Serving alcohol at Arts Center could be costly

I am disappointed to hear that the Middletown Township Committee recently approved an ordinance to allow the serving and consumption of alcohol on township property. The ordinance in question would allow alcohol to be served at fundraisers to support the new Middletown Cultural Arts Center. This seems to be an extremely bad idea to me and I am surprised that your paper would be in favor of this.

You state in your editorial (“Twp. should permit, but monitor alcohol,” June 27) that this type of function hardly seems like the type that people will get drunk or disorderly at. While that may be true, please allow me to remind everyone that the legal blood alcohol level in New Jersey is .08 percent. This means that a person of average build could be considered drunk or impaired after that one glass of merlot that you mentioned in your opinion.

Mayor Gerard Scharfenburger says that “the consumption would be limited to a very few and tame functions like wine and cheese parties,” and that the “township would be covered against any liabilities that may occur.” Well how soon will it be before these functions are expanded and someone is stopped for driving while intoxicated or has a fender bender or worse after one of these events?

You say that it is the municipality’s responsibility to cut costs wherever it can and if creative event planning could save the use of property tax money then so be it. Well, I must point out to you that this arts center has done nothing but cost the taxpayers of Middletown money, close to $8 million of it – or about 7.5 cents per assessed value. It should also be noted that this building was supposed to be self-sustaining and not cost the taxpayers any additional funds, yet the upkeep and utility costs are funneled through Parks and Recreation, while the Middletown Cultural and Arts Council leases the building for $1 a year.

How much more would the Middletown Cultural Arts Center cost the taxpayers of Middletown if someone leaving the site after one of these “wine and cheese parties” had an accident while on their way home or to another destination? Think about it!

Michael Morris

Middletown