Police chief scolds EL council

By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)
EAST LIVERPOOL — The city’s lead law enforcement officer expressed his displeasure with the city council during Monday night’s meeting.

“I’m a little miffed about this as you can tell,” East Liverpool Police Chief Mike McVay told council members in a stern voice. “I had no knowledge and no idea you were going to do this.”

McVay was commenting on the May 5 decision by council to amend one of the provisions of a liquor license once under the control of the University Club.

Now in “safekeeping” status, council opted to remove one of the provisions of the license which blocked the use of the permit at the 414 Broadway location of the University Club and at “any other location within the city limits of East Liverpool, Ohio.”

The May 5 council vote allowed city resident Nick Musuraca the opportunity to purchase the D-5 liquor permit. The permit restrictions were set in place by an agreed upon order dated Oct. 23, 2006.

Musuraca wants to open a restaurant and tavern called “Josie’s” at the former Hunan restaurant along the 100-block of East Sixth Street.

While having no specific problem with Musuraca, the chief voiced his concerns about council’s decision making process and added, “I have a problem with putting another liquor permit in that area.”

The removal of the University Club’s liquor license came after a three-year investigation involving not only McVay’s department but with state and federal authorities as well.

“Not one of you thought about asking me about this,” McVay said. “I was shocked that this was done without a committee hearing.”

Council members suggested Musuraca seemed interested in opening a responsible business at the location, but McVay said personalities should be taken out of the mix and a closer, deeper look at all the facts by all those involved in the license safekeeping decision was warranted.

“There were more things in there (the decision to place provisions on the license) than from just the law enforcement side,” the chief said.

McVay added he was also concerned because there was “a collaboration” between his department and council concerning liquor license issues in the past, but the May 5 council action was taken without that due consideration.

“I just don’t think the city is getting a fair shake when you don’t take all the matters into consideration,” McVay said.

Council member Brian Kerr said it was not the council’s intention to make a unilateral decision.

“I’m sorry you were left out of the mix,” Kerr told McVay.