Town grants approval, licenses for Cold Toes Tacos, Sidecountry Sports

Tacos, fat bikes and demo skis at the Camden Snow Bowl this weekend

Lynda Clancy

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 8:45am

Brian Beggarly talks with Camden Select Board Jan. 26: From left to right: Beggarly and Select Board members Don White, Leonard Lookner, John French, Marc Ratner and Jim Heard.

CAMDEN — Sidecountry Sports and Cold Toes Tacos received approval to set up shop at the Camden Snow Bowl this weekend. While the final details have yet to be squared away with Sidecountry Sports, the Camden Select Board voted unanimously Jan. 26 at a special board meeting to support both businesses operating at the mountain, with Sidecountry getting provisional approval until Jan. 31.

Cold Toes Tacos got the green light to make and sell tacos in a fast-food pop-up tent on the hill, with a one-year agreement, as long as owner Brian Beggarly stayed 100 yards away from the lodge.

“In no way am I even close to the lodge,” said Beggarly, who intends to prepare tacos near the top of the double or triple chairlift, depending on ski conditions, and directives from mountain management and ski patrol.

“I hope it works for you and stay out of the way of the skiers,” said Select Board Chairman John French. “Don’t be a hazard. I know you will be safe because you want to live, too.”

Beggarly’s agreement with the town stipulates that he will pay the town 10 percent of his gross food sales on a monthly basis.

After much discussion about the final wording of the agreement with Sidecountry, and several proposed changes that hadn’t been reviewed by Town Attorney Bill Kelly, a motion was made by board member Don White, who suggested the town provide provisional approval for the ski and bike outfitters so that they could operate this weekend, and full approval of a one-year agreement anticipated at the Jan. 31 board meeting.

The agreements came after almost a month of awkward, and sometimes confusing, communications from the town, which had told the two businesses Jan. 5 that they could not do business at the municipally-owned Snow Bowl until they received a special exception from the Camden Zoning Board of Appeals to operate in the town’s rural recreation zone.

The businessmen, who had already held lease agreements with town manager and Snow Bowl manager to do business at the mountain this fall and winter, questioned why they were being singled out, while other vendors had been operating at the publicly-owned mountain for years.

They also questioned the parity of their situation with other vendors that will be selling products and food at the Toboggan Nationals, an annual town-run event.

Beggarly, who co-owns Boynton McKay, in downtown Camden, noted at the Jan. 26 meeting that he is required to adhere to many regulations to provide safe food. He asked whether the vendors produced similar licenses for inspection prior to setting up pop-up tents at the three-day Toboggan Nationals.

With Sidecountry Sports owners Brian Kelly and Andrew Dailey, the discussion focused on the location of the ski and bike demo tent, and whether their operation would negatively affect that of the ski shop already at the mountain.

While some details of the agreement were left in limbo, the board voted unanimously to allow Sidecountry to operate at the mountain, as it has been doing for the past three years. But the approval was temporary until the town attorney could review a lease that continued to be tweaked up until late afternoon, Jan. 26.

Board member Leonard Lookner suggested the town’s planning board and code enforcement officer work on a policy that would govern commercial activity on public property.

Board member Marc Ratner likened a possible policy to that of the town’s management of its harbor, where “seven slips are good for day sailers.”

He suggested identifying a set number of vendor slots at the mountain, and encourage a more progressive climate there.

Following public outcry, Camden Select Board moved to help put two entrepreneurs back at Snow Bowl (Jan. 11, 2017)

Camden, Rockland entrepreneurs told not to set up shop at Snow Bowl this weekend (Jan. 7, 2017)

Camden Select Board pledges oversight of Snow Bowl spending, approves $920,000 budget (Aug. 4, 2016)

Shaping the Camden Snow Bowl budget: Spend more to make more, or rein it in? (August 4 2016)

Camden voters approve dipping into surplus to cover Snow Bowl's $297,303 deficit

Camden Select Board forms new Ragged Mountain committee to advise the Snow Bowl (June 7, 2016)

Camden Select Board chastises itself for Snow Bowl deficit, forms new committees to help

Camden leaders make plan to reduce Snow Bowl's two-year deficit

What to do about the Camden Snow Bowl’s $260,000 deficit

Sales, revenue up for season ski passes up at Camden Snow Bowl