Paramount gets alcohol OK
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on November 18, 2008 1:46 PM
The Paramount Theatre
Groups that rent the Paramount Theatre can now sell beer and wine at their performances -- but doing so will not be cheap.
The Goldsboro City Council approved an alcohol policy for those who rent the theater or the Herman Park Center at its meeting Monday.
The Recreation and Parks Department had a policy in place for those requesting to rent Herman Park Center, but normally only had one client a year -- a fundraiser held with wine.
Paramount Theatre Director Sherry Archibald asked for a city policy, but only for the two facilities. Other changes to the old policy included requiring one police officer per 250 guests -- as opposed to one police officer per 100 guests -- and proof of liability insurance.
Mrs. Archibald said there is a list of requirements groups have to follow to be able to sell alcohol at their events, including obtaining an Alcoholic Beverage Control permit, having liability insurance covering a minimum of $100,000, paying a $100 refundable damage deposit to the theater, a non-refundable $100 to the city for an application fee and paying for an off-duty police officer.
"It is going to cost them (the groups who rent the facility) some money to do this," Mrs. Archibald said. "It's probably going to cost them about $500, and it's a process."
Council members had a few discussions concerning money at their meeting, including one about Stoney Creek Park.
The Stoney Creek Park Alliance asked the city last week to say what matching funds it would provide if the alliance receives the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant -- a grant that could give the alliance $500,000 toward the park.
City Manager Joe Huffman told council members that, from what he knows, the alliance might only apply for $200,000, so he wanted to see what the council members' thoughts were on the grant and the city's participation.
"Whatever we apply for (in the PARTF grant), it better be for $500,000," Councilman Chuck Allen said.
Huffman said city officials were looking into applying for PARTF grant funds for the Community Recreation Center.
"We need every nickel we can get for the community center," Huffman said.
"I think you're going to get $500,000," Allen said. "They want to give it to us."
He added that the city was going to be paying for the Community Recreation Center anyway, and asked why officials wouldn't just use PARTF grant funds to alleviate the financial burden.
Councilman Bob Waller said he believed the city could apply for two PARTF grants at the same time. He added that the alliance has been working on the project and the PARTF grant application for years, and that getting the grant means having everything in place, including maps, plans and holding several public meetings -- all tasks the city would have to do with the Community Recreation Center before January if it wanted to apply for the grant.
"I think you are going to have to wait until next year for that," Waller said.
"You want to get all the money you can get," Allen said.
Mayor Al King asked Huffman to get the specifications for the grant process, and then the council could better decide.
In other business, to help the new city residents in the annexed areas off Buck Swamp and Salem Church roads who have livestock keep their animals, the council discussed changing the animal control ordinance.
The change would exempt those residents from spacing requirements as long as the animals aren't removed for a period longer than six months. If the animals are removed for a longer period of time, then the spacing requirements -- 200 yards between the animals and a dwelling, hospital, school, church or eating establishment -- will be put into place.
City Engineer Marty Anderson made a presentation to council on another aspect of the annexation -- comparing sewer systems that will be used for it and future annexations.
The council discussed the issue in October, but asked Anderson to visit other cities who used the vacuum system and to ask them for advantages and disadvantages.
Anderson visited New Bern, and city officials there said they would use vacuum systems again.
The advantages to a vacuum system as opposed to a conventional gravity system are capital cost savings potential, smaller pipe sizes, the elimination of manholes, a shallower depth for the system, higher scouring velocities that would keep pipes clear and sewage aerated, easily detectable leaks and the elimination of maintenance personnel exposure to hydrogen sulfide gases released from sewage.
The disadvantages to a vacuum system include the knowledge level for the system for maintenance staff, construction staff building the system and citizens.
Instead of manholes, Anderson said, there would be vent pipes made of PVC in a candy cane shape that would be placed outside of homes or businesses, but can be easily covered up as long as the vent isn't blocked.
In other business during its regular session, the council approved street closings for Christmas events, the Tree City USA recertification application and making an administrative position in inspections permanent to ensure better efficiency with the minimum housing code.