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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 5, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~_~ <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting the Orange County ABC Board's Operation of ABC <br />_ Stores and Opposin "A ency Stores" <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Draft Resolution <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Laura Blackmon, 245-2300 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of a resolution requested by the Orange County ABC Board <br />supporting the Orange County ABC Board's operation of ABC stores and opposing "Agency <br />Stores". <br />BACKGROUND: Several bills have been introduced during the current session of the North <br />Carolina General Assembly related to ABC stores. Senate Bill 839 and House Bill 768, both <br />entitled "Modernization of the ABC System", would permit agency stores for the sale of spirits <br />where ABC stores are authorized but not in operation. It would require an ABC board to <br />contract with an agency store. An "agency store" is a private retail seller like a grocery store, <br />pharmacy or convenience store. <br />The Orange County ABC Board is opposed to these bills and the concept of "agency stores" <br />and has requested the Orange County Board of Commissioners consider a resolution opposing <br />this legislation. The ABC Board believes the people of Orange County voted to permit the sale <br />of spirituous liquor through the establishment of the Orange County ABC Board as part of the <br />North Carolina's control system, but did not vote to allow spirits to be sold in such private off- <br />premise retail establishments. The ABC Board believes it is a local decision to establish and <br />operate an ABC store and any decision to open an ABC store should be made by the local ABC <br />Board, not the State of North Carolina. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the <br />resolution. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the resolution, <br />authorize the Chair to sign it, and direct the Clerk to the Board to forward the signed resolution <br />to the Orange County ABC Board. <br />