[Adopted as Secs. 9-81 to 9-86 of the 1996 Code]
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CLOSING-OUT SALE
All sales advertised, represented or held forth under the designation
of "going out of business," "selling out," "liquidation," "lost our lease,"
"forced to vacate," "moving to a new location," or any other designation of
like meaning.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, voluntary association or corporation.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to or affect sales or
persons conducting such sales pursuant to an order or process of a court of
competent jurisdiction or to any sheriff, constable or other public or court
officer; or to any other person acting under the license, direction or authority
of any state or federal court selling goods, wares or merchandise in the course
of their official duties; or to end of the season sales or to sales limited
to closing out a particular brand or line of goods.
Nothing in this article shall apply to acts done by the publishers,
owner, agent or employee of a newspaper or periodical, or radio or television
station in the publication or dissemination of any advertisement, where such
publisher, owner, agent or employee does not have actual knowledge of the
false, misleading or deceptive character of the advertisement.
Before conducting any closing-out sale as defined in this article, each
person conducting such sale shall make application for a license to the General
Manager, and, unless the fee therefor is fixed as herein provided, shall file
with him a true statement, under oath, of the average quantity and value of
the stock of goods, wares and merchandise kept or intended to be kept or exposed
by him for sale. The General Manager shall submit such statement to the Assessor,
who, after such examination and inquiry as he deems necessary, shall determine
such average quantity and value, and shall forthwith transmit a certificate
thereof to the General Manager. Thereupon, the General Manager shall authorize
the Town Clerk, upon payment by the applicant of a fee equal to the taxes
assessable under the last preceding tax levy upon an amount of property of
the same valuation, to issue to him a license authorizing such closing-out
sale. For good cause shown the General Manager may authorize the issuance
of such license without the filing of such statement, upon the payment of
a license fee fixed by him. Upon payment of such fee, the Town Clerk shall
issue such license, which shall remain in force as long as the licensee continuously
keeps and exposes for sale such stock of goods, wares or merchandise, but
not later than the first day of October following its date.
No goods, wares or merchandise other than those listed in the statement required under §
257-4 shall be included in any closing-out sale.