[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Wakefield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-1-1992 ATM by Art. 37 as Ch. XVII of the 1992 Bylaws]
[Amended 5-10-2018 ATM by Art. 21]
The Tax Collector or other municipal official responsible for records of all municipal taxes, assessments, betterments and other municipal charges, hereinafter referred to as the "Tax Collector," may periodically furnish to each department, board, commission or division, hereinafter referred to as the "licensing authority," that issues licenses or permits, including renewals or transfers, a list of any person, corporation or business enterprise, hereinafter referred to as the "party," that has neglected or refused to pay any local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges for not less than a twelve-month period and that such party has not filed in good faith a pending application for an abatement of such tax or a pending petition before the Appellate Tax Board.
The licensing authority may deny, revoke or suspend any license or permit, including renewals and transfers, of any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority by the Tax Collector; provided, however, that written notice is given to the party and the Tax Collector, as required by applicable provisions of law, and the party is given a hearing, to be held no earlier than fourteen (14) days after said notice. Said list shall be prima facie evidence for denial, revocation or suspension of said license or permit to any party. The Tax Collector shall have the right to intervene in any hearing conducted with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any findings made by the licensing authority with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension shall be made only for the purposes of such proceeding and shall not be relevant to or introduced in any other proceeding at law, except for any appeal from such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any license or permit denied, suspended or revoked under this section shall not be reissued or renewed until the license authority receives a certificate issued by the Tax Collector that the party is in good standing with respect to any and all local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges, payable to the municipality as of the date of issuance of said certificate.
Any party shall be given an opportunity to enter into a payment agreement, thereby allowing the licensing authority to issue a certificate indicating said limitations to the license or permit, and the validity of such license shall be conditioned upon the satisfactory compliance with said agreement. Failure to comply with said agreement shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of said license or permit; provided, however, that the holder shall be given notice and a hearing as required by applicable provisions of law.
[Amended 11-5-2018 RTM by Art. 17]
The Town Council may waive such denial, suspension or revocation if it finds there is no direct or indirect business interest by the property owner, its officers or stockholders, if any, or members of his immediate family, as defined in MGL c. 268A, § 1, in the business or activity conducted in or on said property.
This Article shall not apply to the following licenses or permits: open burning, MGL c. 48, § 13; bicycle permits, MGL c. 85, § 11A; sales of articles for charitable purposes, MGL c. 101, § 33; children work permits, MGL c. 149, § 69; clubs and associations dispensing food or beverage licenses, MGL c. 140, § 21E; dog licenses, MGL c. 140, § 137; fishing, hunting and trapping license, MGL c. 131, § 12; marriage licenses, MGL c. 207, § 28; and theatrical events and public exhibition permits, MGL c. 140, § 181.