Haverhill Ward 3 City Councilor Devan M. Ferreira thinks the public would be well served by allowing more food trucks and carts in parks and squares across the city, but her colleagues Tuesday were not in full agreement.
Because of demand from both vendors and the public, Ferreira said, she offered a change to the city’s, so-called, “fixed vendor” ordinance which would increase the total number of vendors and add Plug Pond, Riverfront Park and Washington Square as new locations.
“We know that more options are always good for folks and if there’s food any place and there are more options for food any place, you tend to spend your money there and spend more time there. So as a business practice it’s tends to be a good thing to do,” Ferreira argued.
She introduced a measure that would more than double the number of vendors from six to 14 and add three new locations Under her plan, the number of vendors allowed in Riverside Park would go from one to four and GAR Park, Swasey Field Park and Nettleton Avenue would each go from one to two vendors. She also learned of interest in a hot dog stand in Washington Square.
The idea, however, was met with enough reservations to prompt the Council to send her provision to committee for discussion.
Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said she isn’t opposed to adding more vendors, but she is concerned adding a location at Riverfront Park would compete with downtown restaurants, a concern also shared by Ward 1 Councilor Ralph T. Basiliere and Ward 5 Councilor Michael S. McGonagle.
Ferreira said she thought about ways cart vendors could be an enhancement rather than a distraction, adding her amendment includes a restriction on the type of food a Riverfront vendor could sell. No food trucks would be allowed at that location. She added her belief food trucks offer a different dining experience than restaurants and appealed to those with different incomes.
“Any vendor operating at Riverfront Park would not be selling the same thing as the primary businesses in that area. So that is specifically outlined in here as well. We were trying to be careful about that,” Ferreira said.
Ward 4 Councilor Melissa J. Lewandowski said she also has reservations about allowing four vendors in Riverside Park because she isn’t sure there is adequate space. Barrett added a second vendor at the corner of Nettleton and Lincoln Avenues might not be safe.
Barrett also suggested adding a requirement that all vendors bring a trash receptacle and remove trash at the end of each day. She also suggested councilors send Ferreira’s measure to the board’s Natural Resources and Public Properties Committee, chaired by Lewandowski, for discussion and debate.
Councilors agreed, voting 9-1, with Ferreira in the negative.