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By LOU HATTER ,,,5 *
Ranafcaanecfc N«w» Staff Writer '—«?
By a unanimous vote, the Washington Town Council last Wednesday passed a 2 1/2 percent restaurant and transient lodging tax, providing the town with a long-sought source of revenue for a major overhaul of the town’s aging water system.
Although a question had been raised about the legality of the town taxing transient room rentals, Councilman William Wickens suggested that because of the severability clause written into the ordinance, it be passed “as is.” The rest of council agreed.
(Severability clauses, 'Which are written into most ordinances, provide that if any part or parts of the ordinance are judged to be invalid, that finding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the ordinance.)
“I still think it is a mistake to do it this way,” Mr. Wickens said, continuing to lobby for his original proposal, which contained a four percent restaurant tax and no levy on lodging. “But,” he continued, “I move we adopt the ordinance, effective April 1.”
All seven members of council voted in favor of the ordinance.
Another proposal to produce additional funds to refurbish the water system wnich is under consideration by council is a hike in the water rates. “The rate system as is is sufficient to maintain the system,” Treasurer Brad Fisher conceded, “but not to improve it.”
“The useful life of the system is 10 years over,” Mayor Dean Morehouse agreed. “Further
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