Sorry folks, but Happy Hour is over ? the Village of Oxford’s not picking up the tab anymore.
Council last week unanimously approved a revised policy for the village credit card which makes it clear that no alcoholic beverages whatsoever can be purchased with it.
‘In no way, shape or form (should) any alcoholic beverage be purchased with taxpayer dollars,? said Councilman Tom Benner.
Council had sent its credit policy back to the village attorney in late January to have the paragraph regarding alcohol purchases reviewed and revised for clarity.
This was done following Manager Joe Young’s use of the village credit card to purchase $108 worth of alcohol at three local restaurants for members of the DDA Economic Restructuring Committee during their October, November and December meetings last year.
Council finally received an itemized copy of the $109 dinner bill for the December meeting at Casa Real. This bill included four beers and five margaritas totalling $50.
At the time Young made these purchases ? for which he later fully reimbursed the village after they became an issue ? the credit card policy stated, ‘The card shall not be used for . . .the purchase of standard merchant category exclusions (e.g. liquor or tobacco products) . . .?
When Young’s purchases were discussed by council in January, village President George Del Vigna stated he didn’t believe the policy was clear as to exactly which type of alcohol purchases were prohibited.
At the time, Del Vigna stated it was ‘reasonable? for the village to pay for alcoholic beverages in conjunction with meals for committee members, who are in fact volunteers.
Councilman Chris Bishop disagreed, stating the policy was crystal clear that no alcohol of any kind ? package liquor from a store or wine with dinner ? was permitted under the original policy.
It should be noted that the revised policy submitted by village attorney Bob Bunting reflected Del Vigna’s views and Young’s actions. It stated, ‘The card shall not be used for . . . the purchase of alcoholic beverages not incidental to a meal and/or not in furtherance of a village business or function . . .?
The proposed language did not sit well with the majority of council who deleted some of the wording to make the policy prohibit the purchase of any and all alcoholic beverages.
Most council members didn’t feel it was appropriate for the village to purchase alcohol with tax dollars and worried about the legal liability should someone whom the village was buying drinks for get stopped by police or involved in a car accident.
‘I just think it’s really a contentious issue and I don’t really think it belongs in any of our policies that it’s OK,? said Councilwoman Teri Stiles.
‘It’s great that (volunteers are) getting a dinner,? she noted. ‘I can’t imagine it would be offensive if whoever’s taking that group out said, ‘I have to let you know if you want alcoholic beverages, you’re going to have to purchase them ? cash bar.??
Benner agreed.
‘We’re willing to buy your lunch and we’re willing to entertain you with a meal, but if you want an alcoholic beverage then it’s up to you to buy it,? he said.
Benner was troubled by the potential legal liability of the village paying for alcohol. He said if a village employee is involved in an accident and has alcohol in their system ‘just a little bit over the limit or a lot over the limit, the village is going to get sued and they’re going to get sued big time.?
It was noted by Clerk Christine Burns that according to the village’s personnel policies and procedures manual ? ‘Employees shall not report for duty or remain on duty while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater . . . shall not use alcohol while on duty . . . (and) shall not use alcohol within four hours of reporting for duty.?
Although those rules apply to employees and ‘probably not to volunteers,? Councilman Dave Bailey said, ‘I think they can be a good guideline for us to use? in council’s deliberations.
‘If our on-the-job work policy means no alcohol, then why should we should we let the taxpayers buy a glass of wine . . . for anybody else,? noted Benner.
Benner made it clear that alcohol purchases with the village credit card should be ‘stricken completely? from the policy.
Representing the public means ‘we have the responsibility to set a higher standard,? he said.
Former village President Sue Bossardet was upset the policy was sent to the attorney for revisions when the prohibition on alcohol purchases was quite clear in the first place.
‘I don’t understand why Joe couldn’t have just said, ‘I’m sorry, I made a mistake? and be done with it,? she told council. ‘I would have had a lot more respect for him and a lot more respect for (Del Vigna) if you hadn’t blindly just followed along and tried to define alcohol.?
‘It’s like Clinton trying to (define) what sex means ? sex is sex is sex, no alcohol means no alcohol, period,? Bossardet noted.