Oxford Township doesn’t want to risk any of its remaining liquor licenses leaving the community, so it took steps last week to ensure that doesn’t happen.

In a 7-0 vote, township officials approved a template for a liquor license agreement that will be used as part of the approval process for now on.

Under this agreement, the liquor license holder is not allowed to “utilize” or “transfer” the license “to a location outside the township, unless the township agrees to amend the terms.”

With regard to the potential amendment of the terms, it’s specifically noted in the agreement “the township may decline to do (this) for any reason or for no reason whatsoever.”

As long as the license remains “within the boundaries of the township,” nothing in the agreement prohibits the holder from “selling, assigning or transferring” interest “in the license and/or business” or “from transferring the location of said license,” provided the necessary

approvals are obtained from both the township and Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Currently, the township has three Class C liquor licenses available.

Class C licenses allow establishments to sell, at retail, beer, wine, mixed-spirit drinks and spirits for consumption on the premises. Bars and restaurants need this type of license to sell alcoholic beverages to their patrons.

Treasurer Joe Ferrari supported making the agreement part of the approval process because without such a clear-cut restriction, “you’ll end up with your liquor licenses all over the state.”

“We’ll have no restaurants (here) to frequent,” he said.

Ferrari cited an example from nine years ago when an Oxford restaurant closed, then sold its license to an establishment in Novi. He does not want that to happen again.

“I want people to frequent the restaurants here,” he said.

A 2006 agreement between the township and Brinker Michigan, Inc., owner of Chili’s Grill & Bar, was used as the basis for the liquor license agreement template.

That agreement prevented Chili’s Class C license from leaving the township when the chain restaurant closed its Oxford location in February 2009 after less than two years in business.