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Draft business permitting ordinance would exempt nonprofits and in‑home parties, solicitor says
Summary
Attorney Mike Craley distributed a draft of Ordinance No. 2025 that would exempt nonprofit organizations from fees for up to four craft/vendor fairs per year at a single location and would exempt in‑home parties; the Planning Commission will review the draft in April.
Attorney Mike Craley told the Planning Commission on March 17 that he had distributed a first draft of Ordinance No. 2025, the borough's Business Permitting Ordinance. As described in the draft, "nonprofit organizations will be exempt from paying any fees for up to four (4) craft or vendor fairs per calendar year, per location," and the ordinance would also exempt inside residential dwellings for in‑home parties (examples cited in the minutes included Avon and Tupperware).
Craley told members that because no official action could be taken at the March meeting — the agenda had not been posted online at least 24 hours in advance — the Planning Commission will review the draft in April and provide a recommendation for Council. The solicitor indicated a May Council work session is the earliest opportunity for the ordinance to be discussed by Council, with a potential June Council meeting appearance to follow.
Commission discussion during public comments also touched on enforcement and fairness: local business representatives asked for a delay in enforcement until the ordinance is finalized and publicly advertised, while one visitor said a nearby borough enforces merchant fees, highlighting inconsistent practices across municipalities.
