Public Notice of Applications and Hearings

Meetings at which the county beer board considers applications for permits must be public hearings at which members of the public and their attorneys are allowed to speak. T.C.A. § 57-5-105(f). Under the Open Meetings Act (“Sunshine Law”), adequate public notice of the meeting must be given. T.C.A. § 8-44-103. Before issuing a permit, the beer board is authorized to publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county stating the name of the applicant, the address of the location, whether the application is for on-premises or off-premises consumption, and the date and time of the meeting at which the application will be considered. T.C.A. § 57-5-105(f). The minutes of the meeting must be recorded and open to public inspection, and all votes of the beer board must be by public vote, public ballot, or roll call. T.C.A. § 8-44-104.