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STONE HARBOR – At its June 2 meeting, Stone Harbor Borough Council took two steps to aid struggling businesses attempting to reopen while constrained by state regulations. For many of the businesses, the days slipping by on the calendar represent the only part of the year when they can earn the bulk of their annual revenue.
In one action, the council approved a small change to a borough ordinance that may benefit restaurants attempting to implement outdoor dining while complying with state rules. The borough altered its long-standing policy against open alcohol consumption by allowing customers partaking in the outdoor dining experience to enjoy wine, beer or an alcoholic beverage while seated at an approved establishment’s table.
Gov. Phil Murphy closed restaurants and bars March 16, allowing those that serve food to continue to operate on a takeout basis. Murphy eased restriction May 3 to allow outdoor dining, as long as the protocols outlined in his nine-page Executive Order No. 150 (https://bit.ly/3dCOBkm) are followed.
Aware of the governor’s impending changes, the borough moved to put in place a process to permit outdoor dining by acceptable application to the borough’s zoning officer. The plan submitted can propose use of space that is part of the borough-owned right-of-way. The earlier actions regarding outdoor dining did not resolve the problem surrounding liquor consumption, and it was that problem the borough tackled June 2.
Provided that a restaurant has a permitted outdoor dining plan, meaning zoning officer approval, customers will be welcome to consume alcohol at one of the dining tables. An individual who publically consumes alcohol elsewhere in the borough will be in violation of the existing borough ordinance.
The action to permit open consumption of alcohol at the outdoor dining tables applies to establishments with liquor licenses and those that allow BYOB (bring your own bottle).
When the borough acted June 2, Murphy had not produced the details contained in his executive order. That order also established a process by which establishments with a liquor license can extend their premise boundaries to encompass the outdoor dining designated area.
The governor has not said when he might allow inside dining at restaurants, even with reduced capacity.
The outdoor dining regulations take effect June 15.
The council took another step, which did not depend on state actions and that step went into effect immediately.
The council approved a limited outdoor retail proposal, which will allow nonessential retail operations to display merchandise outside stores on the store’s private property. The permission extends to June 15, when the stores can have customers inside their premises within state constraints on social distancing, use of masks and capacity control. The borough permission for outside retail includes the requirement that outside merchandise must be supervised at all times and masks are required. There are no borough fees the merchant must pay.
Municipal governments across the county are taking steps to support reopening strategies that must incorporate state restrictions. While the governor controls the overall pace of reopening, the municipalities are improvising where they can to support local businesses that are attempting to salvage what they can of summer.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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