Whenever in any provision of this Code or ordinance anything
is prohibited to be done without the permission or license of any
office, officer or board, such office, officer or board shall have
the power to permit or license such thing to be done.
When no other provision is made by this Code, law or ordinance,
the City Council may grant all licenses upon such terms and under
such conditions or restrictions as it may prescribe.
All licenses granted by the City Council shall be issued and
signed by the City Clerk, and bear the City Seal.
[Amended 3-12-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-6; 7-15-2008 by Ord. No.
2008-40]
A. Distribution of delinquent list. The Director of Financial Services
or other municipal official responsible for records of all municipal
taxes, assessments, betterments and other municipal charges shall
annually furnish to each department, board, commission or division
that issues licenses or permits, including renewals and transfers
(referred to in this section as the "licensing authority"), a list
of any person, corporation or business enterprise (referred to in
this section 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 has not
filed in good faith a pending application for an abatement of such
tax or a pending petition before the appellate tax board.
B. Procedure. The licensing authority may deny, revoke or suspend any
license or permit, including renewals and transfers, of any party
whose name appears on the list furnished to the licensing authority
by the Director of Financial Services 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 the list furnished to the licensing
authority by the Director of Financial Services; provided, however,
that written notice is given to the party and the Director of Financial
Services as required by applicable provisions of law, and the party
is given a hearing, to be held not earlier than 14 days after the
notice. The list shall be prima facie evidence for denial, revocation
or suspension of the license or permit of any party. The Director
of Financial Services 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 proceedings 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 licensing authority receives a certificate issued by the Director
of Financial Services 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 City as of the date of issuance of
the certificate.
C. Payment agreements. Any party shall be given an opportunity to enter
into a payment agreement, thereby allowing the licensing authority
to issue a certificate indicating such limitations to the license
or permit, and the validity of the license shall be conditioned upon
the satisfactory compliance with such agreement. Failure to comply
with the agreement shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation
of the license or permit; provided, however, that the holder is given
notice and a hearing as required by applicable provisions of law.
D. Discretionary authority of City Council. The City 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 the property owner's immediate
family, as defined in MGL c. 268A, § 1, in the business
or activity conducted in or on the property.
E. Exemptions. This section shall not apply to licenses and permits
for open burning, bicycle permits, sales of articles for charitable
purposes, children's work permits, clubs, associations dispensing
food or beverage licenses, dog licenses, fishing, hunting and trapping
licenses, marriage licenses, theatrical event licenses, and public
exhibition permits.
The fees to be charged for the required yearly registration shall be the amount of the license fees established in Chapter
A110, Fee Schedule, of the City Code.
[Amended 9-27-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-20]
The City Clerk shall issue a suitable credential to all duly appointed constables. The fee for each such credential shall be as provided in Chapter
A110, Fee Schedule, of the City Code.