County Holds First Liquor License Hearing Via Skype

The Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners held a hearing this morning using a technology that is not uncommon to most people in today's digital age.

The hearing to change the name of corporate officers on a license for Scottsdale, AZ-based P.F. Chang's China Bistro was held via Skype. County officials said the hearing was the first time the board had used the technology in a hearing.

Such hearings are routine and usually take less than 10 minutes.

"This is a very business-friendly common sense accommodation that is effective for us and is particularly helpful for those popular national chain restaurants," Charles Klein, chairman of the county liquor board, said in a statement released by the county.

The county did not announce the use of the technology prior to the hearing. The boar and the company did work together a week earlier on a test run to iron out technical issues.

Joanne Zern, licensing manager for P.F. Chang's China Bistro, said the company welcomes the opportunity to participate via Internet video conferencing.

"Not only does this provide cost savings in travel expenses, but it also saves time and resources, allowing our executives to attend a hearing and then immediately return to their regular course of business without the need to spend time traveling," Zern said in the county's statement.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has made increasing the use of technology a priority since taking office in 2010.

"This is particularly valuable to liquor license holders at national chain restaurants who would otherwise need to fly in from out of state for what usually amounts to an eight-minute hearing," Kamenetz said in the statement. "This is yet another way that we are taking advantage of current technology to better serve our constituents and businesses."