Council amends food‑truck contract to clarify insurance coverage; applicant to proceed

The Richmond Town Council on May 20 amended the town’s food‑truck event insurance requirement after a detailed discussion with event organizers and the town’s insurance broker.

Background: The food‑truck organizer and liquor vendor raised concerns that the town’s standard language could be interpreted to require duplicate, high‑cost liquor‑liability policies (which the organizers said would add several thousand dollars in premium and threaten the event’s viability). The town’s insurance broker and solicitor advised that because the event involves two legal entities — the class F‑1 license holder at the event (the licensee) and a separate vendor contracted to serve alcohol — the town’s contract should require two certificates of insurance. The solicitor described how liquor‑liability law typically runs to the licensee and that having subordinate vendors provide separate certificates is standard practice.

What the council adopted: The council approved a motion to specify required certificates and limits for the upcoming events. The revised requirement, as recorded in the meeting, calls for: (a) a commercial general liability certificate for PVD Food Trucks (the event host) with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate and host‑liquor liability included; and (b) a liquor‑liability certificate for Good Vibes Beverages with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate. The amended language replaces an interpretation that could have been read to require $2,000,000 policies from multiple separate entities.

Town staff confirmed that those certificates were already submitted for the May event (one‑day supplemental policies had been purchased for the prior date to address a timing gap). The council required the annual certificates to be current for the upcoming event dates. Town officials and the organizer agreed to update the contract language to reference the specific certificates and dollar limits so there is no ambiguity going forward.

Motion and vote: The council voted to amend the contract language and accept the specified insurance certificates; roll call votes recorded approval from councilors present.

Organizers said they take safety and compliance seriously and requested the clarified language to avoid a large one‑time premium. The solicitor and the town’s insurance broker confirmed the new certificate levels would provide coverage and explained the potential complexity if multiple insurers dispute coverage after a catastrophic loss; the broker noted that the town’s position was protective and the agreed certificates provide substantial coverage.