Maryland Alcoholic Beverages Section 15-205

      The liquor control board of each county shall have full power and authority within its county:

      (a)      (1)      (i)      To appoint such employees as may be necessary to conduct such county liquor dispensary or branch dispensaries, fix their compensation and require such bonds for the faithful performance of their duties as the board may in each case determine.

                  (ii)      In Montgomery County, effective July 1, 1951, the positions of General Manager and Treasurer of the Liquor Control Board are hereby abolished. All existing employees of the Board, except those whose positions are abolished herein, shall be entitled to continue to be employed on probation of six months duration at their existing salaries subject to passing qualifying examinations and regulations of the County Personnel Board. All employees of the Department except the Director shall be appointed and hold their positions subject to the regulations. The office of the County Attorney shall furnish legal services to the Department.

            (2)      This paragraph applies only to Garrett County. The position of clerk of the Board of License Commissioners is abolished as of July 1, 1987. The County Commissioners shall provide administrative, clerical, and accounting services to the Board of License Commissioners as are needed in the execution of their duties under the provisions of this article. The County Commissioners shall provide legal counsel to the Board of License Commissioners through the office of the County Attorney or bear the expense of competent private legal counsel for the Board.

      (b)      To purchase from any licensed wholesaler or manufacturer any sparkling or fortified wine or any other alcoholic beverage which the Board is authorized to sell, upon which the tax imposed by § 5-102 of the Tax - General Article has been paid, and to purchase from any nonresident producer or dealer any such alcoholic beverages and import the same for resale, as hereinafter provided; but such importations shall not be resold until the excise tax has been paid.

      (c)      To sell such alcoholic beverages in sealed containers, as above provided, at such prices as may be determined by the board, which prices shall be uniform in all stores in the said county.

      (d)      To refuse to sell any alcoholic beverage to any person who, in its judgment, is not a suitable person to purchase or consume such beverages; to restrict and/or limit the quantities of said alcoholic beverages which might be sold at any given time or period to any individual consumer or licensee by such system or methods as may be prescribed by the liquor control board.

      (e)      (1)      To make any and all contracts, rules and regulations which they may deem necessary or desirable to carry out the powers conferred upon them by this article.

            (2)      In Harford County, the Board shall hold public hearings on all proposed alterations of its rules and regulations. These hearings shall be advertised in two or more newspapers of general circulation in the county at least two consecutive weeks prior to the scheduled public hearings.

      (f)      To sell and ship outside of county any containers or packages of alcoholic beverages kept for sale in the dispensary or branch dispensaries, provided that such shipment is not prohibited by law applicable in the place where shipment is consigned.

      (g)      To rent, lease, or purchase premises necessary for the conduct of said dispensaries, subject to the approval of the county commissioners.

      (h)      Unless otherwise provided in this subtitle, to fix the hours for opening and closing all dispensaries and branch dispensaries; and it shall be unlawful to remain open or sell any alcoholic beverages after the regular closing hours.

      (i)      (1)      In Harford County, the Liquor Control Board shall employ one full-time chief inspector and such other inspector or inspectors as in its discretion shall be required from time to time. Provided, however, that neither the Sheriff, any deputy sheriff or any constable or municipal peace officer in Harford County shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chief inspector or as an inspector. The person appointed to be chief inspector shall have had at the time of appointment investigative experience as a police officer or as an inspector for a governmental agency or as a police officer or investigator for a private agency. After appointment, the chief inspector shall serve as such and shall be discharged only for cause involving dishonesty, incompetency or immoral conduct; and prior to his discharge, he shall be given a list of the charges against him and an opportunity to reply thereto in an open hearing either in person or by counsel. The chief inspector with the approval of the Liquor Control Board shall be empowered to contract with or hire any independent accounting firm to audit the books and accounts of any licensee. The Liquor Control Board is authorized to establish and change from time to time such reasonable compensation for the chief inspector or any other inspector or inspectors as is warranted by their respective duties and responsibilities. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to relieve from the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of this article in Harford County the several peace officers listed in § 16-401 of this article.

            (2)      In Harford County the Liquor Control Board shall appoint a general manager, who shall act as secretary-treasurer of the Board and who shall be the chief business administrative officer of the Board under its control and supervision. No Board member shall be eligible to fill said position while retaining his membership on the Liquor Control Board. The manager so appointed shall hold office during good behavior and shall be discharged only for cause involving dishonesty, incompetency, or immoral conduct after opportunity for hearing.

            (3)      The salaries of all employees of the Liquor Control Board shall be fixed by the Liquor Control Board, subject to the approval of the County Executive and County Council. The County Council shall also review the adequacy of the fidelity bonds required of the employees by the Liquor Control Board for the protection of the county.

            (4)      Notwithstanding any other provision of the Code or local law, employees of the Harford County Liquor Control Board are subject to the provisions regarding conflicts of interest, and lobbying activities found in Title 15, Subtitle 5, Part I, and Subtitle 7 of the State Government Article, but may not be required to file the statement required by § 15-601 of the State Government Article.

      (j)      Repealed.

      (k)      (1)      In Montgomery County, in addition to the powers already enumerated in this section, which powers are subject to the approval of the County Executive, the director of the Department of Liquor Control shall have power to acquire, with the approval of the County Executive, by lease, purchase or otherwise, such real or personal property as may be deemed necessary by the director to operate dispensaries, stores or warehouses. He may acquire, by purchase or otherwise, any alcoholic beverages from any source for resale. Except for purchases of merchandise for resale, all purchases shall be made through the county purchasing office.

            (2)      Effective July 1, 1951, the title to all real and personal property now used by or in the name of the Liquor Control Board, including money in banks, credits, accounts receivable, trucks, automobiles, equipment, stock in trade, leases, franchises, contracts and the title to the liquor dispensary building located in Silver Spring, Maryland, more particularly described in a deed dated July 27, 1943, and recorded among the land records of Montgomery County in Liber 917, folio 156, shall be and is hereby vested in Montgomery County, Maryland. Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to impair the validity of any outstanding contracts or obligations of any nature to which the Liquor Control Board has heretofore become a party.

      (l)      In Worcester County, in addition to the other powers listed in this section, the Board shall pay the salary, not to exceed $3,500 annually, of an officer to enforce the laws relating to alcoholic beverages in the county. The officer shall be appointed by the County Commissioners subject to the approval by State's Attorney of the county.

      (m)      In Wicomico County, the Liquor Control Board may hold wine tasting and sampling promotional events in county liquor dispensaries in accordance with the following restrictions:

            (1)      The Liquor Control Board may not serve to an individual more than 1 ounce from each brand at an event;

            (2)      The number of bottles that may be open at any one time at an event may not exceed six;

            (3)      The number of days during which events are conducted in the County may not exceed 10 in any 12-month period;

            (4)      Once opened, each bottle used for an event shall be marked that it is to be used only for that purpose;

            (5)      The contents of each bottle may not be mixed with the contents of any other bottle, and all bottles shall be destroyed once they are empty; and

            (6)      Wine tasting and sampling may be conducted for on-premises consumption only and may not be conducted using a drive-through window.