Delinquent businesses in Saugus given brief reprieve

SAUGUS-Three businesses are being given an early Christmas present – a temporary reprieve from a show cause hearing over non-payment of fees.Selectmen last week voted to give Quiznos, Boston Market and Papa Gino’s a break, despite the fact each business owes money in back taxes or fees. Boston Market owes a total of $130, Papa Gino’s $80 and Quiznos owes a whopping $1,090.31.The board could have voted last week to suspend their licenses for failure to pay, but Selectman Stephen Horlick asked to wait.”There are always one or two businesses that wait until the last minute on the last day” he said.With that in mind, Horlick said he would ask the board to wait until its next meeting, giving the businesses another two weeks to get it together.While the board voted along, clerk Wendy Reed doubted it would make a difference.Reed said she has notified the businesses a total of five times through letters.She also reminded the board that it would have to begin renewing liquor licenses during its Dec. 11 meeting, which can also be time consuming.It is also highly likely that at least one business will never pay up. Quiznos went out of business several month ago and Reed said it is very unlikely that bill will be paid.The board will take up the issue during its next meeting on Dec. 11 where it also scheduled to hold a hearing on the tax rate.