Council ups pawnshop suspension

BREWER – A divided City Council on Tuesday extended the suspension of a local pawnbroker’s license following her arrest earlier this month on drug charges.

After extensive discussion, the five-member group voted 3-2 to suspend the license of Kathy L. Ellis, owner and operator of Choices pawnshop at 17 North Main St. Lewis was arrested Feb. 3 by Brewer Police and charged with aggravated furnishing of a schedule W drug – the painkiller Vicodin – unlawful possession of methadone, also a schedule W drug, and possession of a usable amount of marijuana.

She is scheduled for a March 7 initial appearance at 3rd District Court in Bangor. After more than two hours of discussion, the council voted 3-2 to suspend Ellis’ right to operate the pawnshop until resolution of the court charges against her, or April 30, whichever comes first. Ellis’ pawnshop license expires May 1.

City Manager Steve Bost explained to the council why he had temporarily suspended Ellis’ pawnbroker’s license last week after notification by the police. Bost recommended the license be permanently revoked.

Ellis’ business is located adjacent to an alternative high school program operated by Brewer High School, a fact that concerned some councilors.

Ellis’ shop has been closed for 10 days, producing financial hardship on her and her family, she said. She was appealing Bost’s temporary suspension decision.

On the 3-2 vote, with Doughty and Councilor Michael Ferris in the negative, the council voted for the continued suspension. During discussion, Doughty said the evidence presented wasn’t sufficient enough to close the woman’s business for an extended period. Doughty said he had had a prescription for Vicodin after recent knee surgery.

“But you didn’t give it away,” Mayor Gail Kelly said.

“If someone was in real pain, yes, I would give it away. I’m for zero tolerance, but I can’t support taking her license away,” Doughty said. Doughty later said he had never smoked a cigarette much less taken illegal drugs. “But if I walked into any business in this city and asked the businessmen if they had smoked it, we wouldn’t have enough room in the county jail to lock ’em up,” Doughty said.