The Worcester County Commissioners struggled Tuesday trying to decide if restaurant owners should be fined up to $500 if they are late renewing their licenses. What they decided, however, could affect all restaurant owners who do not apply for the renewal in a not yet specified number of days in advance.
Currently, restaurants that are late filing their renewal fees may be fined $50 per day after the deadline up to a maximum of $500.
Tardy applications can be problematic, Health Officer Debbie Goeller said, because of time involved in inspecting the restaurants before issuing licenses. They can also cause problems for the Liquor Control Department because alcoholic beverage licenses cannot be issued to a food service facility that does not have a license from the Health Department.
Each year, the Health Department renews 700 to 800 licenses with usually 15 to 20 being late. Renewals are not on the same date for all restaurant owners. Licenses renew just about each day of the year because they are up for renewal on the anniversary of the date they were first issued.
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