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Farmers Market leaders warn vendor hardship if Town fee increases sharply
Summary
Market organizers told the board the Farmers Market operates as a nonprofit with roughly 70 vendors and a $350 annual vendor fee; organizers said a proposed increase in Town fees could force vendors to pay an additional $20–$43 and harm participation.
During Privilege of the Floor, market representative Glen VanWie and board member Ann Hough discussed a draft agreement and proposed fee changes. VanWie said the Market is "nonprofit and no one is on payroll, the only one paid is our secretary/treasurer $3,000," and that vendors pay $350 for the season and current participation is about 70 vendors.
VanWie warned that if the Town raised its fee to $6,000 in a single change, that could require an additional $43 per vendor. He described the Market's other costs, including insurance and a consulting fee to the executive director, and urged incremental increases rather than a single large hike.
The board asked to send the draft agreement to the Market's board for comment and noted the Town supplies and pays to clean two portable bathrooms at the Market site; further discussion about an additional bathroom and cancellation clauses was left for later.
