by Trish Rudder
The first reading of Ordinance 2024-04-01 was passed by the Bath Town Council on May 7 that will charge participating vendors a set fee of $35 in multi-day festivals.
Vendors participating in single day events will pay the same fee of $20 as it is now.
If passed in a second reading, the ordinance will go into effect on July 1.
According to Town of Bath Municipal Code Chapter 18, Businesses and Business Regulations, Sec. 18-58, Festival License:
“Any organization or individual staging a multi-day event selling food and/or merchandise with the Town of Bath corporate limits shall require council approval and shall be assessed a per-event Festival Municipal Fee of $35.00 (thirty-five dollars) for each participating vendor across any and all sales categories including but not limited to general merchandise, hand-crafted items, food, and non-alcoholic beverages within the agreed-upon boundaries of the event.”
The fee includes per-event festival vendor license and the town Municipal Fee and is payable by each participating vendor to the Town of Bath within seven (7) business days of the start day of the event.
The vendors operating outside of the event boundaries but within the Town corporate limits shall also be charged a per-event Municipal Fee of $35.00 for any and all sales categories including but not limited to general merchandise, hand-crafted items, food, and beverages except those excluded in this ordinance.
The license can be obtained from Town Hall prior to the event.
Private sellers of second-hand, used and yard sale merchandise are excluded from this fee.
Violators will be subject to a penalty of a $100 fine or immediate expulsion.
The merchants holding valid yearly business licenses from the town and conducting routine business at their permanent business locations during any such event shall be exempt from any additional licensing or fees payable to the town, whether inside or outside of the event boundaries.
“Sellers of alcoholic beverages must obtain a License Certificate directly from the ABC Board. The License Certificate must be prominently displayed where it can be readily seen by authorities and customers,” the ordinance states.
All other ordinances and parts of ordinances or amendments in conflict with the Municipal Code are repealed and all fees are subject to review and change by the Bath Town Council.
A copy of this proposed ordinance is available at the Town of Bath office at 271 Wilkes Street.
