Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Aldermen considering vendor law
By Christine D’Agostino
Hudson-Catskill Newspaper
HUDSON — The Hudson Common Council will soon vote on new vendor law, and Council members received a copy of the law at its informal meeting Monday.
“There’s no vendor law at the moment,” Alderwoman Ellen Thurston, D-3rd Ward, told the Council. She did note the city does have a Peddling and Soliciting Law, which requires license holders to move every 10 minutes.
“The city clerk suggested making a vendor law, and I agree,” Thurston said. “It’s good to have food vendors out in the summertime, in the parks and so forth.”
The proposed law reads in part: “The preliminary purpose of the public streets, sidewalks and other public ways is for use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic; Vending on such public ways promotes the public interest by contributing to an active and attractive pedestrian environment.”
Any potential vendor would be required to obtain a license from the city, the fees for which will be set annually by the Common Council. According to President Robert Perry Jr., the Council sets the fees through a separate resolution and not as part of the law.
Alderman Chris Wagoner, D-3rd Ward, asked where the law came from. Perry answered that much of the language was taken from the city of Albany’s vendor law.
Perry also noted that the law would not apply to those who already operate a business in the city of Hudson, so businesses would still be able to participate in sidewalk sales and things of that nature.
In an effort to protect existing businesses, the law also states that, “No vendor shall sell a product within one hundred feet of a store selling the same or a substantially similar product.” Perry noted that this language is not present in the city’s Peddling and Solicitation Law.
The proposed law requires that any vendor planning to sell food or beverages must also apply to the county Department of Health for any required health permits. These permits, along with the vending permit, must be prominently displayed.
Thurston pointed out that for certain events — such as Flag Day — event organizers will be able to obtain special three-day event organizer’s licenses, where they can set the fees and approve the vendors.
The proposed law also contains several exceptions. Individuals under the age of 16, selling Girl Scout cookies or lemonade, for example, a farmer (or farmer’s employees) selling products from his own farm or garden, and charitable organizations located in the city will not be required to obtain a license.
Veterans and disabled veterans, who are given special permits by the state of New York, will “also have to obtain a license from us,” Thurston said, “though they will not be charged a fee.” These veterans will still have to comply with the law as its written.
Currently, the proposed law offers an annual license, in addition to the three-day event organizer’s licenses. Thurston felt there should also be a shorter generic license that vendors can apply for, that is not linked to a specific event.
Thurston also felt that the Common Council should have a say in designating what types of vendors can sell where, and what parts of the city it may not want vendors to go, such as residential areas.
“It doesn’t say who does the designating,” she said. “I think the Common Council might want to have something to say about it.”
Council members would also like to see changes to the law’s definition of merchandise, which reads, “Any non-edible commodity limited to tee-shirts, newspapers, flowers, balloons and cigarettes.”
“Why do we want to allow cigarettes to be sold on our streets?” Thurston asked. “That needs clarification.”
Alderwoman Carole Osterink added, “the idea of limiting it to T-shirts, newspapers, flowers and balloons is kind of weird,” though she guessed that City Attorney Jack Connor, who wrote the law, meant to write “including but not limited to.”
Alderwoman Carrie Haddad, D-1st Ward, suggested that the Council hold off on further discussion until its formal meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 at City Hall, so all members would have a chance to review the proposed law.
Other general requirements of the proposed law include:
n Vendors must not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic
n Vendors are not allowed to use loudspeakers, public address systems, radios, sound amplifiers, or other similar devices to attract the public’s attention.
n Vendors are not allowed to vend between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. the following day, unless otherwise specified.
n Vendors also must not vend within 250 feet of elementary or secondary school grounds between 30 minutes prior to the start of a school day, and 30 minutes after dismissal.
Council members will vote on the proposed vendor law at its formal meeting Aug. 19.
Also Monday:
n Perry announced that a public hearing would be held on the city’s revised adult entertainment law at 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 19 at City Hall.
The proposed law would amend the city’s zoning to allow adult businesses to open in any of the city’s three industrial zones. Such businesses would not be permitted to open within 1,000 feet of a school, place of worship, child care facility, playground, residence or another adult establishment.
The Common Council will vote on the law at its formal meeting following the public hearing.
To reach reporter Christine D’Agostino, please call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail cdagostino@registerstar.com.
