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that we should look into the situation re occupational licenses and the <br />granting of same. <br />Commissioner Fletcher did not feel it is the responsibility of <br />government to protect the individual from making a bad choice, and he <br />stated that every time an ordinance is passed, some freedom is lost. <br />He felt there are some good, honest people out there that we would be <br />running off the road, and he believed we should aim toward deregulation <br />rather than adding more restrictions. <br />It was pointed out that we simply want these transient merchants <br />to have to play by the same set of rules as the local merchants, and <br />Commissioner Fletcher did not feel the local merchants should be <br />required to have licenses either. <br />Building Director Rymer agreed that just buying an occupational <br />license does not prove that you are necessarily competent. She felt <br />the City of Vero Beach has controlled this problem pretty well <br />by requiring a competency card, which also checks them out as to <br />credit, insurance, etc. This of course, applies only to services, not <br />to retail sales. Mrs. Rymer felt if the county would pass a law <br />requiring a contractor to be certified, that would help. As far as <br />retailing of a product, she did not know what could be done, but felt <br />that a license definitely should be required. <br />Commissioner Scurlock pointed out that the transient merchant is <br />not paying Workmen's Compensation, etc.; so, they are not paying their <br />fair share. <br />Commissioner Wodtke noted that he is a merchant himself, and the <br />competition is not what is the concern, but he did feel that sales tax <br />is a very important consideration. He.noted there have been numerous <br />complaints about these peddlers, particularly regarding furniture <br />sales, and it is a growing problem throughout the county. Commissioner <br />Wodtke continued that the City license for his business is $147.00 while <br />the County license costs only $15.00, and, therefore, these itinerant <br />peddlers go to the county rather than the city. He emphasized that the <br />object of the proposed ordinance is not to prevent anyone from selling <br />their vegetables at roadside stands, but rather to protect the public <br />from unscrupulous transients. Commissioner Wodtke pointed out that the <br />OCT 1981 29 wK 47 PAcf X26 <br />