Council members clarify ice-cream vendor background-check fee after ordinance correction
Summary
The council introduced an amendment to an existing ordinance to remove a duplicated fee for ice-cream vendor background checks. The change clarifies vendors will receive a single background-check fee rather than being charged twice.
Eatontown The Mayor and Council introduced an amendment to the boroughs vendor ordinance Wednesday to correct language that caused some ice-cream vendors to face duplicate background-check fees.
Officials said the original ordinance intended to require background checks for vendors but inadvertently created a situation where vendors could be assessed two fees for the same check. A councilmember identified in the meeting as Mr. Clark explained the amendments purpose: "We're clarifying the ordinance that you're still gonna get your background check, but we're certainly not gonna charge you two fees, just the one."
The ordinance will be presented for public hearing and further council consideration at the next regular meeting, with the correction intended to remove the duplicate-charge issue before enforcement begins.
Why it matters
The amendment addresses a narrow procedural error in licensing language that municipal officials said would have created an unintended financial burden on small vendors. Council members described the change as corrective and not a change in the boroughs background-check requirement.
