POLL: Selectmen Seeking Moratorium On New Mobile Truck Permits

Woodbury First Selectman Gerald Stomski said the Board of Selectmen wrote a letter to the Zoning Commission, asking them to support a one-year moratorium on new applications for mobile vendors.

"Whether it's food, furniture, firewood -- anything on the mobile side," Stomski said.

If a moratorium is put into place, Stomski was quick to say the town is not looking to get rid of Elliot's Seafood Truck and El Camión Tacos and Burritos.

"We want them [the Zoning Commission] to allow a one-year moratorium so the selectmen can look at the laws," he said.

Stomski stressed that the town is concerned about mobile vendors.

"One of the things we don't want to do is having the Zoning Commission issue a moratorium on vendors and then find out that the can't have vendors," he said. "We're looking at street vendors on the side of the road."

Stomski said his goal is to protect the businesses that presently exist in town.

"There's an unfair advantage to people who come in as mobile vendors," he said.

A person who opens a business in a storefront has more overhead costs than a mobile vendor, Stomski said.

"People with mobile vehicles have an unfair advantage -- they can sell things cheaper because they have less overhead," he said.

Stomski said he is not looking to change zoning regulations. He wants to look at whether the town can create an ordinance and perhaps require mobile vendors to pay an annual fee for a town permit.

"We're looking to create a level playing field for the people already here in business," he said.

Stomski said he hopes the Zoning Commission discusses the letter at the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, Zoning Commission meeting at the .

"It's just a conversation," he said. "The Board of Selectmen may or may not decide to write legislation and create an ordinance. We just see that there's a problem and we need to something to help the businesses that are in place."

How do you feel about a potential moratorium on mobile vendors? Do you feel mobile vendors have an unfair advantage over storefront businesses? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.