Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith?s Liquor Board appointees were sworn in Wednesday in a ceremony that included the appointment of the board?s first black member.
Gregg Baty, vice president for the First Municipal Credit Corp., in Columbia, was appointed as an alternate and is the first black member to be appointed to the board. Baty replaced Casey Dansicker as the alternate. Dansicker was appointed full-time member.
Thomas Minkin, a lawyer at the Law Offices of Peter Angelos, was appointed chairman of the board. Minkin replaced Phil Leyhe, who died April 23.
“Phil was an inspiration, mentor and friend to each of us,” said Minkin, who has been on the board since March 2003.
Victoria Rosellini, who is also on the Maryland Stadium Committee, was reappointed as an alternate.
The Liquor Board is responsible for the regulation of alcoholic beverage sales, enforcing Maryland liquor laws and Baltimore regulations, processing alcohol license applications and investigating police reports and public complaints relating to liquor law violations. If there is a violation of a state law or city regulation, the board may hold a hearing and can impose a fine or suspend or revoke a license.
The board has approved two new alcoholic beverage licenses so far this year and has heard few complaints, according to hearing documents provided by the commission.
Barbara Kernan, vice president of Daft McCune Walker Inc., was appointed to the board in March 2003. Her term expires Dec. 15.
