The Hotel Holley operating at 153 Main St. in Bradford has again lost its liquor license, while a legal challenge to the Liquor Control Board’s refusal of his license renewal remains ongoing.
According to the Liquor Control Board, on Oct. 26 of last year, the license renewal for the establishment was refused.
“The licensee, Joe Troutman, appealed the decision and was operating under a Board Order, which expired on July 31,” a spokesperson for the LCB said on Friday. “Troutman has since applied to renew the liquor license for the term effective Aug. 1.”
The PLCB spokesperson stated that the license renewal is pending receipt of information required from another state agency.
“So, in the meantime, the licensee does not have operating authority,” the spokesperson said.
When reached, Troutman declined comment.
The 2016 refusal to renew was based on a decision by the board which asserted, according to Troutman’s attorney Greg Henry’s legal brief in the ongoing case, that Troutman is “no longer a reputable person.” The board’s refusal cited 9 liquor code violations from 2011 through 2016 and 24 instances of disturbances from August 2013 to May 2016, Henry’s brief alleges, summing up the case against his client.
The most recent filing in Troutman’s appeal was a post-hearing brief filed June 8 in McKean County Court by Henry. There is no decision on record in McKean County Court as to Troutman’s appeal.
Henry’s brief details the disturbances cited by the Liquor Control Board, many of which took place outside of the Hotel Holley and not within Troutman’s purview. The disturbances do not support the claim that Troutman’s license shouldn’t be renewed, Henry argued.
He spoke of the improvements Troutman has made to the business, including lighting improvements, security doors and more. And since 2013, the establishment has had fewer violations than in previous years. The brief stated that Troutman is “endeavoring to operate his business in a responsible fashion. He, himself, has taken no actions that would make him less than reputable.”
Troutman is making a good faith effort to address issues, and “they should not form the basis for a deprivation of his livelihood,” Henry wrote.
