Auburn approves first look at food sovereignty ordinance
The move comes as a new state law passed this year will allow cities and towns to regulate local food production if the municipality chooses.
In
According to a memo to the council from
"Making this option available to farmers, and consumers that are comfortable with purchasing from an uninspected facility, could be a major boost to small local farms," he said.
Raw milk, cheese and even meat that hasn't faced government inspection could be purchased from your local farm directly. However, wholesale transactions, and transactions made outside the municipality where the food is produced, would continue to require all inspections that are currently required, even if a local ordinance is passed.
The legislation, called "An Act To Recognize Local Control Regarding Food Systems," received unanimous support in the
The advantage of the ordinance, Cousens said, is that it "allows people to make their own decisions about buying uninspected products from their neighbors or local farms as an option, while continuing to allow for traditional markets to sell inspected products."
At a previous workshop, he said many farms would take advantage of the law only as a separate source of income, and that almost all farms would otherwise continue to operate -- and license products -- as usual.
Roughly 20 towns across
Many municipalities worried that without a statewide law, local ordinances could leave a city or town vulnerable to lawsuits related to any public health issues. While the
City Attorney
Councilor
The council will host a public hearing and second reading on the ordinance at an upcoming meeting. City staff recommended that councilors "listen to local farmers and consumers to determine if there is support for the local ordinance."
No one from the public spoke Monday.
Public services contract approved
The previous contract expired in June, and negotiations over a new one had grown tense at times, featuring a picket line at Auburn Hall in May.
According to a memo included in Monday's agenda, the proposed contract is consistent with "the desire of the (City) Council to hold to a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for employees." It also eliminates the "Operator 2" employee classification, which "will over time save the city upwards of
The union will remain on the City PPO 500 health care plan, according to the memo. The city pays for 85 percent of health insurance costs. The new contract is effective through
On Monday, City Manager
The contract was unanimously approved.
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