MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Another six West Virginia cities will be able to take up local ordinances that allow alcohol sales earlier on Sunday.
The WV Municipal Home Rule Board met in Morgantown Monday where the majority of the agenda included amendment requests from municipalities to be able to take up discussion on the state’s Brunch Bill.
It allows restaurants, private clubs and wineries to serve alcohol as early as 10 a.m. on Sunday rather than after 1 p.m.
The home rule board accepted the request for amendments from Clarksburg, Bluefield, Charleston, South Charleston, Lewisburg and Martinsburg.
Michael Moore, South Charleston’s City Attorney, presented the municipality’s request before the board.
“We felt in light of the fact that Charleston was making the same proposal, we didn’t want to be at a competitive disadvantage,” Moore said.
Joshua Cline, the Assistant City Manager in Bluefield, said after seeing other towns consider earlier sales, there’s potential for increased business. “I think one of the most beneficial parts of the municipal home rule program has been the reporting that’s been done after these initiatives have been put in place. It’s really great to be able to read what other communities are doing.”
Both Moore and Cline expect their respective councils to get a Brunch Bill ordinance on upcoming agendas.
“Quite frankly, this type of legislation is proactive in this day and age. There’s a strong push from the public and more importantly from a business stand point, hotels and restaurants, to get this Brunch Bill passed,” Moore noted.
In South Charleston, Moore said nearly 60 restaurants and 4 hotels would be impacted if an ordinance passes to extend the hours of alcohol sales.
“It allows for increased B&O sales tax. It will arguably increase catering businesses and probably increase tips for waiters and waitresses.”
According to Cline, aside from requesting home rule authority to enact an ordinance for earlier alcohol sales, Bluefield also needed to request special allowances for some businesses.
“We asked if we could change distance requirements so that some of our businesses in our historic downtown that are revitalizing that area don’t have to worry necessarily if there’s a church or school close by to them.”
Commissioners in Kanawha and Jefferson Counties have added a referendum to November election ballots for voters to approve or dismiss local legislation that would open up alcohol sales county-wide on Sunday.
Also at Monday’s West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board meeting, the cities of Follansbee and Weston were accepted into the Home Rule Pilot Program.