Roosevelt's lone liquor license remains inactive Former deli owners still own license but will have to pay $172 more this year ROOSEVELT - Although the borough's only liquor license is inactive, the Borough Council has unanimously agreed to raise its annual fee by 20 percent. At the May 14 Borough Council meeting, an ordinance "concerning alcoholic beverages" was passed, amending the borough's previous ordinance to allow the annual license fee for a plenary retail distribution license to rise to $1,033 per year. Borough Clerk Krystyna Olejnik said that last year the fee was $861. According to Olejnik, state law allows the license fee to be raised by 20 percent each year. The Rossi family, who previously owned the delicatessen located next to the post office, still owns the liquor license. Mi Rancho, the new business at the former site of Rossi's, does not sell alcohol. Councilwoman Peggy Malkin asked Borough Attorney Richard Shaklee if the town can rescind the license and sell it to someone else, since the Rossi family no longer resides in Roosevelt. Shaklee said that the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) looked at the paperwork and considers this liquor license a "pocket license," which is not attached to a specific place. Shaklee said the liquor license can remain inactive for two full terms. After that, the ABC could issue a special ruling in order for it to be renewed while it is still inactive, according to Shaklee. Shaklee said that by the end of July 2008, the liquor license will have been inactive for two full terms. He said the paperwork on the license indicated that it was active in 2005. In 2008, the ABC would rule on the license as a matter of course, according to Shaklee. Borough Administrator William Schmeling said the license fee may be raised irrespective of ownership. Mayor Elsbeth "Beth" Battel said that even though the license is currently not in use, the fee still creates revenue for the borough.