The Tamaqua Borough Council denied a request to transfer a liquor license from North Manheim Township to a borough convenience store.

The decision was made during council’s Tuesday meeting, which followed a public meeting to hear the request from applicant Penn Jersey LLC.

Penn Jersey opened for business last year at 101 E. Broad St., which is the Tamaqua Flat Iron building.

During the hearing, attorney Ed McHugh said that his client wanted to renovate a back portion of Penn Jersey to offer alcoholic beverages, a deli and seating for 35.

McHugh said that the area would be separate from the convenience store, according to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regulations.

Penn Jersey is open 24 hours a day, but planned to operate the liquor side of the business from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The license is owned by the estate of Eleanor Hosler, North Manheim Township.

Tamaqua solicitor Anthony Odorizzi questioned Tamaqua Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt about the number of charitable institutions in the area where the license was requested.

While testifying, Steigerwalt said that the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership plans to renovate the former Tamaqua Moose building at 133 E. Broad St. into a community center and police department; and noted that Depot Square Park and a music training facility for youths is nearby.

Tamaqua Police Chief Michael Hobbs testified that the borough began working with other organizations in 2007 to “clean up” the area.

It received a grant that it used to create a “safety corridor” that encompassed the Five Points intersection - where the Flat Iron building is located - and other nearby streets.

Hobbs said that many calls for police assistance were the result of activities at bars and blighted properties in the area.

But since the community began working together to flight blight and introduce other programs, the crime risk was reduced by about 42%, he said.

“Are you concerned with another liquor license in that area?” Odorizzi asked Hobbs.

“Absolutely,” Hobbs answered.

No one from the public attended the hearing, which lasted 30 minutes.

Borough council considered the request and testimony at an executive session.

Afterward, council voted unanimously to have Odorizzi prepare a resolution denying the liquor license transfer.