Middle Township OKs Motel, Liquor Licenses

COURT HOUSE — Middle Township Committee on Monday approved license renewals for 10 of 15 motels:
• Country Motel, 1604 Route 47 S
• Court House Motel, 419 Route 9 N
• Green Acres Motel, 1031 Route 47 S
• Simpson Motel, 1507 Route 47 S
• Marlee Motel, 1003 Route 47 S
• Offshore Motel, 1801 Route 47 S
• Shelton Motel, 1410 Route 47 S
• Silver Birch Motel, 1019 Route 47 S
• Whispering Woods, 535 Route 47 S
• The Doctor’s Inn, 2 North Main St.
Township Clerk Kimberly Tomkinson told the Herald that licenses for the remaining five motels — Economy Motel, 3172 Route 9 S.; Catalina Motel, 1200 Georgia Ave.; Wildwood Park Motel, 405 N. Wildwood Blvd.; Hy-Land Motor Inn, 38 East Mechanic St.; and Dutchman’s Motel, 1077 Route 47 S. — would be approved once their tax accounts were up to date.
Motel owners this year had their licensing fees increased for the first time since the township began issuing licenses in 2004. The fee jumped from $350 to $1,000 nearly tripling the township’s licensing revenue for the 15 motels from $5,250 to $15,000.
Susan Lin, owner of the Hy-Land Motor Inn, argued unsuccessfully at a recent township meeting to have that nearly 200 percent increase reduced.
The township also receives a 3 percent tax on every rented room. The annual taxes have ranged between just over $31,000 in 2008 to nearly $59,000 in 2005. This revenue is deposited into the township’s general fund.
There are about 320 rooms in the 15 township motels.
The state began allowing municipalities to collect that tax in 2003 in an effort to reduce local governments’ dependence on property taxes to provide services. It was argued that tourists visiting the Garden State utilize its roads and emergency services, but don’t contribute to their upkeep.
The tax is collected by the motel in addition to the 5 percent state occupancy tax and the 7 percent sales tax and remitted to the state treasury, which in turn distributes the money back to the municipality.
Motels in the Middle Township must meet all applicable building, housing, health and safety regulations before their licenses are renewed. The township has the right to inspect the facilities. Owners face a penalty of $200 per day until violations are corrected.
When the township began issuing licenses, officials noted that motels required numerous emergency responses straining township resources.
During public comment on the motel license resolution Monday, township resident Madeline Filipski suggested the fee was unfair against motel owners. She said big box stores such as Walmart and Lowes also garnered substantial police response for shoplifting and fraud calls.
Either all businesses should be charged fees or none of them, she said.
Township Solicitor James Pickering explained that some of those costs would be addressed through a new fee that businesses will be charged if police are called for false burglar and fire alarms. He also noted that the township might be considering, this year, a general mercantile license fee for all local businesses.
On Monday, the township also renewed eight of its 11 liquor licenses — Rio Station, 3505 Route 9 South; Avalon Golf & Country Club Tavern, 1510 Route 9 North; Bellevue Tavern, 7-9 S Main St.; Menz Restaurant, 985 Route 47 South; Joe Canals, 1613A Route 47 South; Wildwood Golf, 1170 Golf Club Road; Stone Harbor Golf, 905 Route 9 North; and Sand Barrens Golf, 1765 Route 9 North.
The remaining licenses include: Atkinson’s Tavern, 1010 Route 9 South; Disabled American Veterans Club; 1010 Bayshore Road; and Acme Markets, 11 Court House-S. Dennis Road.
Because Mayor Susan DeLanzo’s family owns Atkinson’s, the township will not renew its license. That renewal will be handled by the state Division of Alcohol Beverage Control.
Local liquor license fees were also increased by the township this year. Restaurant and liquor store licenses are $600 per year and club licenses are $150.