HADLEY — Annual license fees for restaurants, bars, package stores, hotels, entertainment venues, and auto dealers could be reduced to assist businesses as they continue to cope with the economic challenges of the pandemic.
Licensing Coordinator Jennifer Sanders James is proposing the Select Board temporarily cut the price of the annual permits by 25%, a decision that would benefit businesses as they begin a new year.
“I think it will be helpful for them,” James said.
The Select Board could act as soon as its Sept. 30 meeting, which comes before applications for permit renewals are made.
The fees range from $3,500 for a common victualer’s license for restaurants, $3,000 for an all-alcohol license for package stores and $2,500 for an innholder license, to $400 to operate a seasonal flea market, $200 to sell new and used cars and auto dealer and $150 to run a roller skating rink.
Deputy Town Administrator David Nixon said the permit renewals, paid in the late fall each year, typically bring in about $60,000 to town coffers.
Board members appeared to be supportive of the idea.
“It sounds reasonable, I think,” said Joyce Chunglo. “Everyone’s struggling.”
Board Chairman David J. Fill II said if the reductions are approved, it would come with an understanding that they are only for a limited duration.
John Page, marketing and membership manager for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, wrote in an email that such relief is one element of sustaining businesses through the winter months.
“The towns could help reduce costs by temporary waiving, delaying, or reducing fees for businesses, many of which were not even able to be open for a portion of the year covered by those fees,” Page wrote.
Page added that Hadley officials are holding a virtual forum for businesses on this topic next Tuesday, a day before the Select Board meeting.
Conversations are also taking place with Amherst about similar relief. Town Manager Paul Bockelman said this week that he could soon make a decision on reducing certain fees related to businesses that are under his purview.
Hatfield’s Select Board this week also discussed cutting renewal fees, in particular for four establishments that have been closed for the duration of the pandemic, including the American Legion, the Polish Club, Double B’s Bar and Grill and The Hatfield Pub. But Diana Szynal, the board chairwoman, said it’s possible that reducing fees would also be appropriate for other businesses, including restaurants.
Meantime, other fees collected in Hadley, such as for electrical, plumbing and fire inspections, have previously been waived by the Select Board.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
