The Collector of Taxes shall annually furnish to each department, board, commission or division of the City, herein referred to as the "licensing authority," that issues licenses or permits, including renewals and 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 any other municipal charge 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 application before the Appellate Tax Board.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Amesbury 5-10-1993 by Art. 17 (Art. 42 of the 1990 Bylaws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-13-2000 by Bill No. 2000-108[1]]
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 from the Collector of Taxes or with respect to any activity, event or other matter which is the subject of such license or permit and which activity, event or matter is carried out or exercised or is to be carried out or exercised on or about real estate owned by any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority from the Collector of Taxes; provided, however, that written notice is given to the party and the Collector of Taxes as required by applicable provisions of law and the party is given a hearing, to be held not earlier than 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 Collector of Taxes shall have the right to intervene in any hearing conducted with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any finding 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 Collector of Taxes 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 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 said 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 sections of law.
The Municipal 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, relating to conflict or interest in the business or activity conducted in or on said property.
This chapter shall not apply to the following licenses and permits: open burning permits, bicycle permits, sale of articles for charitable purposes, children at work permits, dog licenses, fishing licenses, hunting licenses, trapping licenses, marriage licenses and public exhibition permits.
[Added 5-23-2023 by Bill No. 2023-038; amended 9-26-2023 by Bill No. 2023-084]
Type | Fees | Description of Services |
|---|---|---|
Municipal lien certificates | $50 | A municipal lien certificate (MLC) is a listing of all taxes, assessments and charges that are due and payable and constitute liens on a parcel of real estate at the time the MLC is issued. Massachusetts General Law c. 60, §§ 23, 23A and 23B. It is generally requested when a property is being sold or the mortgage refinanced. |
Motor vehicle excise demand fee | $15 | A motor vehicle excise demand fee is a second notice tax bill issued after the bill is still outstanding after the due date of 30 days. The earliest that the collector may send a demand is two days after the excise due date. |
Motor vehicle excise warrant fee | $10 | A motor vehicle excise warrant fee is a third notice tax bill issued after the demand bill is still outstanding after the due date of 14 days. The collector issues a warrant to collect the excise to a deputy collector, assistant collector, or other officer, which lets the officer collect the excise directly. |
Personal property demand fee | $15 | A personal property demand fee is the second notice tax bill issued if the bill is still outstanding after the May 1, fourth quarter due date. Usually issued 14 days after May 1. |
Real estate demand fee | $15 | A real estate demand fee is the second notice tax bill issued if the bill is still outstanding after the May 1, fourth quarter due date. Usually issued 14 days after May 1. |
Duplicate bill fee | $1 | A duplicate bill fee is a fee the mortgage companies pay when sending payment without a tax bill. It covers the cost for staff to research the bill and print it to go with the payment. |
Returned checks fee | $10 | A returned check fee is a financial penalty charged when a check for payment is returned by the payee's bank unpaid, typically for insufficient funds. |
Sale/taking posting notice fee | $5 | A sale/taking posting notice fee is the fee to prepare the tax lien notice to post in two public places. |
Sale/taking preparing advertisement fee | $10 | A sale/taking preparing advertisement fee is the fee to prepare the tax lien advertisement for the newspaper. |
Sale/taking preparing deed/instrument of taking fee | $10 | A sale/taking preparing deed/instrument of taking fee is the fee to prepare the instrument of taking to record at the Registry of Deeds. |
Boat excise demand fee | $20 | A boat excise demand fee is a fee for boat excise tax bills that are still outstanding after their due date of 60 days. |
[Added 12-10-2024 by Bill No. 2024-032]
In accordance with the Amesbury Zoning Ordinance, Section X1.01.2,4.01.1(d) [also referred to as Section 11.01.2,4.01.2(d)], the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Amesbury or the City's "licensing authority" shall limit the number of adult use marijuana retail establishments, as defined in G.L. c. 94G, § 1 and 935 CMR 500.00, permitted to be located within the City of Amesbury, to not exceed 30% of the number of licenses allowed within the City for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises where sold under G.L. c. 138, § 15. For the purpose of determining this number, any fraction shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number.