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Town caves to retailer pressure Change made to business licensing bylaw After receiving a loud and clear message from area retailers last month that they were opposed to being charged an annual licence fee, a Town committee has decided to make the fee one-time only. The Town's Business Licence Review Committee supported a motion by Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette to make the change to the retail trade section of its business licence bylaw at a meeting Monday afternoon. A one-time $90 fee would be applied only to retail (merchandise) establishments-- not stores that sell food, tobacco, or second-hand goods which will continue to be charged an annual fee-- and is to take effect on April 1. Halton Hills council has to support the change by endorsing the committee's meeting minutes before the revised bylaw is official. The minutes are expected to be included in Monday's (Feb. 6) council agenda. The revision is to be made to the business licensing bylaw passed by council last June that for the first time in the Town's history saw retail businesses being charged an annual fee ranging from $82.50 to $220. Georgetown Market Place manager Herminia Henderson, who spoke out against the annual fee to the committee last month, was pleased with the result of the meeting. "I didn't want to see any fee, but if satisfied with the outcome. "I still feel it's (a fee for retailers) wrong," said Vieria. "But it's the best of two evils." "I don't think it's necessary to have a licence every year," said Bonnette when making the motion. "However, it is important that every retail store at least have a fire plan." `...if there had to be a fee, He said for the onea one-time fee is good. time fee, businesses will be registered with the That way the merchants Town and receive a fire don't get hassled...' plan. Any retailer who --Herminia Henderson paid the fee in 2005 does Georgetown Market Place manager not to have to pay it again, the Mayor confirmed. there had to be a fee, a one-time fee is "I think the last meeting opened a good," said Henderson. "That way lot of eyes," said Bonnette, who recthe merchants don't get hassled, it's a ommended a letter be sent to retailers done deal. I think most retailers explaining the change to the bylaw. would be pretty pleased." Debbie Edmonds, manager of She also said she wanted to com- licensing and legislative services for pliment the mayor, and some coun- the Town, said the impact on the cillors for their support and efforts on Town's 2006 budget by removing the behalf of the retailers on the issue. annual fee for the general retailers is John Vieria of JV Clothing, who at $10,800. the earlier meeting with the commitAlso at the meeting Monday the tee called the fee a "money grab" and committee added a $90 one year fee presented a petition signed by more for indoor mall vendors and one year than 300 local retailers opposed to $180 fee for indoor mall trade shows. the licence fee, was not completely --By Lisa Tallyn, staff writer Celebrating Fred Dunn's 75th Birthday OPEN HOUSE Sat. Feb. 11, 2006 2:00 to 4:00 pm 51 Birchway Place, Acton (Terrace Room) Come visit Dunnie & express your birthday "best wishes". Development doesn't pay for development: Treasurer Continued from pg. 1 Assessment growth in 2005 was set at 4.25 per cent, generating close to $900,000 in cash for the Town. But it was not enough. "It's always been a bugaboo with me that development charges do not pay their way," said Councillor Bob Inglis. "As we develop there are more services demanded by our residents...the only way I can see to bring taxes (increases) down to zero is by reducing services ... I think we're between a rock and a hard place." "It's a known fact in the municipal world that development does not pay for development," ED DESOUSA agreed DeSousa. "It's also a known fact that a single family home on a forty-foot lot, the annual taxes does not cover the cost of services demanded by residents (of a municipality). That's why you need a strong commercial/industrial base or high density building." DeSousa also noted that assessment growth does not cover even all the base budget costs. Operating budget projections for 2007 and 2008 is already set at a 5-6 per cent increase. --By Cynthia Gamble, staff writer