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Council drops annual business-registration fee; initial registration remains
Summary
Westerly eliminated an annual $15 business-registration renewal fee, moving instead to a one-time $15 registration plus a $10 online processing charge (manager called the combined cost $25). Councilors said the change reduces administrative burdens on small businesses.
The council voted to amend the business-registration ordinance so that businesses pay a one-time $15 registration fee at initial registration rather than an annual fee. The town manager explained that the registration program rolled out recently and the council was asked to stop charging the annual renewal fee; an online processing component was discussed.
As the manager summarized the change: "Fee is $15 at the initial registration... $10 is a $10 process and fee for our online program... So really, it's 5th 15 is a fee, but $10 is a process, and so it's $25. No renewal fee at all." The council closed the public hearing with no speakers from the audience and adopted the ordinance.
Councilors said the change intends to reduce recurring costs for local small businesses while maintaining a registration and renewal system for address or contact changes. The adoption means staff will update fee schedules and administrative processes to reflect the new one-time fee plus processing charge.
