These words fill a sign above the cash register at the Inner Harbor Chipotle, a Mexican chain restaurant. The reason? The restaurant?s liquor license is pending. If paperwork is in order, restaurants are supposed to get one within four to six weeks, according to the liquor license board. Chipotle has been waiting months.
It?s ridiculous, of course, that restaurants should have to wait at all. And that patrons will not be able to quaff beers with their burritos while looking at the harbor.
Samuel Thornton Daniels Jr., Baltimore?s chief liquor inspector, who also runs the administrative side of the liquor agency, says “proper paperwork” means that a host of other agencies must inspect and approve the restaurant first. But we think the inspectors are not as efficient as they could be.
There are about 1,400 places that sell liquor in the city and 15 full-time inspectors. That equals 93 places per inspector. At five visits per year per establishment ? the amount required by the city ? that works out to less than two visits per day. Unless inspectors are stopping for a cocktail, that seems like a pretty light schedule for $40,000 a year, the rate some inspectors make.
Up until six months ago, 19 people allegedly worked “full time” as inspectors. About six months ago, the Baltimore liquor board ordered inspectors to work an eight-hour day. Since then, four have left, two on disciplinary leave. The two out on disciplinary leave were paid for 12 to 14 weeks, said Daniels, who last July completed a report outlining administrative corruption at the agency. Paid for lounging at home? Isn?t that what they were doing at work?
We?d like to know whether the board enforces the eight-hour work-day rule and how.
We?re thirsty.
