New Philadelphia considering allowing outdoor drinking daily downtown
NEW PHILADELPHIA – The city is considering expanding its outdoor drinking hours from just special events to seven days a week.
City Council approved a downtown Designated Outdoor Drinking Area – or DORA – last year to operate during events. This week, the city’s DORA board and representative Council member Kris Kreinbihl asked Council to leave it open permanently.
Kreinbihl says it’s a challenge to put up and take down 60 DORA signs for each event and to communicate with each participating establishment. He says the two DORA events so far have been successful without incident.
At least two Council members are opposed, with Cheryl Ramos expressing concern about setting a bad example for kids, and Tom Simmelink saying they’re moving too fast.
Empower Tusc, formerly the anti-drug coalition, has been against the DORA, and chairman Kerry Metzger spoke at Monday’s Council meeting in opposition to the amendment. He, too, suggested the DORA sends the message to children that alcohol consumption is risk free.
Council introduced the new DORA legislation Monday. It will be on the agenda for at least two more meetings before Council votes on it.