Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Truck Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen begin framing policy for food trucks on town property; board asks for site list and fees for next meeting
Summary
The Board of Selectmen discussed permitting and possible locations for food trucks on town property, asked staff and board members to propose viable sites and fee structures, and directed outreach to potential applicants before finalizing a policy.
The Board of Selectmen dedicated time on July 14 to discuss a resident's request to operate a food truck on town property and the broader question of a town food-truck policy. The board did not adopt a fee schedule at the meeting but asked staff and board members to identify permissible locations and a recommended fee structure for consideration at the next meeting.
Background and board direction: Town Administrator Eric reported municipal fees across Connecticut range widely and asked what objective the town seeks: provide a resident service, or generate revenue. The board agreed that the primary goal is to provide a service to residents at events and at certain town property locations; revenue recovery could be modest.
Sites and constraints discussed: Selectmen identified a shortlist of potential locations to evaluate: the municipal commuter lot near Andover & Over, the ballfield/athletic fields (including Saturday mornings), the Lake Road pull-off at the end of Lake Road, and the town hall/community center parking areas. The board explicitly excluded the Veterans Monument area for food trucks. Concerns raised included traffic and safety at Route 6/Andover and the need for coordination with planning and zoning and any state right-of-way rules.
Fees and permitting: Eric outlined examples from CCM (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) showing daily and annual fees from $50 to $150 depending on model. The board directed staff and Selectmen knowledgeable about town sites to return with site recommendations and suggest a fee schedule (daily/event vs. seasonal/annual) and any operational rules for permitting. The board also agreed the policy must be open to all vendors and not just a single applicant.
Next steps: Staff and board members will prepare a list of acceptable sites, recommended fees and permit language; the board plans to solicit public comment and contact the applicant so she can weigh in on preferred locations. The matter will return to a future meeting for final policy adoption.
