When should liquor board inspectors visit bars?

Baltimore lawmakers think the inspectors, who investigate noise violations, underage drinking and other concerns, should work when bars are busiest — at night.

But the Baltimore City Liquor License Board recently eliminated nearly all evening inspections, according to a letter seven Baltimore City Council members and three state delegates signed this month.

“We are writing to express significant concern with the recent decision to drastically alter the operational capacity and scope of liquor license inspectors,” the lawmakers wrote, citing a move to restrict inspections to “daytime hours.”

The changes “would certainly have a detrimental impact on our constituents and communities,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was dated Feb. 6.

The lawmakers, who include state Senate President Bill Ferguson, City Council President Zeke Cohen and 10 others, asked the liquor board to reverse the changes.

Liquor board chair Granville Templeton III said in an email that, while there had been a “temporary operational pause to adjust staffing and deployment,” inspectors would be working weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and taking part in “targeted weekend enforcement” from 6 p.m.-2 a.m.

“These changes represent a recalibration of staffing, not a reduction in enforcement, reflecting our continued commitment to public safety and effective regulatory oversight,” Templeton wrote, adding the changes were implemented following a review of 311 service requests and inspector safety.

The board’s deputy executive secretary, Michelle Wirzberger, and community liaison Matt Achhammer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a letter to Ferguson and Councilman Mark Parker, Templeton wrote policy changes by the board are frequent.

“The logic behind every adjustment is well thought out and steeped in reason,” he wrote. “Any shift in direction was made to reduce adverse impacts on our staff, license holders and Baltimore city residents.”

The city’s delegation to the Maryland House of Delegates is slated to discuss the changes to liquor board policy in a hearing Friday.

Parker said liquor enforcement activities have been restricted to weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. since the beginning of the month.

The board’s participation in the Social Club Task Force, which inspects businesses such as bars, restaurants, strip clubs and smoke shops, has also been newly restricted, he said. The collaborative includes Baltimore Police, the city fire marshal and the departments of Housing and Community Development and Health, and, traditionally, the liquor board.

Now only the board’s chief inspector is allowed to participate and that person may join only once a month, Parker said. Without the liquor board representative, the task force is unable to enforce most noise and drinking age regulations.

Councilmembers, particularly those who represent the city’s most active nightlife districts, were alarmed to learn of the changes. Parker, whose 1st District includes Fells Point, Canton and Highlandtown, said the ramifications for his constituents are “huge.”

“One of the really important things about having arts and entertainment districts … is that you have really lively, interesting, active evening opportunities to be in the community, to experience art and music and food and beverage and festivals and events,” he said. “That all requires safety.”

Parker said he and his colleagues have requested a written copy of the board’s new policies and a written justification for the changes. They have received neither, he said.

Parker said the liquor board’s Templeton and Executive Secretary Douglas Paige have offered lawmakers various explanations for the changes. They suggested the move could assuage budget concerns, although enforcement officers typically work nights and weekends without requiring overtime, Parker said.

City budget officials said during a hearing this week that the board was projected to end the fiscal year with a $72,000 surplus.

Parker said Templeton and Paige also told him the board was trying to shift from being an enforcement agency to return to a regulatory role.

“I don’t know where that kind of complete reconsideration of the purpose of these inspectors and the goals they’re trying to achieve would come from,” Parker said. “It certainly didn’t come from any sort of public or collaborative process with elected officials, community members, licensees or, as far as I know, with staff.”

Councilman Zac Blanchard, who represents the Federal Hill and Mount Vernon neighborhoods that have active restaurant and bar scenes, said he was “gravely concerned” by the change in enforcement, which he called an “abdication of responsibilities.”

“How do you enforce the law for nightlife establishments when you don’t allow your employees to work nights?” he asked. “Duh. It’s obviously a problem.”

Blanchard said the liquor board had been a good partner to the city until the recent change. Its participation in the task force seemed to be effective, he said.

“This feels like the most important tool we have to address a real problem just got taken away with absolutely no explanation,” he said. “I cannot fathom there is a justifiable excuse for this.”

Baltimore Banner reporters Matti Gellman and Giacomo Bologna contributed to this article.