CLEVELAND, Ga. — The re-established City of Cleveland’s Alcohol Review Board had its first meeting Monday night and elected officers.
The city has had a review board in the past, but it hasn’t been utilized for some time, so the city council decided to reestablish the board. The new board is made up of Jesse Harkins, Haley Thomas, Charles Massengale, and Ken Payne. The first three will serve as the voting members, with Payne acting as an alternate and voting when necessary.
Charles Massingale was selected as chairman, and Jesse Harkins was voted the vice chair.
After an orientation about their role and responsibilities presented by City Administrator Kevin Harris, the board got down to business.
Helen Cellar appeal
Their first real item of business was to hear an appeal from one of the applicants for a package store license in the city that will be issued this week.
Justin Whitmire, owner of Helen Cellar, was one of five applicants for what will be three such businesses allowed in the city. Whitmire’s application was disqualified because his proposed site was found to be not within the city limits. Whitmire shared with the board during the hearing that at the time he made the application, he was told the property was in Cleveland.
An effort to get the property annexed into the Helen has not been successful at this time.
After hearing from Whitmire and three of the other applicants who said it was unfair to let Whitmire’s application move forward, the board voted to deny his appeal.
The city will now move forward with a lottery process this Thursday to decide which of the four remaining applicants will receive one of the three licenses to be awarded.
