Morristown GOP raps council for Dark Horse settlement

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A “wrist-slap fine” against a local nightclub accused of liquor license violations only will  encourage “more irresponsible behavior” by bars, according to Morristown Republican Chairman Frank Vitolo, who is urging residents to press the council tonight to reconsider its pending settlement with the Dark Horse Lounge.

“This is transparency? This is honest government? How can the Democrat-controlled council look their constituents in the eyes and tell them this decision was in the best interests of Morristown?” the former council candidate said in a statement.

The Dark Horse Lounge was cited for nine violations in 2008 and early 2009 alleging the bar served under-aged patrons and failed to report altercations to police. If found guilty, the establishment could have lost its liquor license for months, if not years.

Instead, the bar will lose its license for five days over the Labor Day holiday. It already has paid $1,500 into an escrow fund to cover police overtime, according to Municipal Prosecutor Robert Rudy III. The council approved the settlement by a 3-2 council vote last month.

robert williams addresses morristown council about dark horse lounge
Attorney Robert Williams pleading the case of the Dark Horse Lounge at last month's liquor license hearing before the Morristown council. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Council President Anthony Cattano Jr., who voted for the settlement along with fellow Democrat James Smith and Independent Rebecca Feldman, did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Rebecca Feldman, said it was “sad to see the Republicans, many of whom I admire, playing politics in advance of next year’s Council elections.”

The facts of the case are a matter of  public record, she said, welcoming constituents’ questions about her swing vote.

At last month’s meeting, the councilwoman dropped her opposition to the settlement after insisting the punishment cover the Labor Day weekend instead of a slow period in August.

But Frank Vitolo asserted that the Dark Horse had planned to close anyway over Labor Day.

He noted that town Democrats celebrated election victories last year in bars owned by the family that owns the Dark Horse, and he cited testimony by an attorney for the Dark Horse reminding council members that the family contributed $35,000 this spring to cover municipal costs associated with a rain makeup of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Alison Deeb, the council’s lone Republican, and Democrat Raline Smith-Reed voted against the settlement. Council members Kevin Gsell and Michelle  Harris-King, both Democrats, were absent.

Under terms of the deal, the bar’s owners would plead guilty to allowing unlawful drinking, and to conducting an unlawful “all you can drink” raffle.

A lengthy suspension would unfairly penalize the 17-member staff of the Dark Horse, argued the bar’s attorney, Robert Williams, at the July 28 council meeting.

1 COMMENT

  1. @Feldman – How about you own up to your own mistakes instead of blaming the GOP of playing politics? Typical democrat. It’s probably Bush’s fault that the Dark Horse serves minors.

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