BURNETTOWN -- Burnettown Town Council decided to accept the recommendations from the business license ordinance ad hoc committee as information, and tabled the matter until the November session, at Monday evening's meeting.

Mayor Wayne Benson made the motion to accept the recommendation as information. Town council discussed the matter further in executive session.

"We've decided to table the Business License Ordinance," said Kenneth Ferguson,  Burnettown Town Councilman, who also sits on the Business License Ordinance ad hoc committee.

Council voted to pass the Business License Ordinance last December by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Kenneth Ferguson casting the lone dissenting vote.

The Horse Creek Merchants Association, in an effort to repeal the Business License Ordinance, submitted a petition with 272 valid signatures, 71 more than the required number for the petition to be placed on the ballot.

Horse Creek Merchants Association president Mel Minitor asked where the motion put the petition at Monday's meeting, with legal action pending regarding the legality of the petition.

The town's attorney, Lawrence Brown, told Minitor that the Horse Creek Merchants Association will receive the proper notification regarding the legal hearing.

At the August town council meeting, Councilman James McIntosh made the motion to initiate legal action for a declaratory judgment to determine whether or not the petition is legal.

The referendum to repeal the Business License Ordinance will not appear on the November ballot.

Burnettown residents continue to question council about its actions regarding the Business License Ordinance despite community resistance.

"Regardless of what happens with this lawsuit, a lot of people don't want the business license ordinance," said Ed Dotson,  Burnettown citizen. "Are you listening to the people?"

There was also a question of how the monies generated from the Business License Ordinance will be allocated. The money will go toward the municipality's general fund, said Mayor Wayne Benson.

"The distribution of the monies will be used for stated purposes and go to the general fund," said Wayne New,  Burnettown Town Councilman. "The money will be used for stated purposes, whether it be for the application of grants or the police department. We have to hope whoever's in charge will have the ability to make sure the money is distributed in the correct manner."