The Village Board has voted unanimously to reject an ordinance supported by Mayor John Stark that would reduce the number of village liquor licenses by one.
The law would have prevented New Villa Capri Lounge, 380 Lake, from regaining the license it lost last month after the owner pleaded guilty to charges that an employee sold cocaine and amphetamines, Trustee Sally Hodge said.
“In my opinion, John (Stark) is opening up this board to a violation of someone’s civil rights,” Hodge said. The tavern is expected to appeal its license revocation, but she said the ordinance would have made an appeal fruitless.
Stark, who as liquor commissioner revoked the New Villa Capri’s license, said the law rejected was not meant to target the bar owner, John Lalagos. If Lalagos appealed the revocation and won, the board could increase the number of licenses available, allowing Lalagos to get one, Stark said.
The dispute repeats a controversy that erupted late last year when Stark fined the tavern for serving alcohol to a minor.