[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Raritan 10-11-2000 by Ord. No. 00-27 (Ch. 5.04 of the 2000 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended by Ord. No. 2017-41; 9-6-2022 by Ord. No. 22-18]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a uniform set of procedures for administering the issuance, renewal, and revocation of all licenses issued by the Township, except alcoholic beverage licenses, dog licenses, massage therapy establishments and bodywork therapy establishment licenses, taxicab licenses and cottage food operators who have obtained a permit pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 et seq.
A. 
All applications for licenses under this Code shall be made to the Township Clerk on forms provided by him or her, and shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Name and permanent and local address of the applicant. If the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of its registered agent;
(2) 
If the licensed activity is to be carried on at a fixed location, the address and description of the premises;
(3) 
If a vehicle is to be used, its description, including the license number;
(4) 
If the applicant is employed by another, the name and address of the employer, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship;
(5) 
The days of the week and the hours of the day during which the licensed activity will be conducted;
(6) 
A description of the nature of the business and the goods, property or services to be sold or supplied;
(7) 
A statement as to whether the applicant has been convicted of any crime or the violation of any municipal ordinance other than traffic offenses and, if so, the date and place of conviction, the nature of the offense, and the punishment or penalty imposed;
(8) 
Appropriate evidence as to the good character and business responsibility of the applicant so that an investigator may properly evaluate his or her character and responsibility.
B. 
The applicant shall be fingerprinted if the Chief of Police determines that fingerprints are necessary for proper identification. Fingerprint records shall be immediately processed for classification and identification.
C. 
Applications by partnerships shall be signed by all partners with the information required by this section supplied in detail as to each partner, and application of corporations shall have attached individual statements containing all of the information required by this section relating to each employee or agent who shall engage in the licensed activity, and shall be signed by each employee or agent.
D. 
The applicant shall affix to the application two photographs, not over one year old and of a minimum size of 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches, showing applicant's face, front and profile.
Each application shall be referred to the Chief of Police or a police officer designated by him or her, who shall immediately institute whatever investigation of the applicant's business responsibility, moral character and ability to properly conduct the licensed activity as he or she considers necessary for the protection of the public. He or she shall communicate his or her findings, in writing, to the Township Clerk within a reasonable time after the application has been filed. If the investigator decides that the applicant's character, ability or business responsibility is unsatisfactory, or the products, services or activity are not free from fraud, he or she shall disapprove the application and the Clerk shall refuse to issue the license and so notify the applicant. Otherwise, the Clerk shall issue the license immediately, provided the required license fees have been paid, except in cases where approval of the Township Committee is required. In the case of an application for a solicitor's, peddler's or canvasser's license, the license may be issued immediately subject to investigation. In the event of the denial of a license, the applicant may appeal to the Township Committee for a hearing. The appeal must be filed, in writing, with the Township Clerk within 14 days after notification of denial. The Committee shall hold the hearing within 10 days thereafter, and its decision shall be final.
Licenses shall be in a form which the committee shall prescribe by resolution, and shall contain the following information:
A. 
The name and address of the licensee;
B. 
The number and type of the license and the nature of the licensed activity;
C. 
The address at which the licensed activity is conducted, if the activity is carried on at a fixed location;
D. 
If the licensed activity is conducted from a vehicle, the make, model and license number of the vehicle;
E. 
The expiration date of the license;
F. 
Any other appropriate information which the Township Committee may, by resolution, require.
The Township Clerk shall keep a record of all licenses issued under this chapter. The record shall be in a form prescribed by resolution of the committee and shall contain the same information as is required by § 301-4 to be contained in the license. It shall also indicate the amount of the fee paid for each license, the date on which payment was received, the date of issuance of the license, whether the license is new or is a renewal, and any other information which the Township Committee may require by resolution.
When the licensed activity is conducted at a fixed location, or from a vehicle, the license shall be prominently displayed at the location, or on the vehicle. In all other cases the licensee shall have the license in his or her possession at all times and shall display it on the request of a police officer or any person with whom he or she is doing business.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Each license shall apply only to the person to whom it was issued and shall not be transferable to another person. Licenses may be transferred from place to place, in cases where the licensed activity is conducted at a fixed location, but only with the approval of the Township Committee by resolution. The fee for the transfer of a license from place to place shall be as provided in Chapter 245, Fees, § 245-4.
A. 
Except where expressly provided otherwise, all licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year of issue at 12:00 midnight. Applications for the renewal of licenses shall be made not later than December 1 of the year of issue.
B. 
When an application for a license is made during the course of any calendar year, the fee shall be prorated to the nearest month. Any period of time greater than 1/2 a month shall be considered a full month for this purpose.
Any license or permit issued by the Township may be revoked by the Committee after notice and a hearing for any of the following causes:
A. 
Fraud or misrepresentation in any application for a permit or license;
B. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or other dishonesty in the conduct of the licensed activity;
C. 
A violation of any provision of this Code;
D. 
Conviction of the licensee for any felony or high misdemeanor or a misdemeanor or disorderly person's offense involving moral turpitude;
E. 
Conduct of the licensed activity, whether by the licensee or his or her agents or employees, in an unlawful manner or in a manner that constitutes a breach of the peace or a menace to the public health, safety or general welfare;
F. 
Whenever a license has been issued immediately upon application, pending the results of the investigation, it may be summarily revoked if the result of the investigation is such as would have resulted in denial of the license.
Notice of hearing for the revocation of a license or permit shall be given, in writing, by the Township Clerk. The notice shall specifically set forth the grounds on which the proposed revocation is based and the time and place of the hearing. It shall be served by mailing a copy to the licensee at his or her last-known address, by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least five days prior to the date set for the hearing.
At the hearing the licensee shall have the right to appear and be heard, to be represented by an attorney, to present witnesses in his or her own behalf, to cross-examine opposing witnesses, and to have a permanent record made of the proceedings at his or her own expense. The Committee shall revoke or suspend the license if they are satisfied, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the licensee is guilty of the acts charged.
The Committee may issue another license to a person whose license has been revoked or denied as provided in this chapter if, after hearing, they are satisfied by clear and convincing evidence that the acts which led to the revocation or denial will not occur again; otherwise, no person whose license has been revoked or denied, or any person acting for him or her, directly or indirectly, shall be issued another license to carry on the same activity.
The Township Committee may, by resolution, make rules and regulations which interpret or amplify any provision of this chapter or for the purpose of administering the provisions of this chapter or making them more effective. No regulation shall be inconsistent with or alter or amend any provision of this chapter, and no regulation shall impose any requirement which is in addition to or greater than the requirements that are expressly or by implication imposed by any provision of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
If a licensee's proposed use in the Township is such that the proposed use is not presently being conducted in or on the premises intended to be used under the provisions of a license, then the licensee must comply with Chapter 296, Land Development, concerning the submission of a plat and securing Planning Board approval as a condition precedent to the issuance of a license. This requirement shall also apply to any accessory permitted uses where a license is also required to be issued by the municipality.