Bourne Select Board Refuses to Rescind Farmers Market Food Truck Permit

BOURNE -- July 7, 2026, Bourne Select Board leaves food trucks in place and approves $3.4 million in road spending. The board, meeting Tuesday, declined to rescind a March consent-agenda permit allowing three food trucks at the Canal Region Farmers Market's Thursday-night events at Buzzards Bay Park, following a roughly one-hour debate that drew brick-and-mortar restaurant owners, food truck operators, and chamber of commerce representatives. Town Counsel Brian Bertram advised that revoking a mid-season permit on a policy the town had not fully developed would be legally problematic, noting the board's special events policy "is fairly new" and "is not speaking directly to this issue." Chair Melissa Ferretti cited research showing no Massachusetts municipality restricts food trucks solely on competitive grounds. The board referred food truck regulations to the policy subcommittee and voted unanimously to approve $2,765,170 to mill and pave Shore Road and three Cataumet-area roads, plus $727,000 in engineering and drainage work, out of a $4,188,011 Chapter 90 balance. A 4-1 vote added one accessible parking space at the Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Building. The board also approved a Recreation Department scholarship policy funded through donations and set a fall town meeting target of October 19.