A Millers Island bar owner’s unusual iPod accessory has landed him in hot water with the county Board of Liquor License Commissioners.
The three-member panel Monday fined Larry Thanner, co-owner and operator of Dock of the Bay, $2,000 on each of two counts related to his use of a barge to play music outside his bar.
During his testimony, Thanner said he was being unfairly singled out by the liquor board, and said many nearby restaurants on the water play much louder music than his bar.
“I’m the only restaurant in Baltimore County that can’t have music,” Thanner said.
The four-hour show cause hearing in Towson was the latest in an ongoing six-year dispute between Thanner and several local residents over the volume of music at his restaurant and bar, including a contempt order issued last year by a Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge.
Thanner built the small barge in the water off his outdoor patio this spring as a way of circumventing that order.
Judge Robert N. Dugan in November ordered Thanner to dismantle the Dock of the Bay's outdoor speaker system. He also issued a ban on live bands, music, D.J., karaoke and all other forms of music on site.
The basis of the contempt order was that the Dock of the Bay was not zoned as a nightclub.
Thanner built the barge for his iPod. From there, he played Jimmy Buffett and other “island music” for customers over Memorial Day weekend.
Thanner said he did not believe Dugan had jurisdiction over the water near his restaurant and bar. Additionally, he said he did not interpret the contempt order to include soft rock “house music” piped inside while guests ate lunch or dinner.
“I don’t consider that entertainment,” Thanner said.
Residents who live near the bar and one county official disagreed.
Charles Wolinski, Brad Metheny and Kay Sessa wrote complaint letters June 1 about the music over Memorial Day weekend. All three testified, along with Miller’s Island Community Association President Denise Haas, that the bar violated Dugan’s order and that the music was loud enough to be heard in their homes.
Michael Mohler, chief administrator for the liquor board, in a written report, said he heard soft rock music playing on speakers inside the restaurant on the afternoon of May 19 while visiting the restaurant about a separate issue. Mohler stated during his testimony that he believed Dugan’s contempt order banned the playing of any music whatsoever on the premises.
Several Dock of the Bay employees testified that the music from the barge was not loud and could not be heard in some places in and around the restaurant.
The three-member board found Thanner and his bar violated county regulations prohibiting bars from disturbing the peace of the neighborhood in which they are located. They also ruled that the bar violated the judge’s order.
The $2,000 for each violation represents the maximum amount the board can legally impose.
The ruling left both sides unhappy.
Thanner’s attorney, David F. Mister, said Thanner has 30 days to file an appeal in circuit court. Mister said a decision to appeal has not yet been made.
Sessa said she was not satisfied that the board, which has the power to suspend or revoke a liquor license, had merely levied fines against Thanner.
“I’m not happy with it,” Sessa said, adding that she believes Thanner will try playing music again and everyone will be back before the board again at some point.
Oh, unless you are a resident, this is NOT your area!
You are all defending someone who you know nothing about! Were you there at 2:00 a.m. when he intentionally has his patrons rev their engines, crank up their stereos and race down the road to purposely wake up residents who have to work the next day and children who have to go to school? All this because someone THINKS he can do anything he wants and get away with it!
Thanner had the ability to play music at the Dock after he bought the place. He started out slow and low and got louder then longer hours until complaints had to be made as he refused to work with the neighbors. He was charged and lost and appealed and lost and still played music which resulted in his contempt of court order. Then he puts it on a raft when he is ordered not to have it at all. His ability to play music was a privilege not a right under his zoning. He abused that privilege numerous times and that is what got him to where he is now. Don't come down here an flout your very misguided opinion like he is being victimized. He has been the aggressor through this entire process and has done this to himself. . Please stick to issues that you know something about because this sure isn't one of them.
Miller's Island lost its appeal for me a long, long time ago. It isn't the place it used to be. At one time, MI was a very friendly place. When I was a kid, we'd go to the amusement park on Pleasure Island. We'd swim at Ramona's beach and eat at Ramona's, while pop would fish off the bridge going to Pleasure Island. In the 60's, pop lost his fishing spot, but we still went there. In the 90's, the temper of the place changed and Isabel exacerbated the change. I have to wonder how many of the "new islanders" are from places like NYC, DC, or even (gasp), California. I did visit MI after the new homes were built post Isabel. I was shocked at the 5 acre houses built on small plots of land. The houses certainly smack of people wanting to live a high falutin' life or, as my mom would say, "having champagne taste on a beer budget." Somehow, it doesn't surprise me that the place is in the midst of those "champagne" houses. Sure am glad that I no longer frequent the place. It is very, very sad tho'.
Stop being such a putz. The world doesn't revolve around you & only you.
Mr. Thanner purchased the restaurant after Hurricane Isabel. At that time, Mr. Thanner stated (on TV) that he took advantage of someone's misfortune by buying the restaurant after it was completely destroyed. He did in fact remodel and create a nice place to enjoy the Baltimore County waterfront. It's just very unfortunate that he has no respect for the community that has surrounded it many years prior. He also stated that if he has to stop the entertainment, he would file a formal complaint against every restaurant in Baltimore County that plays music.
I used to work for DOB. I'm NOT a Larry Thanner fan. I find him to be an arrogant, sweaty old perv of a man. We didn't see eye to eye on most things. I can assure you that when I left my shift at 10PM & walked onto the parking lot to get into my car, I could hear the music...but barely to the point that it would disturb neighbor behind the walls of their homes. I have always felt that this constant battle between DOB and a "few" of the residents was more of a personal vendetta. One of the main petitioners built a home NEXT to DOB right after it was sold to Mr. Thanner...If you build a house next to a bar and you expect peace and quiet your a MORON! Mr. Thanner also owns additional property on Cuckold Pt. Road. I recall an episode while I was working there where a resident wrote "Larry Sucks @i$%" in spray paint on the sign. Very mature fellow MI residents. One day you will get your wish and MI, Sparrows Pt. & Edgemere will be a ghost town. It won't be adventageous for business owners to set up shop in the area. People will lose their jobs, you will have to drive 10 miles to the closed gas station....etc. One day you will get exactly what you're looking for.