A Dunkirk business cited for selling alcohol to a minor was fined $500 and had its license suspended for three days after a brief hearing April 26 before the Calvert County Liquor Board. Ernest W. Payne Jr., the owner of 260 BP, admitted the violation occurred and explained it happened when an individual who was merely helping out at the business failed to obtain identification from the purchaser, who was underage.
“It’s inexcusable,” said Payne, who added, “this is the first and last” violation his business has had in its sales of alcohol.
The incident occurred March 28. Last March, 260 BP was one of 14 Calvert County businesses found to be free of violations during a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office compliance check. The suspension of liquor sales at 260 BP will occur between Monday, April 30 and May 3.
In other business during the liquor board’s April meeting, the three-member panel unanimously approved issuing a Class D liquor license for applicants Kevin and Theresa York, who plan to return the name “Chaney’s” to an establishment on Route 261 in Chesapeake Beach. The building is the current location of the Crooked I, which is moving to a nearby strip mall. The issuance of the license was delayed one month while the liquor board consulted with an attorney about legal concerns regarding zoning for the property. Liquor board member Beth Swoap said it was determined the panel had no jurisdiction over any zoning issues. The issuance of the license is conditional.
The liquor board voted unanimously to grant a Class A, off sale beer license to Brian Michael Dailey for the operation of Scorpion Brewing on Skinners Turn Road in Owings. Dailey said the business would operate as a microbrewery during mostly wholesale business of its product and only a small amount of retail. Dailey explained he is currently going through the permit process in order to obtain a use and occupancy permit.
“I’ve been brewing beer for about 20 years now,” said Dailey.
The license was granted pending Dailey’s procurement of permit documents from the state and county. Dailey’s revelation that the Calvert County Health Department was not interested in inspection or oversight of the operation took board members by surprise. “A lot of people are surprised,” said Dailey, who agreed to provide the panel with a letter from the health department explaining their decision.
The board received presentations about two planned events for this summer in Calvert that will require subsequent action from t
