AVALON – The Borough Council plans to update an ordinance adopted in 2023 about the annual registration of businesses and the requirement to file insurance information.
The new ordinance, introduced April 23, lays out the requirements of the business registration process. Under the measure the borough can prohibit the continued operation of businesses that are in violation of the required registration and insurance filings.
What’s new in the ordinance is a provision that offers a one-time opportunity to cure past violations dating back to 2023. The cure would allow a business owner to avoid prosecution and enforcement penalties. Financial penalties can range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000, according to the ordinance.
Business entities include residential rental units, which must be registered, licensed and have appropriate inspections.
The ordinance outlines the cure option as requiring that business owners file a business registration certificate and a current certificate of liability insurance by Aug. 1. While the insurance becomes effective Aug. 1 this year, it must be updated annually for one year increments beginning June 1. Business owners would also have to file registrations and proof of insurance for annual periods beginning May 1, 2023, and May 1, 2024.
The ordinance states that the cure option is limited to past violations and has no impact on future requirements.
A public hearing and potential vote to adopt the ordinance have been scheduled for the council meeting on May 28 in Borough Hall at 4 p.m.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
