WINDSOR – Merchants on Granville Street here say they are losing business because of excessive fundraisers in the old IGA parking lot on weekends.

Windsor Commissioner Collins Cooper told the board of the problem during their regular monthly meeting here Thursday morning.

“I’ve been getting complaints from merchants on Granville Street about people coming up here every weekend and serving food and saying it’s a fundraiser… the merchants are complaining that they’re losing money,” Cooper stated.

Town Administrator Alan Castelloe said that historically, the town does not require a permit for a non-profit event.

“In the past, we have not required a license, but if the council desires we can update the ordinance to address the issue,” he noted.

Windsor Mayor Bob Spivey remarked that he believed the ordinance should be reviewed.

“If they’re coming up here and selling stuff for fundraisers to benefit elsewhere, they’re not really doing anybody here any good,” Spivey said.

Spivey suggested, “You could designate a number of times each entity could have (a fundraiser) each year.”

Commissioner Bob Brown added, “Or you could specify that they have to be from Bertie County or at least benefiting something or somebody here.”

Castelloe and Spivey plan to study the existing regulations over the next month and present their findings and recommendations to the board at their next meeting on October 9 at 8:30 a.m.