Dalton BOH Looking at Fines for Permit Scofflaws

DALTON, Mass. — The town is looking to be more proactive in ensuring businesses renew their permits on time.

At Tuesday's meeting, the Board of Health was presented with a draft notice from  Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Health Agent Jazu Stine to send to business owners about deadlines and fines for late permit renewals.

Stine said there has not been any motivating factors such as fines or deadlines for the renewals in the past and this should help businesses get those permits in on time. He has noticed a lot of businesses do not get their permits in on time and many do not get submitted until they are "chased down."

There are still businesses that have not applied for their annual renewal, which are needed by Dec. 1.

Dalton is not the only town asked to accept the draft; once it is accepted with any amendments, it will be uploaded into permiteyes online application. If someone does not submit their permit on time, a fine will be added to the permit fee and the permit will not be granted until fine is paid.

At the Board of Health's discretion, cease-and-desist letters will be issued to establishments that continue to operate without a current permit and have not made reasonable efforts to meet the permit renewal requirements.

The letter is planned to go out on Nov. 1, a month ahead of the deadline.

The board noted that Dwyer Funeral Home had not renewed its permit; multiple emails have been sent and calls made with no response. 

New board member Patrick Carsell works there and will speak with the owners and the board will give the funeral home a week before sending a letter. If not heard from, the board will decide what further action will need to be taken at the next meeting.

In other business, the board also spoke about amending the current noise ordinance bylaw as it currently states operating a chainsaw is a violation and its enforcements are unclear. The board plans to work with the Clean Air Committee to make it more realistic and enforceable.

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