Liquor License Fees Could Increase; Committee Sweeps Up Brush Law

Matthew Hersh

On the heels of a similar move by the Princeton Borough Council, Township Committee introduced an ordinance that would increase the liquor licence fees for establishments that serve alcohol in the Township.

"Each year, you're allowed to increase the alcoholic beverage licenses in the Township," said Edwin Schmierer, Township attorney. The Township has raised the fees in anticipation of a rise in fees in 2006 as well. The annual fee for business owners holding a planner retail consumption license will rise $400 to $2,400 ‹ the maximum rate for 2005, followed by another $100 increase in 2006.

The code, if approved after its May 9 public hearing, would also raise club license fees to $188, up from $150, with those rates remaining the same for 2006.

The code, Mr. Schmierer said, keeps pace with what is permitted under state statute Title 33, which allows municipalities to adjust plenary and club license fees.

The April 18 ordinance introduction was met with no opposition, a contrast to the local merchant reaction when Borough Council introduced its ordinance calling for the same increase in fees. The Borough considered its change as a means of increasing revenue, but with only 12 consumption and six retail liquor licenses in the Borough, it is unlikely residents paying property tax will feel the impact of the increased revenue. The last time the fees were increased in the Borough was in the early 1980s.

The increase in Princeton Township, which has only three restaurants and one liquor store, is in keeping with goals set at the start of the budgetary cycle, according to Township Administrator James Pascale. "We wanted to look at all the fees and permits which were charged by our various municipal departments," he said, adding that there was a general sentiment to bring the those fees up "to market" with neighboring communities and "to look under every stone for non-tax revenue."

In other business, Committee did a bit of brush clean up of its own as it refined its ordinance on the leaf, branch, and log collection program launched earlier this month. According to Mr. Schmierer, Public Works crews were arriving for debris pick-up too early. The result found residents putting out their materials after crews had passed, leaving the piles of debris untouched.

"Some residents were putting out their materials at 8 a.m., so they were missed," Mr. Schmierer said. "So when we went through the first time, it was believed that those residents were really not following the ordinance, but they actually had followed it."

The ordinance was amended to state that residents should put their materials out by 7 a.m.

Finally, Committee held a public hearing for a bond ordinance that allows for the installation of a 1,500-foot pathway along part of Littlebrook Road, running from the rear entrance of the Littlebrook School to the existing sidewalks on Tyson Lane, at a cost of $23,000. Committee unanimously approved the ordinance.