Council made some adjustments to its newly-created alcohol sales and revenue sharing policy at the Oct. 22 meeting.
The province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission recently approved Mapleton’s application for a permanent liquor license for six facilities: Maryborough Community Centre, PMD Arena, Moorefield ball diamonds, Drayton ball diamond, Moorefield Park pavilion and Centennial Park pavilion.
The new policy, which came into effect on Nov. 1, requires at least one township employee bartender for all alcohol-related events, including fundraisers, weddings and stag and does. For events sponsored by chartered service clubs, the township will permit club members who are Smart Serve certified to serve as bartenders.
However, during discussion of the policy at the Oct. 8 meeting councillor Neil Driscoll asked how this would affect service clubs that sometimes provide bartenders for events such as weddings in return for a donation to the club.
At the Oct. 22 meeting, council approved an amendment to the policy to deal with such situations.
The amended policy states, “members of a Chartered Service Club who are ‘Smart Serve’ certified, may operate the bar in lieu of township staff. There shall be no cost sharing revenue in this instance and is being offered to chartered service clubs only. It is intended that the renter will provide a donation directly to the service club.”
81’s receive larger share
Also at the meeting, council agreed to provide the Mapleton Minto 81’s Senior AA hockey team with the same revenue sharing arrangement it offers designated service organizations under the policy.
For most fundraising events, including stag and does, a price of $4 per drink is charged, with 80 cents per drink going to the fundraising organization. However, when the event involves a service club or other organization designated under the policy, Mapleton provides a cash donation of $1.80 per drink sold to the fundraising organization.
While the 81’s were not originally included in the list of designated organizations, public works director Larry Lynch said team officials asked the municipality to reconsider the team because it has “five games booked in the community.”
Previously, at the Oct. 8 meeting, council agreed to provide the team with a reduced rate of $200 for rental of the auditorium at the PMD Arena to host their blue line club between periods.
Lynch noted the team is provided with a similar arrangement when playing games in arenas in neighbouring Minto.
“We started out attempting to mirror what Minto was doing (with it’s alcohol and revenue sharing policy), and across the board that’s what we’re doing with this exception,” Lynch explained.
“What you’re saying makes a lot of sense. My question is would that open up the door for other groups?” asked councillor Andy Knetsch.
Lynch pointed out most other similar groups generally hold only one or two events a year in township facilities.
Council agreed to provide the club with the higher revenue share as long as it is hosting home games in the Township of Mapleton.
