Vendor fees at the new South Portland Flea Market may be reduced from $40 to $15, after businessman Louis Maietta requested the change to increase participation at the indoor market.

The City Council reached a consensus Monday night to lower the fees the city charges people to sell goods at the weekend market at 753 Broadway.

Currently, the city charges $40 to license vendors to sell new and used items at the private flea market and an additional $15 to process the application at City Hall.

Maietta had informed Councilor Maxine Beecher that he was having trouble drawing vendors who opt to use the indoor market instead of a yard sale. He said the public found the cost prohibitive.

Residents pay $5 to the city every time they hold a yard sale, but are limited to two sales per year. The $40 vendor fee for the flea market is good for a year.

City Clerk Susan Mooney, who was asked to survey other municipalities, discovered that both Scarborough and Westbrook have flea markets but charge vendors nothing and do not license them.

Councilors Jim Hughes and Jim Soule questioned why South Portland does not follow the practices of the two communities and forgo a fee.

“I’d eliminate all the fees,” Soule said. “We have to be competitive in this market.”

But city staff pointed out that Police Chief Edward Googins suggested that the city keep a list of the people selling items at the flea market, as a way to possibly identify people attempting to sell stolen goods.

Councilor Linda Boudreau said she would like to keep an eye on who is selling items at the flea market by having the city collect names and addresses.

“I want a record of who is in the city selling products,” she said. “I don’t think $15 will break the bank.”

Mayor Tom Blake agreed with Boudreau, adding that he liked the “accountability” of maintaining a list.

Councilor Patti Smith said she would like more information on just how useful the list is to police.

Soule agreed, saying he wants to hear from Googins prior to the Council lowering the fee to $15, rather than allowing the public to sell at the market without paying the city a fee.

The flea market has about 11 vendors on weekends, and Vinnie Maietta – speaking for his brother, Louis, who was not at the meeting – said all the sellers will benefit when the tables are full.

Maietta said his brother would be pleased if the Council just lowered the fee to $15 to bring in more vendors.

Louis Maietta has said he thinks the tough economy will make an indoor flea market a popular draw for shoppers seeking bargains. The flea market, which opened a month ago, operates every Saturday and Sunday.

There is no other flea market in South Portland, and the council has struggled to develop rules for operation.

The Council is expected to vote on reducing the $40 fee when it meets on April 6. A second vote will be required for the change to be implemented.