§ 5.04.040. Downtown business district license.

A.

No person shall operate any business establishment within the downtown business district without obtaining an annual license, to be known as the "downtown business district license," from the treasurer of the city. The operator of any exempt establishment shall not be required to obtain a business district license and shall not be eligible to use the management services provided by the business association for the district. To the extent that the central Salisbury revitalization district includes within its boundaries a public market owned by the city, and business operated by any merchant in such market shall be included within the downtown business district and subject to this chapter.

B.

The fee for the downtown business district license shall be as set forth in Exhibit B, Section 5.04.160.

C.

The business association shall certify to the treasurer on a yearly basis the following:

1.

The name, business address and mailing address of the person(s) responsible for payment of the downtown business district license fee for each business establishment;

2.

The fee due from each business establishment, other than an exempt establishment.

D.

The downtown business district license fee shall be in two categories: category one, pertaining to retailers; category two, pertaining to professional service, rental and all nonretail establishments in the district. The rate for the 1988 calendar year shall be as set forth in Exhibit B, Section 5.04.160. There shall be no rate change for successive years unless the district, by a majority vote of the licenses therein, suggests a rate change, which shall be ratified by the mayor and city council by ordinance.

E.

The treasurer shall collect the fee from the responsible person of each business establishment. The downtown business district license fee shall be due and payable on January 1st of each and every year, and the entire charge prescribed for the year shall be collected when the license is issued. The treasurer shall not collect the downtown business district license fee due and payable on January 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, January 1, 2001, January 1, 2002 and January 1, 2003.

F.

Subject to all applicable provisions of other ordinances of the city, statutes of Maryland and laws of the federal government, the downtown business district licenses shall be transferable, upon written notice to the treasurer, and renewable from year to year during the continuous operation of the business by the downtown business district licensee within the downtown business district and so long as such area continues to be designated as a commercial district.

G.

In the event that any person commences business operations in the business district subsequent to January 1st in any year, the treasurer may prorate the amount of the fee due and payable based on the number of months of operation during the licensing year. There shall be no refund for any business that ceases operation during the licensing year.

(Ord. 1829, 2001; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1999)