Petitioners seeking overnight food trailer spot face indefinite postponement after committee flags open-ended language

Petitioners urging the town to allow a seasonal food trailer to remain overnight at a leased Kent Arena parking lot were told the finance committee will recommend indefinite postponement of their citizens'petition while departments and petitioners refine language and process.

At the meeting the petitioner (S4) said the trailer has electrical service on site and leaving it overnight would avoid daily removal costs and preserve perishable inventory; the petitioner said the request would be seasonal, not year-round. Committee members questioned whether the petition's language was too broad and could allow an indefinite, townwide change in policy for food vendors on private property.

S6 suggested a zoning variance for the specific parcel could be a better route than a bylaw change or broad policy alteration because a citizen's petition as written could apply to any parcel and in perpetuity. Staff (S12) confirmed that voters can file citizen petitions and that the finance committee cannot change the petition's language once properly filed; departments (board of health, select board) would still need to approve required permits or policy changes.

S6 moved to indefinitely postpone the article; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Committee members encouraged the petitioners to work with the moderator and relevant departments to refine the proposal and noted they would have an opportunity to speak at town meeting.