New food trucks coming to town; climbing shoes approved

FARMINGTON – Selectmen approved two new food truck operations, a climbing shoes donation and set the salary range for a new treasurer and finance director.

Anne Holloway and Garnet Keim of Weld, got the ahead to operate their El Toro food truck in town. Holloway, originally from Seattle, explained, “food trucks are big out there.” The couple noticed there weren’t many trucks here and thought authentic Mexican food would be a good fit, she said.

“We bought the truck three years ago and have been working on it,” she said. “We’ve completely redone it and we’re ready to launch our baby.” They hope to get started on June 1 and are negotiating with Gifford’s on Main Street to park in their lot during lunch hours. If all goes well they may expand into the evening hours, Holloway said.

“The food is great, pretty authentic,” Holloway said. Plans are to use as much locally grown and produced products as possible. Selectmen unanimously approved their new lunch wagon application.

Also approved was Fahrenheit 225 LLC to operate a food truck in town. Owners are Al and Linda Clark of Lewiston.

In a discussion later at the meeting, Selectman Joshua Bell said he thought the $20 permitting fee plus public hearing announcement advertisement for lunch wagon operations  was too low when compared with the property taxes the established “brick and mortar” restaurant owners pay.  A food truck, Bell said, still competes with the established restaurants but pays almost nothing.

Town Manager Richard Davis said the established restaurants have the benefit of a fixed, certain location every day of the year, while mobile food trucks don’t.

“A $20 fee, I just don’t thin its adequate. They can move from place to place and they’re not investing in the town,” Bell countered.

Selectman Matt Smith raised the issue of increasing the fee for the long term food trucks. But, Davis said keeping track would increase the administrative work and  “the town has never used this to make money.”  The current fee, for the permit and advertising the public hearing required to be advertised, covers all the costs.

Selectman Michael Fogg said to “increase it would defeat it,” he said of bringing increased business opportunity to town.

“I just think it should be higher,” Bell said.

In other matters, a $1,721.25 donation by the Healthy Community Coalition was accepted by selectmen for 35 rock climbing shoes for the new climbing wall at the Community Center.

In December 2015, selectmen accepted a $13,682 grant, also through the Healthy Community Coalition, to install an 8-foot-tall climbing wall in the Community Center. The wall was built on the back brick wall of the stage area in the Bjorn Gymnasium.

The wall requires specialized shoes for climbing. Without the proper shoes, beginners may loose interest in the sport, Matt Foster, director of the Parks & Recreation Department said in statement to selectmen. Different sizes will be available for use by the public.

After comparing like-size town and what they pay their finance directors, selectmen settled on a salary range of between $56,000 and $62,000. Treasurer Diana Young is retiring and a new director is being sought. Salary ranges for a similar position is $53,821 in Rumford, to $90,000 in Cumberland.

It was noted that longevity and job responsibility varied between the towns compared, although it was agreed that Young’s salary of $54,694 was too low. Town Manager Richard Davis requested a range with which to negotiate for a suitable applicant.