← Legal & Legislative Committee · 2026-03-23 · Legal & Legislative Committee
Amend the language of the Mobile Food Vendor Article III of Chapter 127 of City of Melrose Ordinance remove the requirement of public hearing prior to license issuance.
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
E. (ID # 2026-632): Amend the language of the Mobile Food Vendor Article III of Chapter 127 of City of Melrose Ordinance remove the requirement of public hearing prior to license issuance. Motion to Recommend made by President Freeman Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Maya Jamaleddine, Bradley Freeman, Elizabeth Kowal, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti, Cal Finocchiaro Comments on discussion: -Councilor Vandiver stated the difference between what was previously written that included a public hearing, and what this would become, is that it would still be coming through City Council in a publicly noticed meeting and not an official public hearing. People could still come to public comment and comment on that specific food truck and their plans and suitability. The difference would be not needing to do a notification a certain number of weeks prior in the newspaper for an official public hearing. President Freeman confirmed that it would remove the need for a public notification in the newspaper, as well as sending individual notices to households within a certain vicinity of the food truck location. To continue, this may make a lot of sense because these food trucks will be in a variety of locations. It might be difficult to notify all the people that they would be near. On the other hand, we have food truck zones, so if we did continue with this public hearing process, it would be the same set of people getting notified every time for that zone. So just making sure that we're all on the same page here. I have had one complaint from somebody in Ward 5 that they are concerned about the food trucks near them, and whether they would receive notice. I think they would probably prefer to get as much notice as possible, but it does seem that there is still a standard meeting notice that they would receive here. If one of the neighbors received a notice and they would like to voice a concern, they don't have a hearing to attend. The request still would be coming before the City Council, so it would be on the agenda for a license committee meeting and, there would be public comment time at that meeting. After the fact, after the license is issued, they would treat it just as any other question they may have about any existing license, and go before that relevant department within the city. V. ORDERS 5 VI. ADJOURNMENT The City of Melrose does not discriminate based on disability and is committed to hosting accessible meetings and events. Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Melrose or to attend meetings, should contactthe City’s ADA Coordinator, Polina Latta platta@cityofmelrose.org. Motion to Adjourn by unanimous consent made by Chair Jamaleddine at 7:28 PM. All were in favor and meeting was adjourned 6 … … … . CITY OF MELROSE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR . City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 JENNIFER GRIGORAITIS Tele
Transcript
▶ 22:31 Maya Jamaleddine: Seeing none, all in favor? Aye. Any oppose? Okay, this motion passes. ID number 2026-632, amend the language of the, mobile food vendor, articles three of, chapter 127 of City of Melrose ordinance, remove the requirements of public hearing prior to license, issuance.
▶ 23:01 Bradley Freeman: Chair Jamaleddine. Okay. Uh, thank you. This is another issue that, Councillor Finocchiaro brought forward. This is following up on a matter the council passed last session to allow for, mobile food vendors in Melrose. After conversations with the city clerk's office as well as the city solicitor, there was a recommendation that we remove the requirement for vendors to come in for a public hearing. Um, and instead, they would submit their application through the normal process and would be approved by the city council as part of the Protection and License Committee without the need for a public hearing for, for each individual food truck.
▶ 23:35 Maya Jamaleddine: Mm-hmm. Okay. Any, question from my colleagues?
▶ 23:39 Speaker 1: Councillor Vandiver.
▶ 23:40 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Um, so just talking through this a little bit and making sure that everyone's on the same page about what that would mean for this. Um, so the difference between, my understanding would be then the difference between what was previously written that included a public hearing and what this would become is that we would... it would still be coming through city council in a publicly noticed meeting. People could still come to public comment and comment on that specific food truck and their plans and suitability. Um, and so really the difference would be not needing to do a notification a certain number of weeks prior in the newspaper. It can, it... Through the chair, could President Freeman confirm that?
▶ 24:22 Bradley Freeman: Yeah, that's my understanding. It would remove the ne- need for a public notification in the newspaper as well as sending individual notices to, to households within a certain vicinity of the food truck location.
▶ 24:34 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. And, if I can continue then. So, and that actually may make a lot of sense just in terms of these food trucks will be in a variety of locations. It might be difficult to notify all the people that they would be near. On the other hand, we have food truck zones, so it would... If we did g- continue with this public hearing process, it would be the same set of people probably getting notified every single food truck who are near any food truck zone. Um, so just, just making sure that we're kind of all on the same page here. And then, just to state related to that, I have had one, complaint from somebody in Ward 5 that they, they are concerned about, you know, food trucks near them and, whether they would receive notice. So I, I think they would probably prefer to get as much notice possible, but, but it does seem that there is still a nor- a standard meeting notice that they would receive here, so. Um, just kind of talking out loud, making sure everyone has the same shared understanding.
▶ 25:35 Maya Jamaleddine: No, actually it's, it's... You brought a very good point. Thank you. Um, so to follow up on your question, Councilor, Vandiver, so if, let's say one of the neighbors, received a notice and they, would like to voice a concern, they don't have a hearing, to go to and voice their concern. Who, they will have to go to the licensing? Um,
▶ 26:06 Speaker 1: like, where would they go? Go ahead.
▶ 26:10 Bradley Freeman: So, to Councilor Vandiver earlier point, there still would, it still would be coming before the city council. So it would be on the agenda for a license. Um, there would be public comment. Um, after the fact, after the license is issued, they would treat it just as any other question they may have about any existing license and go before that relevant department within the city.
▶ 26:32 Speaker 1: Um,
▶ 26:34 Maya Jamaleddine: any, other comments?
▶ 26:41 Speaker 5: Go ahead. Motion to recommend.
▶ 26:43 Speaker 4: Second.
▶ 26:45 Maya Jamaleddine: We have a motion to recommend made by President, Freeman, seconded by, Councilor Kowal on discussion.