Now that the citizens of Troy have voted to allow Sunday alcohol sales within city limits, it is up to the council to draft the ordinance to enact the policy.

The council could draft an ordinance that enforces the referendum as written, with alcohol sales allowed on and off premises after noon on Sundays, or they could add further parameters.

Council president Marcus Paramore, District 3, said he wants to enact the ordinance as voted on in the referendum. “I don’t think there’s any need to do anything different with it,” Paramore said. “I think the ordinance should mirror what the piece of local legislation stated. I think that’s what the people overwhelmingly voted in support of that.”

Paramore said the council will follow standard protocol with the ordinance, meaning it will be introduced for a first reading at the council’s Tuesday, October 24 meeting and could then be voted on during the November 14 meeting.

District 5 councilwoman Wanda Moultry said she’d like to look at further delaying the time that businesses can beginning selling alcohol.

“I think church people go out to eat around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to eat after church that don’t cook at home,” Moultry said. “I just want to respect that and have a timeframe when people don’t have to be subjected to that if they don’t want to be.”

District 2 councilman Greg Meeks said he would like to look into limiting on premises sales to restaurants, which would potentially exclude lounges.

“Personally, I prefer that we would exclude lounges from this,” Meeks said. “That’s what I’d like if it was up to me, but I’m open to options. We haven’t met to discuss this at any time because we wanted to let the people vote first.”

District 4 councilwoman Stephanie Baker said she has not yet looked into further parameters but would like to look at possibilities now that the vote has passed.

“I would like to research what our options are and what other communities have done and the effects it has had on other communities and businesses,” Baker said.

District 1 councilman Robert Jones could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

Mayor Jason Reeves said the ordinance is in capable hands with the council.

“I think it’s important that we craft something that’s not only good for economic development, but something that protects and promotes responsibility. I believe the council will do that and I’m glad to work with them moving forward.”