ATHOL — Selectmen recently tabled action on a sidewalk sales permit for Sudad Saman, owner of George’s Farm at 358 Main St., to place three or four tables and six to eight chairs on the sidewalk to increase traffic to his store.
Selectman Lee Chauvette said the permit was not specific enough to know if the owner was talking about tables to hold the produce so people can see what he’s selling, or if they were for consuming food.
“To me, if you’re putting tables and chairs outside an establishment, it sounds like you’re going to eat there,” he said, but Saman has not obtained a food permit from the Board of Health. “If you have produce stands, that’s fine, but people can’t eat there.”
Selectwoman Rebecca Bialecki said she had the same question, as well as concern about pedestrians having access to the sidewalk, noting that people need to be able to use it.
On the permit application, Saman wrote “N/A” in the space provided where it asks if he is leaving at least 36 inches around the table to allow access to the sidewalk.
The town bylaw states, in part, “Any table or cart shall only be placed along the façade of the building, and all items not displayed on a table or cart shall be placed along the façade of the building, unless specifically permitted by the Board of Selectmen. A Sidewalk Sales Permit holder must allow for at least 36” of sidewalk in front of their display at all times. The use of tents shall be restricted to special events and must be pre-approved and removed at the close of business. Use of the sidewalk is limited to that of the business for which the license is granted and sidewalk area beyond or adjacent to that business is not to be used.”
At 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the store was closed, even though the sign on the door stated hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Signs on the window and on produce boxes inside indicate a variety of vegetables and fruits for sale, including cucumbers, eggplants, green peppers, fresh mint leaves, apples, bananas, turnips, pineapples and sweet potatoes.
Saman, a retired professor of microbiology who took up farming a few years ago after 23 years of teaching, indicated prior to opening the store that the vegetables would come from his own gardens in Framingham and Northborough, as well as other farms.
Because the information provided on the permit was lacking in detail, such as hours of operation and types of tables, no vote was taken. The next Selectboard meeting is Tuesday, July 17.
It was noted that recent permit applications, in general, have been coming in at the last minute, sometimes only a couple of days prior to an event. Selectman William Caldwell suggested a policy be developed that requires permits to be submitted a certain amount of time before an event.
The installation of a mid-span pole, to be placed between two existing utility poles on Brown Street, was approved. National Grid indicated the pole was needed for a piece of equipment protecting certain areas against short circuiting. There is an existing device, but present standards call for a set of disconnects to be located on a separate pole as close as possible to the branching points in the circuit. No abutters were present to object.
On the request of the Downtown Vitality Committee, selectmen increased the number of members on the board from five to seven people. The committee is appointed by the town manager. Bialecki said the committee has an active group of non-voting associate members, and the change will allow the committee “to bring on a couple of those folks who have been showing up and doing the work, but haven’t been able to vote.”
Selectwoman Holly Young said the associate members’ roles need to be more clearly defined.
“I believe they should be able to step in if there’s not a quorum so they can vote,” she said.
During the Selectmen’s Reports section, Bialecki noted there was a suggestion from the audience to move the table where people are addressing the board. The speakers’ backs are facing the audience, making it difficult for anyone to hear what is being said, especially when the air conditioner is running. AOTV videos all the Selectboard meetings, and while viewers at home may be able to hear the speakers through the microphone clearly, it is not always the case for the people in the room.
AOTV Executive Director Carol Courville said she understands the concept and noted all three remote cameras in the room were purchased recently. She said, “This (change) is something we could accommodate, as long as we know ahead of time,” she said.
The change could possibly involve rewiring of microphones and camera relocation.