SALEM — The City Council moved last night to temporarily suspend the issuance of new fortuneteller licenses until it can close a "loophole" in the ordinance that has allowed businesses to receive licenses without satisfying the city's intended criteria.
Salem's ordinance, approved by the council in 2007, requires a shop to have a business that is 51 percent "metaphysical" — tarot cards, crystals, etc. — to qualify for a license. Councilor-at-large Joan Lovely said she was aware of two cases in which a business that did not satisfy this requirement created a separate corporation to get a fortuneteller's license.
"This is a loophole here, and we want to be able to tighten it up," said Lovely, who declined to identify the two businesses.
With the unanimous support of the council, Lovely asked for the suspension to give the city solicitor time to recommend changes to the ordinance. The council, which began its summer recess after last night's meeting, will consider the proposed amendments at its first meeting in September.
"I want a quick turnaround on this because I know October is coming," Lovely said.
The temporary suspension does not affect existing license holders.
Allowing a business that sells no "metaphysical" products to acquire a license runs counter to the intent of the ordinance, according to Lovely. It was created to control the spread of licenses and prevent the possibility of every store downtown offering readings, she said, and the city should avoid having multiple businesses operating from the same address.
"This is actually something I have thought about for a while," Lovely said. She went before the Licensing Board in January to discuss the proliferation of licenses.
Last year, Salem gave out 13 licenses to individuals and 25 licenses to stores. A store can have up to six fortunetellers.
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