Copies of an alcohol beverage control ordinance draft were distributed to Priceville Mayor Melvin Duran and members of the town council at a work session Monday afternoon.

“I’ve got some light reading for you,” Town Attorney William C. “Woody” Sanderson told city officials as he introduced the 53-page draft. At an earlier work session he was asked to keep the ordinance as simple and short as possible.

“What you’ll find in this draft is close to what is contained in the Cullman ordinance,” he said. “I’ve done some tweaking here and there and consulted with Mayor Duran and attorneys for the Alabama Beverage Control Board.”

Sanderson stressed that the draft was nothing more that a draft.

“I suggest that you take some time and read it carefully, jot down notes of concern and get them back to the mayor and town clerk before you meet again,” Sanderson said.” Although you‘re not required to have a public hearing, I recommend that you have one so that citizens will have the opportunity to express their concerns and opinions.”

At a regular meeting that followed, the council set up a second work session to discuss the draft for Tues., Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. A public hearing will follow at 7 p.m.

The ordinance draft provides for a five-member Alcohol Review Committee, appointed by the council. Its task would be to review each application for a liquor license and make recommendations to the council. It would consist of the mayor or designated representative, the town clerk and chief of police or other citizens as designated by the mayor, and two citizens of the town to be appointed by the council. The members would serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.

The draft provides for the licensing and sale of alcoholic beverages in grocery and convenience stores, restaurants, lounges and liquor stores providing they are located at least 1,000 feet from churches, schools and day care centers, or 250 feet when located on a four-lane highway.

A $300 filing fee would apply and a $1,500 fee would be charged for an off-premises consumption retail liquor license.

In addition, the town would receive an additional license tax of 13% of gross receipts of alcoholic beverage sales.

Businesses would be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 6 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. No Sunday sales would be permitted.

The draft also prohibits outside-store advertising of alcohol product sales and single can sales.

At its regular meeting, the council acted on the following agenda items:

•Approved payment of invoices totaling $148,625.24 for the month of December.

•Approved $300 for the North Alabama Mayor’s Association dues.

•Approved lodging and travel expenses for Mayor Duran and Councilman Tommy Perry to attend an AMA executive meeting in Montgomery, Jan. 23-24.

•Approved $300 for Internet Hosting Services form McWhorter Communications.

•Approved $200 for a full-page ad in the program for the 2013 Morgan County Sheriff’s Rodeo.

•Approved $25 for the Alabama Association of Municipal Clerks and Administrators 2013 dues for Town Clerk Kelly Dean.

•Approved $245 in registration, lodging and travel expenses for Town Clerk Kelly Dean to attend the Master Municipal Clerk Academy in Tuscaloosa Feb. 26-Mar. 1.

•Approved lodging and expenses for Librarian Paula Hensley to attend the APLS Administration Meeting in Montgomery Jan. 16.

•Approved $5,000 as a sponsor for the spring and fall 2013 racking horse shows at the Southeastern Center.

•Approved $35 for lodging and other travel expenses for Kelly Dean, town clerk/ magistrate to attend the required magistrate maintenance program in Montgomery June 7.

•Approved $1,000 for winter uniforms for Priceville Police Department from Duty Gear in Huntsville.

•Approved $742.50 for Priceville Police Department for hat badges from E Police Supply Co.

•Approved registration fees and expenses for Michael Bell, waste water operator, to attend the ARWA Training Emergency Responses Awareness class in Cullman on Jan. 15, the 2013 Pumper and Cleaner Show in Indianapolis, Ind. Feb. 24-Mar. 1 and the ARWA 35th Annual Technical Training Conference in Montgomery March 13.

•Authorized the re-advertisement for bids on the I-65/Hwy. 67 beautification grant project.