Mansfield Could Deny License Renewal for Holiday Inn

MANSFIELD, MA — A lack of payments from the Holiday Inn on Hampshire Street could lead to the town not renewing their licenses.

At Wednesday’s selectmen meeting, Town Manager Bill Ross revealed that the hotel owes the town over $40,000 in water bills and $7,000 in personal property taxes. The revelation came as the board voted to renew yearly licenses for some local businesses. Holiday Inn’s licenses include liquor, common victualler, and entertainment.

According to Ross, town code indicates that licenses and other permits may not be issued to parties that owe back taxes or fees.

“We felt this should be pulled out separately because we’ve been struggling with them on the water bill and the treasurer-collector has been struggling with the personal property tax bill.” Ross said, noting that the hotel has made some payments towards the water bill but a payment expected before the meeting had not arrived.

“They’ve chipped away on the water bill but they make a lot of promises and we don’t get the payments,” he said.

When asked if the hotel has responded, Ross replied that the hotel's management called the potential action "totally unfair."

“We tell them that’s the rule, that’s the code,” Ross told the selectmen.

Historically, the town has allowed for license renewal if there is a payment plan and the business can pay any new bills and taxes. The town, however, can revoke a license in a public hearing if the bills remain unpaid.

On the water front, Ross said as of November they haven’t made a payment since August.

Board members were less than sympathetic for the lack of payments.

“They’ve had sufficient warnings since August and they’ve been delinquent,” Selectman Steve Schoonveld said.

Chairman Jess Aptowitz said an enterprise fund once got burned because another business was put on a payment plan.

The board voted to table the license renewal, leaving the topic for another night.

Image: file photo