Things got a bit testy at the meeting of the Lumberton City Council on Monday when a councilman made it clear he wasn’t pleased with what he called a demand letter from an attorney representing a local restaurant that wants to stay open three hours later at night — and needs the city’s permission for that happen.

Or is the city’s permission required? When the combative conversation had ended, that question was not settled.

Ed Brooks, the lawyer, addressed the City Council on behalf of Jordan’s Bar and Grill at 3555-A N. Roberts Ave., which needs a conditional-use permit to extend its hours past 11 p.m. at night until 2 a.m. the next day. The city’s Planning Board has recommended the council deny the permit, obviously concerned more about the bar aspect of the eatery than the grill.

But Chris Howard, a city councilman, made it clear to Brooks that he didn’t like the tone of a letter that the lawyer had sent the city, saying he found it threatening.

Probably the best thing that could have happened on the night, did, and that is the council voted to table the matter so that additional information can be gathered from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, which should help ensure that whatever the city decides is fair and lawful.

Brooks was adamant that the establishment’s intent isn’t three more hours of selling alcohol, which is typically when problems can occur, and that the desire is to have the ability to host special events that might extend past midnight. The restaurant promised to hire security that is often needed when alcohol flows too freely.

The city and the restaurant have different interests, but they don’t have to be at loggerheads.

Jordan’s Bar and Grill is looking for a niche, a way to make a profit, which is not only what restaurants want to do, but have to do if they are going to keep opening the door. It’s to everyone’s benefit that the restaurant succeeds, assuming it’s not a nuisance, and that includes its owners, employees, patrons and all of us who benefit from taxes paid.

The city, on the other hand, is understandably skittish anytime a new kid on the block wants to sell alcohol, and at least one neighbor of the bar spoke to the council in opposition, pointing out the truth that not a lot of good things happen after midnight.

The issue was punted until next month when questions were raised concerning who has jurisdiction, and rather or not the city through zoning can control when alcohol can be served and when it can’t. In the interim, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission will be consulted so the city doesn’t overstep its jurisdiction.

That will give all parties involved a cooling off period.

The decision on what Jordan’s Bar and Grill can do and when should depend on the law and not emotions, and the state ABC Commission’s input is likely to be the determining factor. But it seems to us that there is a lot of room here for a compromised solution that benefits all involved.

There is time to make that happen.