<< Back 8/21/02 Town OKs street alcohol sales for special events By Scott McLeod A divided Waynesville Town Board narrowly agreed to continue allowing the local arts council to sell beer during Folkmoot’s International Day. The issue of selling alcohol during the festival arose more than a month ago when the Haywood County Arts Council sought the town’s endorsement for the sales so it could get an ABC permit for International Festival Day on July 27. During those discussions, aldermen learned that the town did not have an ordinance regulating open containers of wine or beer on its sidewalks and public streets. A state law already prohibits liquor consumption on public streets and sidewalks. Attorney Mike Bonfoey was asked to prepare an ordinance addressing the issue. The proposal banned open containers and consumption on city streets and sidewalks. A clause in the draft, however, allows aldermen to “adopt a resolution making other provisions for the possession and consumption of malt beverages and/or unfortified wine at special events ...” “I don’t think it is in the best interest of Waynesville now and in the future” to allow alcohol consumption on the streets, said Mayor Henry Foy. Alderman Gavin Brown, however, disagreed. “This merely gives us options. We can say in the future we don’t want it. It gives us the option to consider this on a case-by-case basis,” said Brown. Foy, however, said that striking the provision would take away the option. As debate continued, Foy made a motion to pass the proposal but to take out the paragraph allowing sales during special events. That motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with Foy and Alderman Kenneth Moore supporting it. Another 3-2 motion to adopt the ordinance with the special provision passed. Brown, Libba Feichter and Gary Moore voted in favor of it. Brown argued that the arts council was an honorable group, and that if an undesirable group requested to sell alcohol the town could merely turn them down. The Bele Chere street festival in Asheville has also wrestled in recent years with the issue of alcohol sales and how to accommodate those opposed to alcohol consumption. The multi-day festival has banned alcohol on some days and designated certain areas as alcohol-free.