Office of Regulatory Reinvention Appoints Members to the Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee

Contact: John Groen 517-373-9280

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

August 5, 2011 - Today, the Office of Regulatory Reinvention appointed twenty-one people to the Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee. The Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee will assist the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) in reviewing Michigan's liquor control system in order to ensure that the regulations are simple, fair, transparent and efficient, and conducive to business growth and job creation.

"A comprehensive review of Michigan's liquor control rules and regulations is overdue," said Rob Nederhood, deputy director of the ORR. "It appears that the regulated community agrees - we received nearly 70 applications to serve on this committee. Michigan is fortunate to have so many highly credentialed citizens from a wide variety of backgrounds willing to serve. We are confident this committee will help ensure that Michigan's regulatory system is simple, fair, and efficient and conducive to business growth and job creation."

Specifically, the ORR appointed: 

• Larry Alexander, Detroit, President and CEO, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau - Auday Arabo, West Bloomfield, President & Chief Executive Officer, Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers 
• Joe Borello, Grand Rapids, President of Tasters Guild, International 
• Michael Brown, Lansing, Partner, Carlin Edwards Brown PLLC 
• Mark Burzych, Okemos, Founding Member, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes, PLC 
• Richie Coleman, Macomb, Regional Manager, Speedway 
• Donald Coe, Traverse City, Managing partner of Black Star Farms
• Dwain Dennis, Ionia, Ionia County Sheriff 
• Andy Deloney, Lansing, Chair, Michigan Liquor Control Commission 
• Laura Fitzpatrick, Muskegon, Program Manager / Advocacy Liaison MCHP / Mercy Health Partners 
• Linda Gobler, Lansing, President & CEO, Michigan Grocers Association 
• Matt Greff, Ann Arbor, Owner, Arbor Brewing Co. 
• Samantha Harkins, Lansing, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League 
• Marsha Keenoy, Okemos, Director of Michigan Market, Diageo 
• J. Lambrecht, Detroit, Proprietor, Fountain Bistro and Bookies Bar & Grille 
• Harold McGovern, President, NWS of Michigan 
• Pat Moody, Benton Harbor, Executive Vice President, Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce 
• Greg O'Niel, South Haven, President/Owner, O.K. Distributors 
• Gerald Smith, Lewiston, Owner/stockholder: Talley's Log Cabin Bar, Inc. 
• Mike Telliga, Midland, Director of Government Affairs and Special Projects, Midland Area Chamber of Commerce 
• Michael Zimmer, Lansing, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Chief Deputy Director Michael Zimmer will chair the committee. The first committee meeting will be held later this month in Lansing.

The ORR was formed pursuant to Executive Order 2011-5. The Executive Order contemplates that, as part of its effort to obtain input from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the ORR will create certain Advisory Rules Committees.

The Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee (ARC) will function for 120 days after formation, unless that date is extended by the ORR. The ARC will issue a report to the ORR containing advisory recommendations upon the completion of their work.

The ARC will perform a comprehensive review of the entire system and evaluate the applicable rules based of the factors listed in Executive Order 2011-5, including the health and safety benefits of the rules; the cost of compliance with the rules; whether the rules are duplicative or obsolete; and other factors.

Ultimately, the ORR will submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor, based in part on the reports from each of the ARCs. Four other ARCs, Environmental, Insurance & Finance, Workplace Safety and Occupational Licensing have been created. The ORR expects to announce the composition of the Natural Resources ARC in the near future. Other ARCs will be formed in the future, to address other areas of regulation, according to Nederhood.

In addition to forming ARCs, the ORR will provide interested parties with the opportunity to share their perspectives on the regulatory environment by, among other things, inviting the submission of comments online at www.michigan.gov/orr and by providing for public comment as part of any formal rulemaking process mandated by the Administrative Procedures Act.

For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara. Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/michiganORR , "Like" us on Facebook or find us on YouTube www.youtube.com/michiganLARA