Mike Principi, left, operates the Chez Lénard hot dog stand on Main Street under one of four vendor permits, all for food stands or ice cream trucks, currently approved by the town. The selectmen are considering whether to allow a flower vendor. — Macklin Reid photo
Should roving vendor trucks routinely be granted permits by the town? Or should the selectmen limit permits on the theory the vendors cut into the profits of “brick and mortar” businesses that pay taxes to the town, or rent to landlords who pay taxes?
“I think it’s a slippery slope,” said Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark. “It’s hard enough, now, for businesses to make it.”
It’s a subject the Board of Selectmen will likely delve into on July 23 when it is expected to decide on a vendor permit application from Mrs.Blooms Mobile, a truck that sells flowers.
The selectmen discussed the issue some at their meeting last Wednesday, June 25, when First Selectman Rudy Marconi asked the board if it wanted to consider the flower truck’s application.
Mr. Marconi noted that there were already a couple of flower retailers in town.
“It’ll be competing,” he said.
Vendor permits cost $200 and are good for a year in Ridgefield. The town currently has four active permits, all for mobile or semi-mobile food vendors: Chez Lénard, the Main Street hot dog stand; the Zawack Shack lunch trailer that parks on Route 7; Circusman roving ice cream truck; and Redding Creamery, another ice cream truck.
Arantes’ Coffee and Lunch, a truck that had been a regular visitor to The Prospector and library construction sites, had a permit that recently expired, according to the first selectman’s office.
Ms. Kozlark thought the example of the lunch truck — which regularly served a construction site directly across from a couple of restaurants — could be instructive for the case of mobile flower vendor.
“It’s almost like allowing that truck to come down for the workers to eat quickly, not crossing the street and going to…”
“Dimitri’s,” Mr. Marconi finished.
“I share your concern,” said Selectman Andy Bodner. “But you can also order flowers from 1-800-flowers and they come in the mail.”
Mr. Marconi said that vendor permit application from Mrs.Blooms envisioned at least some time selling flowers in the village.
“The locations would be ‘Main Street and other locations as allowed by the town,’ ” he said.
“Can you park on Main Street and take up a space?” Mr. Bodner asked.
“If they’re planning on pulling up and parking downtown, I think it’s a definite ‘no,’ ” Mr. Marconi said.
“I can’t see a flower truck going around neighborhoods,” he added.
Mr. Marconi also recalled the situation a few years back when an ice cream vendor had made a practice of stopping at the playing fields during games, cutting into the success of food concession stands operated by the youth sports programs.
First food, now flowers — the selectmen also wondered how far the vendor truck approach would go.
“We don’t let people pull up to the ballfields and sell sports equipment,” Mr. Bodner said.
“How much is too much? Next it’s going to be a Tory Burch truck selling white shirts,” Selectwoman Di Masters said.
“We need to decide on a policy,” Ms. Masters said. “What’s too much? We’re a little town. We need to have a broader discussion.”
“It’s a big question,” Mr. Bodner said.
“We’ll think about it,” Mr. Marconi said, “and put it on the agenda for July 23.”