Monterey town vehicle sticker change on hold

MONTEREY — Last Thursday Monterey town council held a public hearing on a proposal to eliminate the town's vehicle sticker but retain the automobile and truck license fee. After taking comments, council voted to table the measure until two councilmen not present at the meeting had a chance to vote.

If approved, the annual fee is due Dec. 5, the same time town property taxes are due, instead of April 15. The fee is assessed Jan. 1 each year.

The fee is $15 per automobile and $5 per motorcycle, the same as is currently charged. The fee would not change even though no sticker is issued.

"It will come with the personal property tax ticket in the fall," said mayor Janice Warner.

Town attorney Melissa Dowd noted the county eliminated its vehicle sticker in 2006.

If approved, the first vehicle license fee would be due Dec. 5, 2010.

Councilman Francis Fenn suggested the statements in the proposed ordinance, "Vehicles owned by active members of volunteer rescue squads," and "Vehicles owned by active members of volunteer fire departments," should be changed to clearly state that only one vehicle per member is exempt, not all vehicles owned by a member. "It can be misconstrued," said Fenn. "As a member I would read it that I could have two vehicles (exempt) … It should read, 'A vehicle…'"

Town clerk Sandy Massey noted paragraph 10 of the ordinance says, "No member shall be entitled to exempt more than one vehicle."

Warner said this is only the second year residents seemed to have a problem purchasing the stickers. Last month Warner gave the higher number of vehicle fee delinquencies this year (around eight) as a reason to eliminate the sticker. "Maybe it's a reflection of (hard) times and people don't have money," she said.

She noted that fees more than two years' delinquent could go to district court for collection.

Councilman Don Dowdy said the proposed change would give residents more time to pay the fee since the fee would come due in December instead of April each year.

Fenn made a motion, approved by councilmen Dowdy, Fenn and Sam Shell, to table a decision on the ordinance change until councilmen Tony Stinnett or Ron Wimer are present to provide more input.