BATH

Liquor and entertainment license denials that sparked controversy between one Front Street business and neighboring shop owners will return to the City Council on July 9.

David Sinclair, chairman of the Bath City Council, said Thursday that at the July 9 meeting, the council will, at least, consider a finding of fact prepared by the city attorney dealing with the denial of liquor and special amusement licenses for the Black Barnacle Pub, owned by Greg Tisdale.

The council voted 4-1 at its June meeting to deny the liquor license and 3-2 to deny the special amusement license.

A superior court judge on Wednesday granted a stay to the pub, whose licenses were set to expire that same day.

Per the judge’s order, the period of the license now extends until July 21 or until the city issues a written decision on the matter.

Sinclair said how the council will act on the finding of fact and written decision remains a question mark, given that three councilors did not attend the June meeting at which the vote to deny the licenses for the downtown pub occurred.

“It may be that the council talks about annulling its prior vote and there’s also the possibility that the several not present might want to investigate more fully,” Sinclair said, referring to the absence of councilors Mari Eosco, Ruthe Pagurko and Kyle Rogers from the June meeting. “There are a lot of things that can happen, but the absolute minimum is a proposed written decision as prepared by the city solicitor.”

Sinclair, who as chairman only votes in the event of a tie between the other councilors, said he’s not made a decision on the matter out of concern for both sides of the business dispute.

“I feel badly when any business is imperiled,” Sinclair said. “The difficult decision the council faces here is that the (Black) Barnacle receives direct harm (by denying the licenses), but we received notes that other businesses are harmed if the Barnacle stays open and if it operates as it has been.”

Sinclair said he hopes any future discussion of the issues at the pub will include “proactive suggestions from business owners on each side with regard to having the council resolve the clear conflict that exists now on Front Street.”

dfishell@timesrecord.com