With an eye on finding alternate sources of revenue for the village, Mayor Francis Murray suggested a unique way to turn a profit at village sporting events during Monday's briefing session at .
Murray suggested putting out a Request for Proposal — an invitation to prospective buyers to submit bids — to find a vendor that would buy the exclusive rights to sell food and drinks at village sporting events at locales like Centennial Park, Hickey Field and the .
"Our ballfields have no vendor that the village can make money off of," he said.
Murray said the vendor would receive the schedule for all Rockville Centre sporting events, and would be the only vendor allowed to sell on village property. The village couldn't restrict vendors, like an ice cream truck who parks on the street and sells its products, he said, but it could restrict them from pulling into field parking lots and village property.
"We are looking for alternate sources of revenue," he said.
In other news, the outdoor dining fee for village establishments who don't offer outdoor waiter service and have three or less tables outside will be reduced to $275. Establishments who offer outdoor waiter service and have four or more tables outside pay $575 for an outdoor dining permit.
Building Superintendent Dan Casella, who proposed the fee change, said that $575 for businesses like and Dunkin' Donuts who don't turn a profit on their outdoor tables was too expensive.
"I think this makes us more business friendly," Casella said.
The village will also start charging establishments who pay their food and drink permits late five percent of the permit fee for the first month late, then 10 percent thereafter.
The next briefing session will be on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in Village Hall.
