2 Perry Hall Restaurants Fined For COVID Violations

PERRY HALL, MD — Two Perry Hall area restaurants were fined this week for recently violating rules designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Buffalo Wild Wings and Rustic Inn were each found to have broken rules that require masks inside establishments. In each case, officials said employees were not wearing masks.

The two were among six businesses called before the Baltimore County Liquor Board Monday to address violations of its rule prohibiting "any act which shall be contrary to any federal, state or local statute, law or ordinance or against the public peace, safety, health, welfare, quiet, or morals" at any liquor licensee's premises.

Gov. Larry Hogan has issued a state order calling for people over age 5 to wear face coverings when inside food service establishments and any indoor spaces where the public is permitted. A face covering is defined as something that fully covers one's nose and mouth and is secured to a person's head, according to the order. It is also required of employees in areas where food is prepared or packaged.

Linda Carter, the attorney for Buffalo Wild Wings, admitted her clients did violate the order.

"Evidently, your inspector was on the premises and issued a verbal warning because there was at least one employee that did not have a mask on," Carter said. The inspector "came back about a week later and found the same situation. The masks were on but not properly being worn."

The inspector noted the employees were wearing the masks in a way that did not cover their noses and mouths at the restaurant in the 8200 block of Perry Hall Boulevard.

"It did happen. We can't deny it," Carter said, telling the board a liquor inspector found employees not wearing masks. "We're apologetic."

The liquor board inspector said the employees were cooperative and remedied the situation while he was there both times.

"We are very sorry. We will not be seeing you" again, Carter told the board. Signs on how to wear a mask are now posted throughout the restaurant, Carter said.

The board fined Buffalo Wild Wings $250 — it issued a $750 fine but suspended $500 because the restaurant did not have any prior COVID violations and because it took action after the violations.

"We were most impressed by your submission that you are taking this seriously," Chair of the Baltimore County Liquor Board Susan Green said. "You have signage advising how to wear a mask properly."

Rustic Inn Also Fined $250 For No Masks

During a routine inspection of Rustic Inn in the 9500 block of Belair Road, the liquor board inspector said there wasn't any social distance at the bar, where the bartender was not wearing any sort of face covering either.

When he asked to speak with a manager, he said he was directed to an employee who also did not have a mask on and who was talking to someone else.

Manager Bernadette Bosley said she had been there for 12 hours and was leaving around 6 or 6:30 p.m. when the inspector arrived. At the time, she said, she was about to go out the door. She said one employee was at the end of a shift, and the bartender was taking a drink at the bar because of a medical condition, explaining their lack of face coverings.

The governor's order says people do not need to wear masks while consuming food or drink.

"Neither your patrons nor your employees can be walking through the establishment ... without a mask on," Green said, continuing: "It's concerning that you make a statement like, 'I was heading out the door.'"

The liquor board takes a "different view" of establishments where employees are not following the governor's orders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Green said, compared with patrons who are not within their control. Said Green: "Don't let it happen again."

The Rustic Inn was fined $750 for the violation with all but $250 suspended.

"We are trying to temper the economic hardship suffered by the industry with the need to enforce these COVID [restrictions]," Green said at Monday's hearing, where Sail Inn in Sparrows Point, Howard's Pub in Dundalk and City View in Randallstown were also fined for violations. Shuffles Saloon in Arbutus was given a warning over lack of masks at its restaurant.

"If you were to return before us, the board would take a very dim view of repeat offenders," Green told the liquor licensees at the hearing, where representatives had to show why their licenses should not be suspended. "We are taking our duty very seriously."

The hearing took place at 1 p.m., hours before the governor announced at a 4 p.m. news conference that Maryland State Police would be assisting with a crackdown on businesses and individuals not following orders starting Thanksgiving eve through the holidays.

In urging Marylanders to take public health directives seriously, Hogan used Baltimore County as an example of someplace that could serve as a model.

"They formed a 30-member social distancing task force to ensure that businesses are informed of and complying with masking and distancing at capacity restrictions," Hogan said. "This is a great example for other counties across the state."

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said the task force had conducted more than 7,000 inspections, driven by complaints and the desire to be proactive, as of Monday, Nov. 23.

See Also: New COVID Policing Unit To Launch In Maryland On Thanksgiving Eve

This article originally appeared on the Perry Hall Patch