Bexley City Council members voted 6-1 Aug. 28 to approve the framework for legislation that will permit alcoholic beverages to be served during special events at Jeffrey Mansion.

Councilman Tim Madison cast the lone vote against the measure.

"I was in favor of the ordinance and alcohol being permitted at Jeffrey Mansion, but was forced to vote against the ordinance because council would not require the caterers to carry in excess of $1 million in liquor liability, general liability, and automobile coverage despite the city's own insurance agent recommending $2 million in coverage and an informal recommendation from Nationwide experts that the coverage should be between $3 million and $5 million," Madison said. "In my opinion, $1 million in coverage is embarrassingly low and does not provide the city with adequate protection from alcohol- related incidents.

"Yes, the city maintains additional insurance, but the caterer's insurance should provide sufficient primary protection and $2 million or greater would have been substantially more reasonable."

The alcohol policy framework calls for the Bexley Recreation Board to develop a specific alcohol policy that permits the use of alcoholic beverages at the mansion.

The intent framework is to allow for "limited and responsible permitting of alcohol" at Jeffrey Mansion during special events.

The Bexley Recreation Board is to write and administer a Jeffrey Mansion alcohol policy. The Recreation Board has the right to define and restrict the policy beyond the framework approved by City Council and will also establish clear internal standards and directives to address the following:

* Evaluation: Prior to the enactment of a Jeffrey Mansion alcohol policy, the Recreation Board shall establish a process and standards by which to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the alcohol policy in promoting responsible stewardship of the mansion facility and the city's financial position.

* Enforcement: The Recreation Board shall establish methods by which to enforce responsible conformance to the alcohol policy by users of the facility.

* Communication: Requirements of users of the mansion and enforcement measures must be clearly communicated via rental forms, etc, and also via any promotional material.

* Creation and modification of the alcohol policy: The policy will not go into effect until voted on and passed by a simple majority of the Bexley Recreation Board. Any changes thereafter will also require passage by a simple majority of the Bexley Recreation Board.

* Legal Issues: The Recreation Board shall have the draft of the alcohol policy reviewed by legal counsel prior to submitting it to council for review.

It is not the intent of the policy to alter rental rates for events where alcohol is not being permitted. Rental rates for Jeffrey Mansion will remain the same except for the following:

* An alcohol surcharge will be assessed for any event that would like to have the use of alcoholic beverages. The surcharge rate will be established by the Recreation Board.

* Rentals in which the serving of alcohol is permitted will be required to fall into specific timed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

* A list of approved preferred caters will be created for events.

Preferred caters will be required to obtain and maintain personal injury and/or property damage liability insurance coverage of no less than $1 million; automobile liability insurance for no less than $1 million; and liquor liability insurance for no less than $1 million. The city of Bexley shall be included as an additional insured on the caterer's certificate of insurance.

Caterers will pay a fee to the Recreation Department for each event at which they serve.

In order to serve alcohol at an event, customers must work with one of the preferred caterers. If alcohol will not be consumed at the event, then customers may work with any caterer they choose.

Approved caterers will be interviewed and pre-approved by the Bexley Recreation Board.

In order to remain on the preferred list, caterers must leave the mansion in the condition it was in prior to the event, to the satisfaction of the Recreation Director.