SLA Forms Committee to Address Licensing Backlog

In spite of new staff and technological upgrades, the State Liquor Authority’s backlog in processing new licenses and permits is about as bad as its been in memory. This not only affects someone applying for a new license, but any existing licensee seeking a change in their license or a permit is also caught up in these processing delays.

The State Liquor Authority took an important step towards addressing this problem by forming a committee to take on the backlog. Comprised of some of the Authority’s most experienced and dedicated employees, the committee will be asked to look at a large group of applications that fall within one of the following categories:

• New On-Premises license applications submitted by entities or principals who are already licensed by the Authority;
• Applications pending for over 90 days from entities who are already operating with a Temporary Retail Permit with no local municipal/community board opposition;
• Add Bar applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• Corporate Change applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• Endorsement applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• On-Premises Removal applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• On-Premises Class Change applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• Method of Operation applications pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition and no pending charges;
• On-Premises license applications subject to the 500 Foot Law but are not qualified for a Temporary Retail Permit pending for over 90 days with no local municipality or community board opposition.

Hopefully the new staff and technological upgrades will allow the Liquor Authority to avoid future backlogs once this committee cleans up the current problem.