Township Puts Liquor License Up For Sale

After a few months of discussion, Galloway Township has begun the process of selling its Plenary Retail Distribution License, and bids will be unsealed on Nov. 16, Township Manager Arch Liston announced on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Deadline to apply for the license is Nov. 8.

Mayor Don Purdy initiated the discussion in June, and asked council to consider the matter once more at the council meeting on Sept. 11, one day after a majority of township employees received notices of possible layoffs.

Those who will be laid off will be officially notified no later than Nov. 16.

Council passed a resolution to put the liquor license up for sale at its Sept. 24 meeting, while at the same time recognizing the license wouldn’t be worth as much as it would be during better economic times. It also agreed it would have the right to reject all bids.

The notice issued by the township Wednesday afternoon can be found below, in full:

NOTICE TO ACCEPT BIDS FOR PLENARY RETAIL DISTRIBUTION LICENSE BY THE TOWNSHIP OF GALLOWAY, COUNTY OF ATLANTIC, STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT by Resolution No. 246-12 dated October 9, 2012, the Township of Galloway has resolved to issue a new Plenary Retail Distribution License by public sale to the highest qualified bidder and invites bids for the same. 

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that at 11:00a.m. on Friday, November 16, 2012, at the Galloway Township Municipal Building, 300 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, in the Township of Galloway, County of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, the Township of Galloway will open all qualified sealed bids to purchase the new Plenary Retail Distribution License.  Such sealed bids, along with all required additional information, must be received by the Township of Galloway on or before November 8, 2012, at 11:00a.m.  The sale will be subject to all of the following terms and conditions: 

a.       All prospective bidders for the license shall apply by submitted to the Galloway Township Clerk, on or before November 8, 2012 at 11:00a.m. a full and complete twelve (12) page ABC license application form:  a separately sealed envelope with the applicant’s bid and the bid deposit fee; a separate Certification of Proof of Compliance by the applicant that it meets any and all special conditions or requirements contained in the Notice and knows of no reason why he/she would be disqualified from having an interest in a retail distribution license in New Jersey.  The form Certification can be obtained in the Clerk’s office.

b.      Each prospective bidder shall presumptively qualify, through the office of the Township Clerk, no later than five (5) business days prior to the opening of the bids.  Presumptive qualification requires submission of full and complete twelve (12) page ABC license application form and Certification of Proof of Compliance.  The Township Clerk will publicly announce those applicants who meet the qualifications for bidding five days prior to the opening of the bids, by posting a list of those qualified in a conspicuous place in the municipal building, on or before November 9, 2012.  No bids shall be opened without proof of qualification. 

c.       The Township Council reserves the right to reject any and all bids if the highest bid is not accepted.

d.      The bid must contain a certified or cashier’s check for twenty (20%) percent of the bid price.  The balance of the bid price bidder shall be paid in the form of cashier’s check or certified check within 30 days of the adoption of a resolution accepting the highest qualified bid.  In the event of a default or breach of promise by the successful bidder, all deposit monies shall be forfeited to the Township. 

e.       The successful bidder shall tender payment of all required State and Local Application Fees and License Fees.

f.        The Township of Galloway shall award the license to the person or entity who is the highest qualified bidder with the understanding that the license will actually be situated subsequently through the place-to-place transfer application process and must be in use within two years of award of the license.

g.       The successful applicant must comply with all applicable ordinances and regulations of the Township of Galloway in locating the license.

h.      The sale may be postponed or canceled at any time prior to the opening of the bids.

i.         That the minimum bid price for the new retail distribution license shall be $350,000.00.

j.         The sale will be in accordance with the procedures set forth in N.J.S.A. 33:1-19.1 et seq.

Thalia C. Kay, RMC

Galloway Township