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Garden club not worried about city mandate

3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville Area Garden Club does not anticipate the upcoming Geranium Festival will be adversely impacted by the recent city mandate that will restrict where food can be prepared if it is to be sold to the general public. The one-day festival, hosted by the Garden Club, will be held May 23 along West Crawford Avenue. In the past, along with crafters, civic groups and other organizations, churches have sold a variety of hot and cold foods, beverages and baked goods at the event to raise funds for their respective projects.

Club member Beverly Oppermann said that after learning of the regulation that is being enforced by city health officer Tom Currey, the organization sent letters to past food vendors advising them of the rule that requires food to be prepared in a licensed and inspected kitchen.

“We’ve had excellent feedback concerning our food booths,” said Oppermann. “To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a problem.”

Thus far, the club has heard from only a single vendor stating that the organization would not participate given the new regulations.

Currey, hired in January to oversee the inspection of restaurants and other businesses selling or serving food to the general public, is now including churches and clubs in the annual process.

The organizations are also required to obtain a license from the city. However, city Treasurer Judy Keller said that the office has yet to be directed by city council as to what type of license is to be issued and the cost.

Currently, Keller said that she has asked nonprofit respondents to complete a business/mercantile privilege registration form that is used by the office to register city businesses.

A copy of the form is then sent to the city’s business and mercantile privilege tax collection agency.

However, noted Keller, the nonprofit organizations are not businesses.

“The puzzlement to me is that they are being required to fill out the form, but they are a nonprofit organization,” she said. “They, too, are puzzled.”

Keller said she has not issued any licenses to the nonprofit organizations, because there is no city regulation that requires one be secured.

“I have been told by the new, part-time health officer and the city clerk that we need to register these churches so we know who they are,” she said. “And, that a minimal registration fee, such as $1 would not be wrong.

“My response is that you can not impose a fee as minimal as a dime without amending an ordinance or passing an ordinance. That has not been done.”

Oppermann, meanwhile, is encouraging those that plan to sell food at the festival to attend an April 20 seminar conducted by Currey to learn of the requirements.

The seminar will be conducted in city council chambers at the Municipal Building located on Arch Street beginning at 7 p.m.

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