Did you know that back in the day in Old Lyme if you wanted to offer the services of a photographer to snap pictures of tourists, you'd have to pay the town $2 for a photo permit and, if you had a pony in the picture, you'd have to pay $7?
That's one of the many dated fees originally contained in the town's Amusement License, an ordinance that passed in 1950. In May of 1972, the license was revised to set a flat fee of $200 for an amusement license, $50 if you wanted a public address system, $100 if you offered games.
The permit, which had been largely forgotten until someone came in to pay the $200 entertainment fee last summer, has been dormant for decades. Now it's come to the attention of the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen, however, they're trying to figure out if and how it may still be applicable.
The amusement license was originally required to help the town keep the public peace and protect public health and safety. Since then, however, people who want to offer entertainment, whether that be a carnival ride, a video game, a PA system, or a live band, have to apply for a variety of permits from Zoning, the Building Department, the Health Department, and the Fire Marshal.
The Board of Selectmen don't want to overburden local businesses with unnecessary permits but they do want to see if there might be a need for something to govern outdoor entertainment. With that in mind, the selectmen are going to study the issue a bit more. For this season, however, this is one permit for which you won't have to apply.
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