By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a public hearing November 8, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Rudy Bencomo, Nicholas Prince and Stan Snider.

The council approved (Prince voted no) the transfer of the dispensary type liquor license to Fast Stop Management LLC located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The license will be located at 123 West 12th Street, 1810 North Swan Street and 206 North Hudson Street.

Ladner asked if anyone had any previous discussions with anyone regarding the subject matter of the hearing. None of the council had.

Alfred Sedillo, town clerk, swore in the applicant. Ladner went over the reasons the application could be denied.

Joseph Abughuwalen addressed the council. He had said he came to ask for the transfer.

Prince asked what position he held in the company. He said management. Prince asked if he would be the local manager for the businesses in Silver City. He said yes. Prince said he saw the JJBH Holdings LLC would be the landlord and asked if he had contact with them. He said no. Prince asked if he had been familiar with JJBH Holdings LLC, and he said he was not. Prince asked if he would have any changes in inventory, stock or sales of products regarding liquor. He said he would not be sure because the owner had been out of town. Prince asked about the owner and Abughuwalen said, "He is my cousin, Akmal Awwad." Prince asked for a phone number or contact information. He gave his number as 505-553-5656. Prince spoke to the name on the application Amer Quran and asked his role with the company. Abughuwalen didn't know his role in the company.

Prince had a point of discussion on the application. "These establishments have been historically sources of not just a lot of trash that we had to regulate quite a bit back in 2021 with the sale of shooters, single use alcohol bottles and have caused quite a few issues." Prince pointed out they have very few opportunities to review the licenses and businesses. He wanted to ensure that the city and public have good relations with the new business owners coming in.

Cano had a question for Sedillo. On the application it says a liquor license number had not been assigned. She asked if that was normal. Sedillo said he had spoken to the alcohol division because that had been a question he had. He had been told when it was approved, they would assign a number.

Prince said he knew that it has been a standard to let these go through, but he didn't feel comfortable with the lack of contact with the management or knowledge of any changes in product series. He wanted to see some better overview.

Cano asked Jim Reynolds, town attorney, if that would fall under the police chief. He said it would fall under state and local if they had any violations. Ladner asked Reynolds if he saw any issues with the application from a legal standpoint. Reynolds said no, it must be approved if it meets the three criteria needed.

Meeting adjourned