A. Upon receipt of any application and application fee for an initial franchise, the village administrator shall prepare a report and make his or her recommendations respecting such application to the village board.
B. A public hearing may be held prior to any initial franchise grant, at a time and date approved by the board. Within thirty (30) days after the close of the hearing, the board shall make a decision based upon the evidence received at the hearing as to whether or not the franchise(s) should be granted, and, if granted, subject to what conditions.
C. All applicants for an initial franchise grant shall submit an application fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) to compensate the village for its costs in reviewing, preparing and awarding a franchise, including the costs of outside consultants. Upon the grant of a franchise, the village may request the payment of an additional fee to the extent that the reasonable costs of the franchise review and negotiation process exceed the initial application fee amount. Consistent with the cable act, all such fees shall not constitute or be credited towards a grantee's franchise fee obligations. (Ord. 1241, 6-18-2001)