Brew Pubs Rejected, Council Splits 3-2

SEA ISLE CITY – Sea Isle City Council heard Mayor Leonard Desiderio give his annual State of the City message and budget overview Feb. 24. Of equal importance was discussion, public comment and vote regarding a proposal to change the existing Sea Isle City regulation of at least 1,000 feet between competing liquor establishments by giving waiver discretion to council.
The proposal was first broached in October 2014 and had elicited much controversy in the community. Council members presented pros and cons of the proposal from their perspectives after which Mike Monichetti gave an impassioned explanation as to why he emphatically did not want to see the ordinance passed.
After public comment, a roll call vote was taken with council voting 3-2 against allowing itself to have the discretion to grant waivers to the original 1976 law.
Council President John Divney and Councilwoman Mary Tighe voted yes. They each said, agreeing with the other, that they believed the ordinance would be a positive in support of the city’s efforts to attract more visitors and tourists.
Councilmen Jack Gibson, William Kehner and Frank Edwardi Jr. voted no.
Each expressed sentiments that their vote reflected a collective view that the ordinance would be a step back for Sea Isle City’s years-long work to polish its reputation as a family resort and not be known just for its many bars and other alcohol-oriented businesses.
Before the vote, the period of public comment began with council, a number of business owners and concerned citizens listening attentively.
“My family has lived in Sea Isle for 104 years and I understand what makes our community what it is. Bars bring trouble and more bars more trouble,” argued Monichetti, owner of Mike’s Seafood and Dock and a Sea Isle City resident. “I can name at least 18-20 bars in Sea Isle (among those named was one acknowledged as under his ownership of Desiderio) – that’s enough. You don’t have 18 pizzerias in this town. And I would much rather have the police finding lost children on the beach than taking care of public urinating by drunks.”
Pub operating licenses are issued and administered by the state rather than individual municipalities. However, the state bases liquor licenses on year-round population and Sea Isle City’s level of a few more than 2,000 full-time residents does not qualify it for any such licenses. As a result, all of the city’s current distribution and consumption licenses are those that have been grandfathered.
“I am really re-thinking whether I want a brewpub in Sea Isle City,” said Bill Topley, majority owner of Ludlam Island Brewery, reacting to Monichetti’s remarks and to those gathered in the room to widespread chuckles.
Topley, in an effort to expand his enterprise, was the impetus behind the proposal and said after the meeting that he would be figuring out next steps in the wake of the negative vote.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.