Vote to expand hours for wine and liquor sales
By Jeff Simms
The Dutchess County Legislature voted 19-5 on May 13 to override a veto by the county executive and expand the hours for sales of wine and liquor.
The proposal will now go to the state Liquor Authority, which will hold a public hearing before ruling on the request.
County law allows liquor and wine sales from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 12 until 9 p.m. on Sundays. Under the new rules, weekday and Saturday sales would be extended until 9 p.m.
Holiday sales, allowed from 9 to 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial, Independence and Labor Day, would expand to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Legislature approved the expanded hours on April 8 but County Executive Marc Molinaro vetoed the measure, saying the public had not had adequate time to provide input. A two-thirds majority was required to override the veto.
Nick Page and Frits Zernike, who represent Beacon in the Legislature, both voted for the measure and to override the veto.
