York Town News
Ice cream issue won't melt away, goes to police for study
By Larry Favinger
A local youngster and her friends are hoping their petition effort will help bring back ice trucks to York's neighborhoods. Erin Gorham and her friend Jacqueline O'Brien presented the petition to the Board of Selectmen this week, and were supported by many other local children who attended the board's meeting on Monday in support of changing the town's ordinances to allow ice cream trucks.
Photo by Larry Favinger
YORK - A 1982 ordinance banning ice cream trucks from the town's streets has been called into question by a nine-year-old girl and her friends.
Erin Gorham, a student at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, and her friend Jacqueline O'Brien presented a petition to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting on Monday, July 24, with approximately 200 signatures calling for the return of mobile ice cream sales in York.
The petition came in response to the board's June 26 decision to rescind a license previously granted in error to Jason Klein and Robert Lowe to sell ice cream across town by way of that classic symbol of childhood neighborhoods: the ice cream truck.
The board's decision to rescind the license came after York Police Chief Douglas Bracy pointed out that the town's ordinances do not allow such sales.
"We believe that this is unfair to the children of York. Many of our parents tell us stories about when they were young and bought drumsticks and ice cream sandwiches off the 'Good Humor' ice cream truck," the petition reads. "They tell us how they waited to hear the jingle of the truck go through the neighborhood."
Erin and Jacqueline shared the podium at the meeting held at the York Public Library and were supported by many friends in attendance - both children and adults. With their petition, they also provided a map of possible routes for the trucks to follow around town at Monday night's meeting.
"It is unfair that the children of York can't enjoy this same experience," they said in their petition. "We, the children and the parents of York, sign the following petition asking the town of York to change their laws concerning this situation."
Following the short presentation during the public comment portion of the meeting, Selectmen Chairman David Marshall said the issue has been referred to the police for review and there would be discussion about possible changes.
However, he cautioned the young activists, "I can't promise anything."
Marshall explained that any proposed ordinance changes would have to be approved by the town's voters at one of York's local elections, held in May or November.
When asked about the petition, Bracy said York's 1982 ordinance banning such sales was enacted for many reasons and covers all door-to-door vending in the town.
"There's a bigger picture here than ice cream," he said, "but, obviously, we need to look at it."
One aspect of the issue, he said, is there is no way to certify the vendors when they come into town. In the past, many were licensed in New Hampshire.
Bracy said mobile vendors - including ice cream trucks - impact local businesses that own property in town and pay local taxes.
Outside vendors, he explained, "use public property to make a profit."
For example, an ice cream truck can travel to high density places such as the town's beaches without the fees associated with a permanent business.
