(a) Except as provided in § 4-44 of this chapter, no local liquor license shall be revoked or suspended, and no fines shall be assessed against a local liquor licensee pursuant to § 4-40 of this chapter, except after a public hearing held by the liquor control commissioner in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Written notice of the date, time, and place of, and the general reasons for, the hearing shall be transmitted to the local liquor licensee at the licensed premises by personal service, if possible, and/or by certified United States mail, affording the local liquor licensee an opportunity to appear and defend.
(2) No public hearing authorized by this section may be conducted less than three days after receipt by the local liquor licensee of the notice required pursuant to this section.
(3) The liquor control commissioner shall hold the hearing at the date, time and place set forth in the notice, and shall give the licensee an opportunity to be heard.
(b) The liquor control commissioner may, upon a reasonable belief that any continued operation of a particular licensed premises will immediately threaten the welfare of the community, order a licensed premises closed for not more than seven days, pending a hearing on the suspension or revocation of the local liquor license: (1) upon the issuance of a written order stating the reason for such conclusion; and (2) without notice or hearing. Any order issued pursuant to this section shall include the notice of public hearing required pursuant to subsection (a)(l) of this section. If the local liquor licensee is also engaged in the conduct of another business on the licensed premises, the order issued pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section shall not be applicable to the other business.
(c) Within 14 days of the public hearing, the liquor control commissioner shall issue a written order setting forth any penalties to be assessed against or imposed upon the local liquor licensee, and the reasons therefor. A copy of the written order shall be served upon the local liquor licensee by personal service or by certified United States mail.
(Ord. No. 2015-13a-3385, § 2)