01/12/2012

Fort Williams Park pilot food-vendor program approved for second season

Cape Elizabeth will continue its pilot food-vendor program for Fort Williams Park in 2012.

At their meeting Jan. 9, 2012, the Town Council approved a request-for-proposals from prospective vendors for the upcoming season.

Proposals are due by 2 p.m. Jan. 26, 2012 and will be reviewed by members of the Fort Williams Advisory Commission and by Town staff.

Town Manager Michael McGovern reported on the pilot program, started last spring as part of a Town Council goal to explore means of creating revenue for the park. The 2011 program generated between $10,000-$11,000, McGovern said. By adding a vendor site near the beach at Ship Cove, the Town is projecting $14,000 in income from the program this year.

The Town is getting an earlier start this year. Last year, the first for the program, the request for proposals was approved and published in March.

Four permits will be awarded for vendors to sell concessions from May 1-Oct. 31, 2012. Last year's program awarded five permits - one for a full season, and two for each of two summer and fall seasons.

The new site at the beach is the fourth area of the park that will allow permitted vendors. The vendor at the beach site will be required to sell cold drinks and ice cream, McGovern said.

Councilors at the Jan. 9 meeting said they heard generally positive comments from residents about the food vendors in the park. Councilor Caitlin Jordan said however that commissioners should consider the proposed appearance of the vendor cart when reviewing permit proposals this year.

McGovern said that the vendors also said they did "O.K., they did well" at the park last season. "One said it's not as profitable as everyone thinks," he added, but generally park visitors enjoyed having food vendors there.

Last season's vendors sold concessions including hot dogs, lobster rolls and ice cream.