A Sycamore restaurant has turned in its DeKalb liquor license rather than face a public hearing Thursday.

Joe Maniaci, owner of Sam’s Pizza, 526 E. State Street, could not be reached for comment at press time due to a death in the family.

Mayor/Liquor Commissioner Greg Sparrow said the city license was to be revoked or suspended because the restaurant’s state liquor license was suspended Sept. 1 and it continued selling alcohol. However, he said there is “no criminal activity here.”

Last week, two undercover policemen were sold beer at Sam’s Pizza, Sparrow said.

Peter Carlson, Chief Legal Counsel for the state’s liquor commission, said the state license was revoked because of a “failure to file and pay their (liquor) sales tax returns for April through June,” and for not paying sales tax returns “prior to April.”

Sam’s Pizza owes more than $3,123 in liquor sales tax during those times, he said.

Carlson said if Sam’s Pizza pays its liquor sales tax returns, its state license can be returned. He said the restaurant currently has not “satisfied its obligation to the state.”

Sparrow said the Class B liquor license is available for purchase. It allows for the sale of beer and wine.

City liquor licenses are renewed each year if the establishment holding the license is found to be “in good standing,” Sparrow said.

To obtain a license, requires payment of a $50 application fee, which is followed by a police check into the background of the person requesting the license.

The Class B liquor license has an annual fee of $925.