Several local restaurant owners have asked the Peachtree City Council to reconsider its restrictions for alcohol serving permits.

The current law requires a two-year waiting period for an alcohol serving permit for persons who violated alcohol-related laws, including underage possession of alcohol.

The waiting period jumps to five years for anyone who has been convicted of drug possession or sales, theft, violent crimes, sex offenses, identity fraud, credit card fraud and gambling or prostitution charges.

Bob Stieber of Valentino’s Restaurant said he and his brother are planning to expand their business and triple their staff. But the alcohol serving rules are making them consider a move outside of the city because “it’s hard to find staff.”

Stieber told council that he should have the final say-so on who he hires, not the City Council. The city regulations only cover those who are allowed to serve alcohol; they expressly do not apply to persons hired to cook, bus tables, wash dishes, “or any other employee whose duties do not include handling alcoholic beverages.”

Police Chief James Murray, whose department administers the program which includes criminal background checks, said he would be glad to work with a small group of restaurant owners to review the current ordinance and possible changes.

Persons who have been convicted of crimes covered by the statute have already paid the criminal penalty in terms of fines and time served, Stieber noted.

One of Stieber’s employees “had been in trouble” three years ago, he said, but since then he had become a valued worker who is well-liked by his customers.

“He’s a good young man,” Stieber said. “He made a mistake.”

Council also heard from two young girls who said the lack of a alcohol serving permit kept them from waiting tables ... and thus a higher income from tips.

Jim Royal, owner of Partner’s II Pizza, noted that the city gets $25 per application, but Chief Murray said that cost doesn’t cover the staff time devoted to the matter.

Council members Steve Boone and Cyndi Plunkett said they would like to see a workshop conducted on the matter.

The ordinance also requires restaurants to provide an annual list of all persons allowed to serve alcohol at the establishment, which was also called into question by one of the restaurant owners.

Murray said allows the department to cross-reference the list with the city’s database of licensed servers. Also, he noted that some restaurants in town pay employees cash under the table, so the city might not otherwise know of those employees’ existence.

City staff will give an update on the issue at the next council meeting March 2.