For waiting

over two months to pay a fine for selling alcohol to a minor, a local

convenience store has had its alcohol sales license suspended for 30 days.

The Fayetteville

City Council took the action against the Pit Stop at 630 North Glynn St.

at its Thursday night meeting. Operator Chanmeet Saluja had asked for

leniency, saying he never received the three letters sent to him by the

city to remind him of the fine.

City Clerk

Judy Stephens said three certified letters were mailed to the business

reminding Saluja of the fine. Saluja examined the letters and confirmed

they were signed for by his employees.

City Manager

Joe Morton said Saluja paid the fine a few days before but he still recommended

the 30-day suspension of the license.

"I never

had a bad intention like I was not going to pay," Saluja said, adding

that he was under the impression he could pay the fine when he paid for

the annual renewal of the license.

The suspension

began at the open of business Friday morning.

Several council

members became upset after learning that one of the certified letters

was signed for by Stanley Rodriguez, the person who was caught selling

alcohol to a minor. When council handed down the fine March 21, Saluja

told him Rodriguez would no longer work at the store.

Saluja said

Rodriguez had an alcohol sales permit, which he didn't have before when

the violation was discovered. But it was later determined that Rodriguez

was issued a permit in error because his conviction for selling alcohol

to a minor did not come up on his background check, Morton told The Citizen

Monday.