2022 COVID-19 Recovery Measures Board Vote

2022 COVID-19 Recovery Measures Board Vote Document

NOTICE OF BOARD VOTE REGARDING COVID-19 RECOVERY MEASURES[1]

Board Voted: May 27, 2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021

Published: September 30, 2021

In light of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, during its regular meeting of May 27, 2021, the Board of License Commissioners (the “Board”) adopted (2-0) the following to ensure it continues to support licensed businesses through the recovery period.

2022 Renewal Fees.

The following is a one-time, non-precedent setting reduction in renewal fees for licenses for the year

2022 (inclusive of those that renew in the Spring of 2022), set as a recovery measure.

(1) 40% reduction on the total license renewal fees for all license types except: Pole & Conduit, Waste Haulers, Leaf Blowers, and Flammables Only. This means there would be a 40% reduction of the renewal fee for all of the following license types: alcohol (restaurant, club, hotel, general on premises/bar, any series pouring permit), common victualler (restaurant), entertainment, innholder, lodging houses/dormitories, letting of motor vehicles, used car dealers, garages, open air parking lots,

second hand good stores (antiques and junk), hawker/peddler (food trucks), jitneys, and liveries. Waiver of all fees for the renewal of taxi driver licenses and medallions as done in years prior to the COVID-19

Pandemic.

(2) To continue promoting safe practices and based on expert advice that being outside is better than inside, annual patio renewal fees for 2022 will be $25.00 for private patios and $75.00 for public patios.

(3) The renewal fees will be due by the date set in the usual manner. None of the renewal fees will be pro-rated or collected in installments except for the alcohol renewal fee which can be collected bi- annually as a 50/50 split (the first half due in November 2021, the second half due in May 2022).

Temporary Extensions of Licensed Premises to Outdoor Areas Due to COVID-19 (“Temporary Extensions”).

On May 27, 2021, after the Governor of Massachusetts signed into law an Act relative to extending certain COVID-19 measures adopted during the state of emergency, the Board voted to extend the terms of the Temporary Extensions through November 29, 2021.  On June 30, 2021, the Board further extended the term of the Temporary Extensions to January 1, 2022.  In light of the COVID-19 Delta variant, businesses’ interests to continue operating outdoor areas through the winter, temporary changes in the City’s policy regarding the use of the Public Way during winter months, and the uncertainty as to the terms of the developing policy surrounding the use of the public way post April 2022, on September 30, 2021, the Board voted (3-0) to make the expiration date on the Temporary Outdoor Permits April 1, 2022, which is the maximum time allowed by the Act signed into law.  The Board noted the extension of the term also applies to annual patios on the public way if an amended Annual Agreement is signed with the City without the current term limitations.

The term extension for the Temporary Outdoor Permit or the Annual Patio Agreement is not automatic, must be applied for, and is contingent upon the following:

(1)          On or before October 12, 2021, the business must notify the Board through its ViewPoint record (or at license@cambridgema.gov) whether it seeks to regularly use the area from January 1, 2022 - April 1, 2022.  Failure to request an extension of the term by October 12 may result in the denial for a term extension.  If the business does NOT intend to serve the public during the winter months, it CANNOT/SHOULD NOT apply for this extension. 

(2)          The request to use the public area during the winter months will be evaluated by the Department of Public Works, Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, and the License Commission.  If it is denied by any Department, the Temporary Outdoor Permit and/or Annual Public Patio’s term cannot be extended, and the business will need to remove the patio area by January 1, 2022.  This does not affect any future application to make the area part of the business’s annual license.

(3)          Public outdoor areas cannot be used as “winter storage” (i.e. storage of furniture until Spring).  If approved to use the public outdoor area during the winter months, the business must comply with the Department of Public Works Winter Outdoor Seating Guidelines.

(4)          The business must intend to regularly use the area to serve the public unless it is impossible due to extreme weather, an Act of Nature, or by order of the Board, the City or any of its Departments, or the owner of the premises.

(5)          For Temporary Outdoor Permits in the private way, the business must provide proof of right to occupy through April 1, 2022.

(6)          For Temporary Outdoor Permits and Annual Public Patios in the public way, an amendment to the current City’s Agreement extending the term is required.

(7)          For Temporary Outdoor Permits and Annual Public Patios, the currently approved outdoor seating floor plan(s) controls, cannot be changed/amended unless requested by the City, Department of Public Works, Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department or License Commission. 

[1] Only changes have been made to the Temporary Extension term vote.