At a glance
The Finance Committee met Tuesday with two members present to discuss updates to the city's fee schedule. The committee addressed peddler licenses (for door-to-door sellers like solar or electricity providers), auction house record-keeping requirements, and cemetery plot fees. The committee will add peddler licenses back into the fee schedule after clarifying the process with city staff, will modify auction house requirements to allow electronic record-keeping instead of physical lists, and will incorporate a 10 percent increase in cemetery fees.
Peddler Licenses and Background Checks
The committee discussed peddler licenses, which apply to door-to-door sellers like those selling solar panels or electricity provider changes. The city issues about eight peddler licenses per year and conducts background checks.
Key points
- Peddlers are people who go door to door selling services like electricity carrier changes or solar installations.
- The city typically issues up to eight peddler licenses per year at $150 each and performs background checks.
- Peddler licenses will remain in the fee schedule after initial consideration of removal.
- The committee suggested requiring peddlers to carry and show a physical city license when knocking on doors, so residents can verify they are legitimately licensed.
City staff will send the committee details on the current peddler license process and any other identified fee schedule concerns.
Auction House Record-Keeping Requirements
The committee revised the requirement for auction houses to maintain records of items sold. The current rule requires physical lists; the new approach will allow electronic records with a retention period.
Key points
- Current regulations require auction houses to produce physical lists of items in each auction to help track potentially stolen goods.
- Neither of the city's auction houses produces physical programs or lists; everything is maintained online.
- City staff confirmed that no inquiries about stolen items at auctions have occurred, and physical records are simply filed away.
- The committee will change the regulation to require auction houses to maintain electronic records for a set number of years (possibly three to five) in case of police inquiries.
- The discussion noted that stolen goods are more commonly an issue with platforms like Facebook Marketplace, not formal auction houses.
The fee schedule language will be amended to allow electronic record retention instead of requiring physical lists from auction houses.
Cemetery Plot Fees and Proposed Increase
The committee learned that the Board of Cemetery Commissioners is proposing a 10 percent increase in fees for cemetery plots and interment. The committee will add these fees to the city's fee schedule.
Key points
- Cemetery fees were discussed at a Board of Cemetery Commissioners meeting earlier that day.
- The cemetery is proposing a 10 percent increase across the board for plot purchases and interment fees.
- Fees vary by plot size, whether the burial is a cremation or full burial, time of year, and whether the purchaser is a resident or non-resident (residents receive a discount).
- DPW Superintendent Rob Perry maintains the fee table and will send it to the Finance Committee.
- The committee decided to add cemetery fees to the city's consolidated fee schedule rather than handling them separately through the cemetery board.
Rob Perry will send the committee the full cemetery fee table showing the proposed 10 percent increase.
Other Fee Schedule Items
The committee briefly mentioned other fee schedule items under review, including mass gathering permits and fireworks permits, which involve both a permit fee and a separate fire department fee.
Key points
- The committee is reviewing the distinction between vendors (who operate booths on the street) and peddlers (who go door to door).
- Mass gathering permits and fireworks permits are under review; fireworks permits involve a $200 permit fee plus a $500 fee if the fire department must be present.
- City staff will send clarification on these fees and any other items they identified as needing adjustment.
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