Ordinance opens Johnston to food trucks

The “crispiest friskiest fries in town” may be a little easier to sample if Johnston changes local laws governing mobile food trucks.

Town Council held its first reading of an amended food truck ordinance Monday night.

According to Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., food trucks are “currently banned town-wide.” He hopes to change the law.

“This is an idea that Al Carnevale and I came up (with) together,” Polisena said earlier this week.

District 3 Town Councilman Alfred T. Carnevale introduced the ordinance Monday night. It’s the first ordinance he has introduced since joining Town Council and filling Polisena’s former seat on the five-member municipal board.

Carnevale briefly paraphrased the new law, which will amend town code pertaining to mobile food trucks.

“So there’s a restriction right now on mobile food trucks in parks,” he said Monday night. The new law would allow food trucks to “park in different areas of the park different days.”

“This ordinance accomplishes two things,” Polisena added. “First, it allows Johnston to have coordinated food truck events at the park, something that I promised I would establish while campaigning last summer. Second, it allows food trucks to operate at other events, if needed, such as little league games where concession stands may be unavailable.”

Rob Parrish works as food truck manager for Friskie Fries, a venture that began as a small fleet of food trucks and blossomed into a brick-and-mortar business with locations in Providence and Johnston.

He welcomed the proposed ordinance.

“As a small business, with two food trucks as well as a brick-and-mortar location based in Johnston, we appreciate any expansion in opportunities to serve our local community,” he said earlier this week.

Parrish climbed into one of Friskie Fries’ food trucks parked outside the Johnston location at 751 Hartford Ave. He opened the large window in the side and poked his head out.

He looked right to Tipsy the Alleycat, whose image has been painted on the side of the Friskie Fries food trucks. Up until now, the business has been able to serve fries from its small shop, but they’ve been restricted from operating their food trucks in town. 

“The trucks are subject to all town ordinances, such as hours of operation, and must have a state license and seek permission and approval by the town before operation,” Polisena explained. “This is (a) small part in a larger coordinated effort to better utilize Johnston Memorial Park for residents.”

Next month, Town Council will hear from the public on the proposed ordinance (titled “Peddling and Soliciting … Mobile Food Establishments.”

“(The ordinance) will be heard at the next March meeting for a full hearing where the public can speak in favor or against,” said District 4 Town Councilman and President Robert V. Russo.

Earlier this week, District 5 Town Councilman Robert J. Civetti said he had “a couple questions on” the new ordinance. He’s concerned about boundaries set for food truck operation outside established brick-and-mortar businesses.

The proposed ordinance changes limits that define where mobile food establishments can and cannot operate. The old law states that food trucks cannot operate within 1,000 feet of “any brick-and-mortar restaurant.” The amended ordinance will change the distance to 100 feet, “unless the restaurant consents to the mobile food establishments operation in said location.”

“Number one and my most concerning is why we change it from a thousand feet to a hundred feet,” Civetti said Monday morning. “If we have businesses in town that are paying real estate taxes to have a brick-and-mortar building, I don't know that we should be letting food trucks come in and infringe on their business just because they're only a hundred feet away. I think there's a place for the food trucks and that's what we need to discuss. I will be asking my questions at the council meeting when the time is appropriate.”