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Residents, providers press council over perceived inequities in home-based business fees
Summary
Home-based business owners and providers urged the Ogdensburg City Council to address what they described as inconsistent enforcement and a discriminatory fee structure for home-based businesses, especially in-home day care providers; councilors debated a proposed task force and staff urged limited further use of management time.
Home-based business owners and residents pressed the Ogdensburg City Council on uneven enforcement and what speakers described as a discriminatory user-fee process for home-based businesses, particularly in-home day-care providers.
Advocates said the city’s current method of charging extra water/sewer or user fees to some home-based businesses — and not others — lacks transparency and reliable enforcement. “The city continues to treat home based business owners differently and unfairly compared to those who operate in the commercial setting,” said Kylie Morrow, an in-home day-care operator, during public comment. “It is a policy issue, and it’s a community issue.”
The complaint traces to a change in local enforcement following mailing of affidavits and follow-up inspections; speakers said some recipients were charged…
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