Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-May 27, 2009 Issue

Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • May 27, 2009 Ho-Ho-Kus Council vacates liquor license assigned to Korbitz by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Council has adopted a resolution to vacate the lapsed liquor license that was assigned to Korbitz, Inc. Korbitz principal Chris Kelly had been operating the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, which closed earlier this year. The council recently agreed to Kelly’s request to assign the lease for the borough-owned inn to Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern, LLC, an organization owned, in part, by Councilman Gordon Hamm. The LLC’s members also include Andrew, Anna, and Sarah Chapman. The council’s resolution regarding the liquor license states that, on April 23, the director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a special ruling that grants relief for the 2007-08 license. The director deemed the municipal resolution to renew the license on Aug. 21, 2007 null and void because the licensee did not first obtain relief pursuant to state law (NJSA 33:1-12.18). The special ruling required the council to adopt a resolution vacating the 2007 action on this matter. Per the director’s instructions, the council vacated the 2007-08 license, stating that the agreement “shall be of no force and effect.” Councilman Hamm recused himself from the vote on the resolution. After last week’s meeting, a borough official noted that the council is slated to approve a liquor license for the inn’s new operators. The Ho-Ho-Kus Council assigned the lease for the borough-owned Ho-Ho-Kus Inn building from Korbitz, Inc. to Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern, LLC at a special meeting held earlier this year. Councilman Lee Flemming cast the lone dissenting vote, explaining that he had struggled with the issue because Councilman Hamm owns a minority share of HoHo-Kus Inn and Tavern, LLC. Flemming said he was concerned with the perception of an ethical issue, even if one did not exist. Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern effectively assumed the same lease that was awarded by public bid in 1998. The lease calls for a payment of $71,410 in 2009. Adjustments to the rental agreement will include increases of three percent or the consumer price index, whichever is lower. The borough leased the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn to Intervilla in 1998. Principals Marcello Rusodivito and Franco Moretti ran the business until approximately two years ago, when the lease was assigned to Korbitz. This January, the inn closed with an uncertain prospect of reopening, and HoHo-Kus Inn & Tavern, LLC then sought to assume the lease. The inn, located at 1 East Franklin Turnpike, is a national historical landmark that was built in the 1790s. Any renovations or changes to the building must be approved by the borough. Plans for the renovation of the Ho-Ho-Kus Business District took another step forward last week, as the council reviewed drawings of the area provided by HoHo-Kus Borough Engineer David Hals. According the engineer’s drawings, the Sheridan Avenue Downtown Streetscape would be completed in three phases. Plans call for the installation of paver sidewalks designed in a basket-weave pattern, paver insets in the crosswalks, and the installation of additional Victorianstyle street lights. Phase I includes Sheridan Avenue, Phase II includes Orvil Court and portions of Sycamore Avenue, and Phase III includes Warren Avenue (continued on page 14) Engineer provides plans for downtown Site plan of the proposed renovations to downtown Ho-Ho-Kus. ��