Bourne Select Board refers food-truck dispute to policy subcommittee, leaves permit in place for season

The Bourne Select Board voted to send procedural and policy questions about food trucks at the Canal Region Farmers Market to its policy subcommittee after an extended public hearing on July 7, leaving the market’s current permit in place for the season.

The board’s decision came after residents, market organizers and local business owners debated whether the March approval of the farmers market should have been placed on the consent agenda and whether the market operator disclosed the presence and placement of food trucks on the application.

“I believe the record resolves it,” said Stephanie Viva Wheaton, the market organizer, noting that the event application asked whether food trucks would be present and that the site map filed with the town included truck placement. “We renewed for 2026. We added food trucks. The application in the town's permitting portal asks, will food trucks be at this event? And we answered yes.”

Market supporters argued the trucks are routine parts of events and help feed vendors, volunteers and visitors; organizers said three food trucks are currently among 25 vendors and that health and fire inspections were coordinated with town departments. Opponents — primarily Main Street brick-and-mortar owners — said the trucks compete with year-round businesses during high-traffic Thursday concert nights.

“Food trucks, unlike brick and mortars, have to jam their business season into 6, 7, 8 months,” said Dorese Delpreet, a food-truck owner, describing the costs and seasonal constraints that make trucks economically vulnerable. “We still spend a ton of money on permits and on our equipment.”

Town Counsel Brian, addressing the board, urged caution about rescinding a permit already issued and suggested the board respect authorizations while using the off-season to tighten policy. “If we really have a concern about it, I guess we can discuss it and talk about whether we need to modify the permit. But given that this has already been planned and is going forward, we should respect the jurisdiction of other governmental entities and take the opportunity to think about how we handle food trucks going forward,” he said.

After hearing from multiple speakers on both sides, the board voted to refer the procedural question and possible policy changes to the policy subcommittee so staff and board members can draft clearer rules for future permitting, vendor distances, site plans and cross-party coordination with the Canal Region Chamber and concert organizers.

What’s next: The subcommittee will review the special events policy language around vendor disclosure, site-plan requirements and jurisdictional limits (town property versus adjacent parcels) and return recommendations to the full Select Board prior to next year’s season.