Knights of Columbus pleas, licensing clerk stipend spur special meeting and funding referral

John Bates, speaking for the East Hampton Knights of Columbus, told the council that the organization needs a city liquor license for its Aug. 16 fundraiser and that the absence of on-site alcohol service would cost the group about $5,000 in fundraising revenue. "We need this to get finalized so that we can have our liquor license issued this coming week," Bates said, asking council support to expedite licensing staff actions.

Councilors responded by placing a supplemental appropriation and an interdepartmental transfer on fast track. Chair Peake read a transfer request described in the packet as "$1,200 to be transferred from reserve fund to licensing board stipend" to provide an annual stipend for the licensing clerk, and moved to send the item to finance and set a public hearing for Aug. 12. Later in the discussion a motion referenced $2,400; the transcript therefore contains inconsistent amounts for the transfer request. Council approved sending the matter to finance and set an Aug. 12 public hearing and also agreed to meet in a special session next Wednesday to allow prompt action so one-day licenses can be issued if appropriate.

Council also received an emailed statement from Lindsay Sekula, read into the record, describing her experience in the licensing clerk role and urging that any stipend process be open and equitable.