Request for earlier liquor sales on Sundays debated BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer MILLTOWN- Thirsty patronsmay not have to wait as long to purchase alcohol in the borough on Sundays. The Borough Council introduced an ordinanceMonday thatwould allowliquor stores to open an hour earlier. Whilemostmembers of the council voted to introduce the ordinance, Councilman Joseph Cruz was opposed to the change. He said restrictions to Sunday hours were in effect when the businesses opened, and he did not see why they should be posing a problemfor their proprietors now. "Maybe some people need to go to the liquor store at [noon], but I don't think Milltown residents are going to be lining up out there,"Cruz later told the Sentinel. The current ordinance dictates that alcohol cannot be sold in town on Sundays until 1 p.m. If the new ordinance passes, the time will be changed to noon. Resident Jim Strimple agreed with Cruz's sentiments, saying the request was simply an attempt by the stores' owners to make more money, and that it was not particularly beneficial to thosewho live in town. Another resident said he sees it as a larger issue. "The reason I stopped going to the Fourth of July in the park was that I almost got thrown up on by the teenagers who were drinking so much," Tom Kwietniak said. "There is a problem in this town. There are children who are becoming alcoholics." While it is debatable whether the ordinance change would affect underage drinking, it seemed those set against it felt the status quo had served the town well for so many years that it should not be altered. "I fail to see the issue," council President Randy Farkas said. "The gentleman is asking to open one hour earlier, one day aweek." The owner of Milltown Buy Rite, at 312 Ryders Lane, requested the change. Cruz said he is not strongly against the measure per se, but if it is only one hour, the change hardly seems necessary. He pointed out at the meeting that a similar request wasmade several years back, and the council rejected it. "We requested it a long time ago," said Sonny Shah, the owner of Ryders Lane Wines and Spirits. "A big guy [Buy Rite] comes into town, and right away the laws will change." Laws regarding liquor sales in the borough on Sundays last changed back in the 1970s, when a referendum was held. Before that time,Milltown did not allow any liquor sales on Sundays. "That's Milltown. This is how we've always been," Cruz said. "If that hour is going tomake or break your business, thenmaybe it's time to take a look at your business." A public hearing and council vote on the measure is scheduled to take place at the Feb. 25 councilmeeting.