For Immediate Release: Monday, September 28, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 28, 2020—The Montgomery County Council will introduce, hold a public hearing and vote on a resolution and Board of Health Regulation that would approve Executive Order 117-20 on the COVID-19 Local Order Amending and Restating Order dated September 22, 2020 at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2020. (Deadline to sign up to testify is Oct. 1 at 11 a.m.)
If approved by the Council, Executive Order 117-20 would change some of the restrictions and clarify some provisions in earlier orders. Executive Order 117-20, would affect food establishments, restaurants and bars located in Montgomery County, Maryland and would authorize a Late-Night Alcohol Sales Program permit.
Food service establishments with no prior history of citations or closings due to violations related to any State of Maryland or local executive order related to COVID-19 may apply for a Late-Night Alcohol Sales Program permit which would allow for alcohol service from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
(1) To receive a Late-Night Alcohol Sales Program permit a food service establishment must agree to the following requirements:
a. designate a staff member (or hire a contractor) whose sole responsibility is to monitor and enforce face covering and social distancing requirements of this Order, and any subsequent amendments thereto;
b. ensure that all alcoholic beverages are off all tables and collected from patrons by 12 a.m.;
c. suspend the sale or provision of alcoholic beverages after 12 a.m.; and
d. follow all protocols and guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Board of License Commissioners related to this Program.
(2) Food service establishments that receive a Late-Night Alcohol Sales Program permit will be subject to frequent and unscheduled inspections.
(3) Food service establishments that are found to have violated any of the Late- Night Alcohol Sales Program requirements will be subject to:
a. immediate revocation of the permit;
b. the suspension or revocation of their license to sell alcohol; and/or
c. fines up to $20,000.
(4) The Late-Night Alcohol Sales Program will be automatically suspended if:
a. the three-day test positivity average in Montgomery County exceeds 3.25 percent;
b. the three-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeds 100;
c. there is an increased association of indoor and outdoor dining with COVID-19 positive contacts of greater than 3 percent combined;
d. more than 10 percent of inspected participants result in findings that warrant a citation, closure, or revocation of a permit.
Documents and information are available at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council.
NOTE: During the Covid-19 state of emergency, the public is not able to be physically present in the Council Hearing Room. Residents who would like to call in to testify at a Council public hearing need to preregister on the Council's web page at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/calendar.html . Once the public hearing sign up request form is submitted and the public hearing list is created, individuals will receive separate confirmation notifications that include the appropriate phone number to call for the public hearing.
Community members also have the option to provide audio, video and written testimony to the Council using a recently developed online testimony form on the Council's web page which can be found at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/PHSignUp.html . The testimony provided with the online option carries the same weight as testimony given at a public hearing. Councilmembers consider all comments as part of their deliberations.
Comments and suggestions are welcome online at http://tinyurl.com/zrbwh5v; via email at [email protected]; by sending regular mail to County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. For information or to express an opinion call 240-777-7900.
The meeting will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM) on Xfinity channels 6 and 996, RCN channels 6 and 1056; and FiOS channel 30. Also available live via streaming through the Council website at http://tinyurl.com/z9982v8, Facebook Live (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil or @ConcejodelCondadodeMontgomery), or YouTube (@MoCoCouncilMD).
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