Council grants temporary waiver for transient merchant license for charitable events

Organizers for Grace Lutheran Church and the Red Lion Elks told Borough Council that vendors for their upcoming holiday bazaars had been told to obtain transient merchant licenses and pay a $10 fee, a requirement the organizers said had not previously been enforced for private-property church bazaars.

Kristine Cousler, a Dallastown resident and Grace Lutheran Church organizer, said the rule’s application to private-property events felt excessive and described the situation as "a bit like government overreach." Council and staff agreed the Ordinance’s definition of "Transient Retail Merchant" is broad and that the license form contains outdated items needing revision; Solicitor Samantha Craley recommended the Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee review and update the application language.

Because vendors had already begun to withdraw, the Council voted to waive transient license fees for charitable organization-sponsored events through Jan. 1, 2025 (motion by Cindy Barley, seconded by Evan Hiester; motion carried 4-3). Councilors who opposed cautioned about equitable enforcement for other vendors; staff will return with recommended ordinance changes for future enforcement.