[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of West Milford as Sec. 6-1 of the 1976 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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 municipality, except alcoholic beverage licenses, dog licenses, and taxicab licenses.
All applications for licenses shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall be made upon forms provided, and shall contain the following information:
A. 
Name and permanent and local address of the applicant. If the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of its registered agent.
B. 
If the licensed activity is to be carried on at a fixed location, the address and description of the premises.
C. 
If a vehicle is to be used, its description, including the license number.
D. 
If the applicant is employed by another, the name and address of the employer, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship.
E. 
The days of the week and the hours of the day during which the licensed activity will be conducted.
F. 
A description of the nature of the business and the goods, property or services to be sold or supplied.
G. 
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.
H. 
Appropriate evidence as to the good character and business responsibility of the applicant so that an investigator may properly evaluate his character and responsibility.
I. 
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.
J. 
Applications by partnerships shall be signed by all partners with the information required by this section supplied in detail as to each partner, and applications 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.
K. 
Two photographs, not over one year old, showing applicant's face, front and profile, of a minimum size of two inches by two inches. The photographs shall be affixed to the application.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-6]
Each application shall be referred to the Chief of Police or a police officer designated by him, who shall immediately institute whatever investigation of the applicant's business responsibility, moral character and ability to properly conduct the licensed activity as he considers necessary for the protection of the public. He shall communicate his findings in writing to the department issuing the license within a reasonable time after the application has been filed. If the investigator decides that the applicant's character, ability or business responsibility are unsatisfactory, or the products, services or activity are not free from fraud, he shall disapprove of the application in writing, with appropriate explanatory remarks, and the department shall refuse to issue the license and shall so notify the applicant. In the case of an application for a solicitor's, peddler's, or canvasser's license, the license may be issued immediately subject to the investigation. In the event of the refusal of the issuance of a license, the applicant may appeal to the Administrator for hearing. The appeal must be filed, in writing, with the Administrator within 14 days after notification of the refusal. The Administrator shall hold its hearing within 10 days thereafter. The decision of the Administrator shall be final.
Licenses shall be in a form which the Council 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 Mayor and Council may, by resolution, require.
The issuing department shall keep a record of all licenses issued under this chapter. The record shall contain the same information as is required by § 203-4 to be contained in the license. It shall also indicate the amount of the fee paid for the licenses, the date upon which payment was received, the date of the issuance of the license, and whether the license is a new license or a renewal.
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 possession at all times and shall display it upon the request of any police officer or any person with whom he is doing business.
Every 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, by resolution, of the Council. The fee for the transfer of a license from place to place is set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Except where expressly provided otherwise, all licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year of issue at 12:00 midnight local time. 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 of a month shall be considered as a full month for this purpose.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-6]
Any license or permit issued by the Township may be revoked by the Administrator 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 the Township 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 himself or his 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 an application, pending the results of the investigation provided for by this chapter, the license may be summarily revoked if the result of the investigation would have resulted in denial of the application.
Notice of a hearing for the revocation of a license or permit shall be given in writing by the issuing department. The notice shall specifically set forth the grounds upon 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 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 own behalf, to cross-examine opposing witnesses and to have a permanent record made of the proceedings at his own expense. The Council shall revoke or suspend the license if it is satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence that the licensee is guilty of the acts charged.
The Council may issue another license to a person whose license has been revoked or denied as provided in this chapter if after hearing it is 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, nor any person acting for him, directly or indirectly, shall be issued another license to carry on the same activity.
The Council 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.