As reported in the Town Crier:

In an attempt to clarify a decision made last month, the Grille Fashion Cuisine was subjected to additional conditions Tuesday in a move that Vice Mayor Howard Coates labeled “anti-competitive.”

The change, clarified by Councilman John Greene, revokes the restaurant’s designation as a cocktail lounge and thereby requires it to comply with state requirements that 51 percent of its daily income be from food and not alcohol.

The council split 3-2 on the change, with Coates and Councilwoman Anne Gerwig opposed.

But Greene said that he believed there was confusion over his motion, which he said was to grant the extended hours of operation, but not the cocktail lounge designation.

In a letter to council members, Greene requested the item be put back on the agenda, but not open for public hearing. “The applicant has presented to council and the public has already been given the opportunity to comment,” he wrote.

Greene said he wanted to amend his motion to clarify it, as well as remove the requirement that the village be able to audit the restaurant annually.

The change could affect the restaurant’s ability to stay operational, he cautioned. He noted that the owners were pro-active in seeking out a designation so to avoid problems.

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