“Mobile Food Unit” must expect further regulations | News, Sports, Jobs

Submitted photo: Eric Hastings, 35, a firefighter with the Warren Fire Department and half of the owners of Bucket Brigade Pizza Company, stands in the back of a rebuilt and restored 1955 Pirsch Engine fire truck next to the pizza oven they added.

The City of Warren has assembled a committee to draft a new ordinance to regulate what the city calls “mobile food units.”

In July, Bucket Brigade Pizza Company published a detailed post on Facebook outlining why it would not have a major presence in the city of Warren.

Essentially, it was about a problem with their business license and an alleged threat.

“The only time we were ever contacted by someone working for the City of Warren was when we had a problem with our business license,” They posted. “So in order to operate our trailer there, we have to get a second business license, which is just stupid since we only own one business.”

“They have every right to create the policies they want, and they can choose to enforce them with whatever professional conduct they deem appropriate.” they added. “We therefore have every right to think that some guidelines are silly and to decide not to comply with them and therefore not to operate there.”

Randy Rossey, director of codes and planning, said the issue with Bucket Brigade Pizza Company was the impetus for the possible rule changes.

He said the city has assembled a committee consisting of members of the City Council and Planning Commission, as well as city staff.

“They met last week and reviewed regulations from other municipalities,” Said Rossey.

A number of recommendations have been presented to city staff, who will now prepare a draft ordinance that could be presented to the Planning Commission for review as early as September.

“It will be a brand new regulation,” Rossey said: “Our current mobile food service order is part of our brick-and-mortar order.

“We are aware that stationary and mobile food stands are two different things.

As a result, Rossey said the goal is to improve the regulations “up to date.”

In other business, planners discussed that there are currently two open positions on the board. Those interested can find more information at cityofwarrenpa.gov.