of penalties or guidelines that would be more appropriate for the overcrowding issue.”
The ordinance in question, which was introduced by Councilmember Michah McCarey, would amend a section of the code relating to fire control. The amendment would add fines and penalties to repeat offenders. This ordinance was introduced to address growing concerns relating to overcrowding bars and the potential safety risks it could pose should it go unaddressed.
“We’re not up here saying that we’re not going to comply or do anything of that nature,” Grillo said. “However, we just feel that the penalties proposed, including an escalated scale ranging from a minor misdemeanor to a misdemeanor, I believe to the second-degree, which carries jail time for up to 90 days and fines up to $750 for each subsequent violation might be excessive.”
The council agreed to table the ordinance for further discussion and negotiation in a 6-1 decision. The sole dissenter was Councilmember Sarah Grace.
“I think from the committee meetings to the first, second and third readings there is ample opportunity for voices to be heard,” Grace said, when asked why she dissented. “And I also think on the issue of overcrowding the fire department has given repeated opportunities for compliance and have not been heard or respected. We do not need to table this to have a discussion.”
She also pointed out that some of the repeat offenses occurred within the same night, where firefighters would inform the staff of overcrowding and would return a few hours later to find that crowd size had not changed and even increased.
The council also discussed an ordinance that would impose a fee of $200 a month on street vendors and artisans selling their wares in the city of Athens. Cricket Jones, a local artisan, took the podium to address the council.
“I have been selling my art in the city of Athens for 15 years,” Jones said. “But I have to go to other cities to afford to make a full-time living and make a successful livelihood out of this. In the city of New Orleans, which is known for its art and its appreciation for its artisans, well there it’s $250 a year.”
The council voted to table the ordinance for further discussion and negotiation.
In other news:
The council had its first reading of an ordinance that would allow for the construction of a new Athens Fire Department headquarters. It is set to be built on Stimson Avenue. The ordinance was introduced by McCarey
The council introduced an ordinance that would allow for the sale of property in Cainsville Township, which had previously been used for sewage purposes. The ordinance was introduced by Grace.
