Harford delegation moves bill to extend health-club alcohol hours to 11 p.m.

Harford County delegates voted unanimously to move LR 2,048 — a bill to permit a two-hour extension of on-site alcohol sales for class HC (health club) licenses — after club owner Keith Rawlings answered members’ questions about operations, training and scope.

The proposal was presented to the delegation as a way to align sale hours with league schedules at membership clubs; Rawlings told the delegation that league play often runs until 11 p.m. and the extension would let members finish scheduled matches. “We don't want to be a bar,” Rawlings said, and later added, “nothing good happens after midnight.”

The measure drew questions about precedent and oversight. Larry Richardson, representing the county executive’s office, asked whether other clubs could seek similar hours and urged caution. Rawlings and members responded the change would be narrow: the liquor provisions at issue apply specifically to health clubs with pools or court areas, and the delegation emphasized the license is limited to membership clubs rather than public bars.

Delegates also pressed the applicant on operational safeguards. Delegate McComas asked whether the club had coordinated with the liquor board; Rawlings said he had not yet spoken to the board but expected to do so and the delegation agreed to request a written letter of support for the file. McComas also asked whether staff serving alcohol had training; Rawlings said all servers were certified (TIPS), a point McComas said reassured insurers and reduces over-service risks.

Other operational details presented to the delegation: the Arena Club operates three membership tiers (gold, silver, bronze), generally does not offer day passes (a bronze membership can be obtained for $25), the club is not a food provider but can accept deliveries from a neighboring business, and the request is limited to beer and wine service.

After discussion and the liquor-board follow-up plan, a member moved the bill ‘favorable’ (mover recorded as Delegate Aragon; the motion was seconded). The delegation conducted a roll-call vote and Vice Chair McComas, Delegate Aragon, Delegate Griffith, two delegates recorded as ‘Delegate Johnson a’ and ‘Delegate Johnson s,’ and Chair Riley all voted yes. The motion passed unanimously.

The chair said the delegation would reach out to the liquor board to secure the written support requested by Delegate McComas. The item had been tabled from the previous week pending the answers supplied at this meeting. The delegation then moved on and adjourned; the chair also announced a county liquor day on Monday, Feb. 23.