Affordable Sign owner granted waiver of late fees, board schedules late-license hearing

Raymond Thomas, vice president of Affordable Sign Company, attended a late business-license hearing and told the Hammond City board he stopped operating after a medical condition and was unaware he needed to notify the controller’s office to close the license. He said no business activity, deliveries or profit occurred at the site since August 2024 and that he still owned the building while he finishes a pole-barn project at his home.

Unidentified Speaker 7 (controller's office staff) said Thomas had been given a closure form and that staff would be "fine with" waiving late fees contingent on receiving that form. Board members agreed to waive the late fees and set a separate late-business-license hearing date to be scheduled. Unidentified Speaker 3 moved to waive the fee; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Thomas said he would either file the closure form by June or, if his pole-barn project were not done, would renew the license and pay the base fees. City staff offered to accept payment at the meeting and to provide the owner a copy of the decision and next steps.

"I got skin cancer, ended up with 14 stitches in my face, decided to let the business go," Raymond Thomas told the board, explaining why he stopped operating. The board waived the late fees and set the matter for a formal late-license hearing date.