(Jan. 23, 2015) When it comes to the county Liquor Control Department, there is no question where the commissioner representing Ocean City, Joe Mitrecic, stands.
“I’m voting against this,” he said of a request to close the department’s 16th Street store in Ocean City until May, “but the only reason I’m voting against it is because we’re going to open it back up again,” he said.
The request for the temporary closure came from Director Bobby Cowger who told the commissioners Tuesday it would save an estimated $27,000. Between now and May 1, when the store would reopen, the employees of the 16th Street store will be moved to the Gold Coast and northern locations, while the temporary employees at those locations will be furloughed.
The county will still spend in excess of $30,000 in rent and minimal utilities during the closure.
Cowger said he expected “a significant amount of the 16th Street’s retail and wholesale business would go to north or to Gold Coast, increasing both locations’ revenues.”
The board approved the move, with Mitrecic’s the sole dissenting vote.
“I feel like we’re prolonging the agony here,” Mitrecic said.
