3/6/2019-https://www.rdrnews.com/2019/03/05/committee-divided-on-invaders-alcohol-sales/ roswell record 3/6/2019 Committee divided on Invaders alcohol sales NewsLocal News

Committee divided on Invaders alcohol sales By Alison Penn - March 5, 2019 0

Roswell city councilors from left, Savino Sanchez, Jacob Roebuck and Angela Moore deliberate at the General Services Committee on Wednesday about whether or not the Roswell Invaders baseball games should be able to serve alcohol. (Alison Penn Photo)

A lease agreement with provisions for selling beer and wine at the Roswell Invaders baseball games reached a stalemate after the General Services Committee members votes were tied. However, five of Roswells city councilors asked to have the lease agreement move forward to full council. According to the General Service meetings agenda, the Invaders are hosted by the Pecos League of Baseball Clubs in the spring and summer at the Joe Bauman Stadium at Coca-Cola Field, leased to the team from the city of Roswell in a multiyear agreement.

The change to the agreement is coming with the citys soon-to-be received governmental alcohol license for the property -- allowing alcohol to be sold at the Invaders games with a portion of revenue allocated to the city -- per beverage $0.50 at full price and $0.10 if discounted. Juanita Jennings, public affairs director acting as interim staff liaison for the committee, said the city is supposed to receive the license this month. City Manager Joe Neeb said the reason for this license is because selling at the Invaders games was not profitable for current vendors. If the council approves the lease agreement, the agendas abstract states the agreement is "essential" for the Invaders to sell alcohol and will be "submitted to the state." The alcohol lease application currently pending for the Invaders" may be in effect for the 2019 season beginning mid-May and ending in September. City councilors Juan Oropesa and Jacob Roebuck voted in favor, while councilors Savino Sanchez and Angela Moore voted against it at the General Services Committee on Feb. 27.

On Tuesday afternoon, City Clerk Sharon Coll wrote in a statement that Roswell city councilors Roebuck, Caleb Grant, Steve Henderson, Barry Foster and Judy Stubbs requested to have the lease agreement to be placed on the full council meeting on March 14. Coll confirmed that the item will be on that meetings agenda for City Council to consider.

In a follow-up with the Daily Record, Sanchez and Moore said they have not voted in favor of anything alcohol-related as city councilors. Sanchez has served one four-year term for Ward 4 and is serving the last year of his second term before the election in 2020. Moore was elected to represent Ward 5 in March 2018 and has three more years.

"Mine is religious," Moore said about her reason to vote against measures involving alcohol. "Its my religious beliefs against alcohol and drugs -- and the danger it is to our society. I dont have anything against baseball or them drinking it, but I dont agree. I think it is a bad thing for our community and our society. I know a lot of people do it, but I just dont agree with it."

Sanchez said he has seen firsthand the "damage that it (alcohol) does to the families" and children when he goes to minister in detention facilities, where many of the inmates are there due to alcohol and substance abuse. "I know we cant stop it completely ...," Sanchez said of alcohol. "People are going to do it, but at least on my part, I wont vote for it. People spend millions of dollars buying it and then we spend millions of dollars trying to rehab just about the same people. So it just doesnt make any sense to me. It just seems like it is just a cycle that will never stop."

Prior to the vote, Oropesa asked Neeb what would happen if the measure was not approved by the committee at General Services. Neeb said the city would review the item and Parker Patterson, deputy city attorney, said in the parliamentary process a tie vote constitutes as a fail. Neeb and Patterson reminded the committee that the city manager or Mayor Dennis Kintigh could also put the item on the councils agenda. Councilor Roebuck reminded the committee that the item could be put on the councils agenda if five councilors willed it. George and Patty Swenson, host family for some of the Invaders players and local representatives for the Pecos League, were present for the meeting on Feb. 27. George Swenson felt confident it would go forward after talking to councilors after the General Services meeting.

"This is one of the few teams -- I think were the only one in the Pecos League that does not serve beer," Patty Swenson said. "... White Sands does, Alamogordo, Santa Fe does, Alpine does. So we are the only ones -- so weve been working hard trying to get this done and weve been working for over a year to get this through. So yes, I was discouraged."

George Swenson said the Invaders team is an asset to the community because they work with the citys Parks and Recreation programs, help out with the Special Olympics, interact with local youth and more.

"I believe its all going forward and I can understand some people not wanting the beer, but its kinda like an American tradition," Swenson said. "Baseball and beer just go together." City/RISD reporter Alison Penn can be reached at 575-622-7710, ext. 205, or at reporter04@rdrnews.com. by Taboola Sponsored Links YOU MAY LIKE Texas May Pay You to Install Solar if You Live Near Houston EnergyBillCruncher Solar Quotes The Must-Play Strategy Game this Year Forge of Empires - Free Online Game Texas: Program May Pay Off Your House If Bought Before 2018 (You Must Qualify) Mortgage Quotes | Fetcharate Go from Human to Hero--Play for 1 Minute Vikings: Free Online Game Search For Any High School Yearbook, Its Free Classmates Top Surgeon: How To Properly Flush Out Your Bowels Gundry MD Previous article Former RPD officer found guilty in 2016 armed robbery Alison Penn https://rdrnews.com