Harold Wales doesn’t like the idea of fundraisers, wedding parties or other groups consuming alcoholic beverages at the local library.

The District 2 Athens City Council member staunchly opposes a proposal headed for a vote by the City Council on Monday, Dec. 18, to amend the city’s ordinance to allow such activity — after hours only — at the Athens-Limestone Public Library.

The library, at 603 S. Jefferson St. in Athens, rents rooms in the library to various groups to increase revenue for operations. Library officials are asking the city to also allow those groups that want to serve wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages, thus generating more revenue. Such a change would appeal to groups holding fundraisers, wedding parties and other events where alcohol might otherwise be served.

Under the proposal, groups would not automatically be allowed to serve alcohol at their after-hours events. The Library Foundation Board would make that determination. And the group would still have to meet permit requirements through the city and the Alabama Beverage Control Board.

Library Director Paula Laurita could not be reached for comment Friday on the proposed measure. Library Board President Chris Anderson could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Majority on board

District 3 Councilman Frank Travis said he plans to support the change in the ordinance that would allow alcohol at the library after hours.

“I believe the Library Board has the intelligence and moral fortitude to make a decision concerning the library,” Travis said. “If the library wants to hold an event that includes wine or some alcoholic beverage, it will be up to the board to vet that event and to make sure the event will not jeopardize the city in any way. I feel it will govern itself accordingly and do nothing that will reflect negatively on the community.”

Travis said the city attorney and city officials worked a long time to make sure nothing in the recently updated alcohol ordinance would “bring any reproach or consternation on the city.”

District 4 Councilman Joseph Cannon has said he has no problem with the proposal and will support it.

District 5 Councilman Wayne Harper said said he has not decided whether he will support after-hours alcohol at the library.

“I think if it’s up to the library board, and I think if it is after-hour rentals, then I would not have a problem with that,” Harper said. “My concern is making sure there is no alcohol when we have kids in there. I was told, and at least it is my understanding, that it would be after-hours parties, wedding rehearsals, receptions and things like that.”

Council President Chris Seibert was unable to attend the Dec. 4 meeting due to a family matter. He is expected to attend the Dec. 18 meeting.

Law changing

The council amended its alcohol ordinance so select government facilities could decide when or if alcoholic beverages could be allowed on the premises for certain events, such as a reception with a champagne toast, said City Attorney Shane Black. But in some situations, such as at public schools, state law already bans alcohol on the premises.

“Basically, the city is letting the government facility decide for itself unless state law already bans it,” he said.

Currently, city law still prohibits such beverages at city parks, auditoriums, movie theaters and the library, even if it is a special event, Black said.

However, the proposal the council will consider Dec. 18 would allow the library to be an exception to the rule.

“The council could say ‘no, under no situation will alcohol be allowed’ at the library or they could leave it to the Library Board to decide,” Black said. “I think that is what they have to consider.”

The meeting

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at the corner of Hobbs and Marion streets.

A pre-meeting briefing usually begins at 4:30 or 5 p.m., at which time the council typically discusses matters on the upcoming agenda.

Both meetings are open to the public.

Brew pubs, taverns

Athens will now be able to attract brew pubs that offer their own manufactured draft or keg beer or malt beverages as long as they also sell food.

Another change made in the city’s alcohol ordinance Dec. 4 will allow brew pubs and taverns to sell draft or keg beer or malt beverages for on-premise consumption as long as they meet licensing requirements and meet the food-to-alcohol ratio that restaurants must meet.

That ratio used to require sales of 60 percent food and 40 percent alcohol. However, the Dec. 4 revisions to the ordinance changed the ratio to 40 percent food and 60 percent alcohol. The brew pubs and taverns have to meet the ratio, because the city doesn’t want alcohol-only businesses in the city.

Brew pubs in Huntsville typically have food trucks at their craft breweries to fulfill the need for food. Athens does not yet have an ordinance allowing food trucks full-time in the city.

They are permitted for special events and festivals, however. Mainly, the city wants to promote and attract restaurants to the area and city officials working on the proposed ordinance revisions believed the previous ratio was to onerous on restaurants.

The new alcohol rules also allow the sale of draft or keg beer or malt beverages for off-site consumption by retail license holders otherwise permitted to sell beer for off-site consumption. Some brew pubs in Madison County and elsewhere sell jugs of draft beer that are filled and sealed on site.