[Massplanners] Publication Fees included in Fees for Applications?

[Eric Smith]

Hi Doug,

Here in Athol we say up front in our Rules and Regulations that the Applicant must cover the cost of the legal ad publication.  Once the newspaper has a proof of the legal ad and the cost estimate, we share that with the Applicant.  The Applicant then is responsible for making the payment.  If they don't make the payment by publication deadline, then they wouldn't have their hearing and it would have to be rescheduled for the next meeting.   So far in 5+ years we've had this policy, no one has missed their payment.

Hope this helps,
Eric


Eric R. Smith, AICP

Director of Planning and Development

Town of Athol

584 Main Street,

Athol, MA 01331

(978) 721-8500 ext. 517

esmith at townofathol.org
________________________________
From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> on behalf of Town Administration via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2022 6:06 PM
To: Christopher Skelly via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [Massplanners] Publication Fees included in Fees for Applications?

Good evening Planners -

Do you proactively charge an application a publication fee, equal to the cost of advertising the public notice?   If so, do you round up? estimate? base it on actual cost?  Do you consider an application submitted ONLY upon receipt of payment?  if so, do you encode that into your zoning bylaw, or special permit procedures?

Thanks in advance...

Respectfully,

- Doug.
-----------------------------
Douglas Finn, Administrative Assistant
Town of Westhampton
1 South Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
413-203-3086
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