How a Local ABC Board Works

According to state statute, township council can appoint a local ABC board, comprising three people, no more than two of whom can be from the same political party. Appointments last three years; however, one of the initial appointments will be for one year, another for two years, and the third for three years.

Appointees cannot receive salaries, except in first-class counties. Burlington is a second-class county.

Members of the ABC board cannot be a state, county or municipal "official, officer or employee."

Anyone with an interest of any kind in an alcohol-related business is also prohibited from serving on the local ABC board, and appointees are also prohibited from (duh) accepting gifts or "anything of value" from licensees or license applicants.

The township may appoint a secretary to the ABC board—which is responsible for investigating applicants and inspecting premises to be licensed, conducting public hearings, keeping minutes, etc.—and that person would be paid a salary.

While the township is allotted a total of six licenses (one per 3,000 residents; the 2010 Census put Moorestown's population at 20,726), council can limit the number of licenses it issues by ordinance, according to state statute, meaning it doesn't have to give out all six. 

While the state ABC can offer guidance, it has no involvement with ABC boards at the municipal level, spokesman Zach Hosseini said. "We don't have to sign off on anything and they don't need to tell us anything."