HUDSON — The Hudson Common Council will soon vote on new vendor law, and Council members received a copy of the law at its informal meeting Monday.
“There’s no vendor law at the moment,” Alderwoman Ellen Thurston, D-3rd Ward, told the Council. She did note the city does have a Peddling and Soliciting Law, which requires license holders to move every 10 minutes.
“The city clerk suggested making a vendor law, and I agree,” Thurston said. “It’s good to have food vendors out in the summertime, in the parks and so forth.”
The proposed law reads in part: “The preliminary purpose of the public streets, sidewalks and other public ways is for use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic; Vending on such public ways promotes the public interest by contributing to an active and attractive pedestrian environment.”
Any potential vendor would be required to obtain a license from the city, the fees for which will be set annually by the Common Council. According to President Robert Perry Jr., the Council sets the fees through a separate resolution and not as part of the law.
Alderman Chris Wagoner, D-3rd Ward, asked where the law came from. Perry answered that much of the language was taken from the city of Albany’s vendor law.
Perry also noted that the law would not apply to those who already operate a business in the city of Hudson, so businesses would still be able to participate in sidewalk sales and things of that nature.
In an effort to protect existing businesses, the law also states that, “No vendor shall sell a product within one hundred feet of a store selling the same or a substantially similar product.” Perry noted that this language is not present in the city’s Peddling and Solicitation Law.
The proposed law requires that any vendor planning to sell food or beverages must also apply to the county Department of Health for any required health permits. These permits, along with the vending permit, must be prominently displayed.
Thurston pointed out that for certain events — such as Flag Day — event organizers will be able to obtain special three-day event organizer’s licenses, where they can set the fees and approve the vendors.
The proposed law also contains several exceptions. Individuals under the age of 16, selling Girl Scout cookies or lemonade, for example, a farmer (or farmer’s employees) selling products from his own farm or garden, and charitable organizations located in the city will not be required to obtain a license.
Veterans and disabled veterans, who are given special permits by the state of New York, will “also have to obtain a license from us,” Thurston said, “though they will not be charged a fee.” These veterans will still have to comply with the law as its written.
Currently, the proposed law offers an annual license, in addition to the three-day event organizer’s licenses. Thurston felt there should also be a shorter generic license that vendors can apply for, that is not linked to a specific event.
Thurston also felt that the Common Council should have a say in designating what types of vendors can sell where, and what parts of the city it may not want vendors to go, such as residential areas.
“It doesn’t say who does the designating,” she said. “I think the Common Council might want to have something to say about it.”
Council members would also like to see changes to the law’s definition of merchandise, which reads, “Any non-edible commodity limited to tee-shirts, newspapers, flowers, balloons and cigarettes.”
“Why do we want to allow cigarettes to be sold on our streets?” Thurston asked. “That needs clarification.”
Alderwoman Carole Osterink added, “the idea of limiting it to T-shirts, newspapers, flowers and balloons is kind of weird,” though she guessed that City Attorney Jack Connor, who wrote the law, meant to write “including but not limited to.”
Alderwoman Carrie Haddad, D-1st Ward, suggested that the Council hold off on further discussion until its formal meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 at City Hall, so all members would have a chance to review the proposed law.
Other general requirements of the proposed law include:
n Vendors must not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic
n Vendors are not allowed to use loudspeakers, public address systems, radios, sound amplifiers, or other similar devices to attract the public’s attention.
n Vendors are not allowed to vend between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. the following day, unless otherwise specified.
n Vendors also must not vend within 250 feet of elementary or secondary school grounds between 30 minutes prior to the start of a school day, and 30 minutes after dismissal.
Council members will vote on the proposed vendor law at its formal meeting Aug. 19.
Also Monday:
n Perry announced that a public hearing would be held on the city’s revised adult entertainment law at 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 19 at City Hall.
The proposed law would amend the city’s zoning to allow adult businesses to open in any of the city’s three industrial zones. Such businesses would not be permitted to open within 1,000 feet of a school, place of worship, child care facility, playground, residence or another adult establishment.
The Common Council will vote on the law at its formal meeting following the public hearing.
To reach reporter Christine D’Agostino, please call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail cdagostino@registerstar.com.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| DSS updates public on its child and family programs | Youth, seniors could share building |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
