Business owners that are late on their license renewals will soon face a financial penalty.

At its Nov. 13 meeting, the Select Board decided to issue a new late fee for restaurants that fail to renew their common victualler licenses on time. Victualler licenses need to be obtained by establishments that wish to serve food that is consumed by patrons on site. 

The $150 late fee will go into effect every year on January 1 if a business has not filed their license application. 

“You file your taxes on April 16, you think the IRS is going to care about that?” said Select Board member Shawn McDonald.

The motion passed unanimously, and will take effect immediately, and notices will be sent out to businesses with victualler licenses.