Legion-license hearing delayed again

Post gets another extension from Borough Council on alleged liquor-license violations

By: Jennifer Potash
   A hearing scheduled Tuesday on alleged liquor-license violations at the American Legion Charles W. Robinson Post 218, related to drug charges filed last year, was postponed until September.
   Members of Post 218 asked the Princeton Borough Council for a postponement, and the council rescheduled the hearing for Sept. 25.
   Mayor Marvin Reed said this would be the last extension.
   "I want to get this over with," he said.
   The American Legion post had requested a postponement from an earlier hearing date in July. Post member George McGowan said the postponement was for the post to obtain an attorney, but post Commander Wallace Holland Jr. said the delay was for the members to talk about the charges.
   "Many of us didn’t know anything about these charges," Mr. Holland said.
   The post had not retained an attorney by Tuesday, but designated member Simeon Moss to represent the club. The mayor, council members and Borough Attorney Michael Herbert instructed the post members that one potential penalty, if the club were found guilty, is the permanent loss of the post’s club license, which allows the dispensing of alcohol to members and member’s guests.
   "We’ve never had a case with this degree of seriousness that has come before us with this potential penalty," Mayor Reed said.
   Mr. McGowan said he attempted to obtain legal representation from the Princeton Borough Public Defender. Mr. Herbert said the public defender is only available in cases before the Princeton Borough Municipal Court.
   The charges stem from a incident in May 2000 in which 10 people, including American Legion Vice Commander Roger Madden, were accused of dealing drugs in and around Post 218, located on Lytle Street.
   In other action, the Borough Council approved by two 5-0 votes labor agreements with municipal employees in the Public Works and Police departments.
   Twenty-eight patrol officers, detectives and sergeants will receive average pay increases of 3.2 percent in 2001, 3.78 percent in 2002 and 2003.
   The Public Works employees, whose responsibilities include street sweeping, maintenance, landscaping and road drainage, will receive average pay increases of 3.6 percent, 3.6 percent and 3.8 percent.
   Both contracts are retroactive to Jan. 1