MILLBURY – Less than a month after deciding for the first time to offer live entertainment licenses with a small fee, the Select Board, in a 3-2 vote on July 27, rescinded the $25 fee after Select Board member Christopher Naff argued that it was unfair to burden businesses with an additional fee after having such a devastating financial year due to COVID-19.
“What I don’t think it is fair is putting any additional fee – another word for tax – after businesses have had their toughest year,’’ Naff said.
Town Manager Sean Hendricks raised the idea of a fee at the June 30 meeting explaining that under state law, the town can charge no more than $100 for an annual entertainment license. Most towns charge the maximum amount, he said. The license would be limited to the few food establishments in town that have common victualler licenses and want to offer live outdoor entertainment.
At that meeting, the board voted to charge the $25 entertainment fee during the remainder of the calendar year and $50 effective Jan. 1, 2022. Only Selectman Scott Despres voted against the fee.
“I’d like to know the justification for the fee?’’ Naff asked the other board members at the July 27 meeting.
Select Board member Katie McKenna said it is fair to charge a fee because there are staff administrative costs to processing licenses and permits.
Naff countered that the state requires that the town have a policy about live entertainment, but there is no requirement for a fee.
“It’s only 96 cents a week,’’ Select Board Chair Mary Krumsiek said. If businesses are paying a fee, Krumsiek speculated that it may encourage them to offer more activities.
But Naff countered that fees “don’t encourage activity, just the opposite.’’
Hendricks noted that “it’s not just about the money…It’s a way of knowing what is going on in town.’’
Naff said, “I still don’t think a fee is necessary or justified.’’ Despres agreed.
“I’m not in favor of any fees for (live) entertainment,’’ he said. If a small pizza shop wants to hire someone to serenade guests with folk music, “why do they need to pay $25?’’
Hendricks said the board could consider creating a one-day live entertainment permit with a fee for concerts that would not impact businesses that offer ongoing live entertainment.
The board voted 3-2 with Naff, Despres and Select Board member David Delaney voting in favor of rescinding the live entertainment fee, and Krumsiek and McKenna voting in favor of keeping the fee.
Since all town licenses are renewed in December for the following year, Hendricks said that by this fall he will create a policy for an entertainment licenses that will include conditions, requirements and costs.
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