Child’s petition changes town’s 34-year restriction
An unfamiliar sight will soon be rolling along the streets of Niskayuna, selling the icy cold treats area children petitioned to receive.
The number of children at the Tuesday, July 27, public hearing regarding the decision to allow ice cream truck in town almost equaled the adults in attendance, and the Town Board listened as child after child made a case for the trucks.
I started a petition to bring back ice cream trucks, and I think it’s a great idea, said 8-year old Alex Burgess. `Mr. Ding-A-Ling can’t control when cars hit the kids in the road, so I don’t understand why the ice cream trucks were banned, because he couldn’t control what the cars did.`
Ice cream trucks have not been allowed in Niskayuna since 1976, in a decision that was made after a young girl was struck and injured by an oncoming vehicle while gathering around an ice cream truck. The ban stood until Alex called board member Julie McDonnell and asked how to submit a petition to the board.
That petition led to a victory for children as Town Supervisor Joe Landry cast the deciding vote on a controversial topic. Board members McDonnell and Denise Murphy McGraw also voted in favor of suspending the ban. Board members Liz Kasper and Jonathan McKinney voted against the resolution.
The resolution allows Mr. Ding-A-Ling a monthlong trial period in town, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 6.
`The only thing that bothers me about this process is I think it’s a done deal,` said resident Frank Campano. `When you have the press taking pictures of [the children] and you have all of this leading up to this, you know you are all going to vote yes for it.`
Kasper and McKinney, however, echoed concerns residents shared about the safety issues around the trucks.
Residents also brought up the point that Mr. Ding-A-Ling, an ice cream truck company, already entered the town at Rosendale Estates, selling ice cream and playing a version of `Home on the Range` recently. The driver answered by saying he thought he was in Colonie.
`What really concerned me is Thursday night a neighbor sent me a picture of Mr. Ding-A-Ling, this is his truck, we verified that this is his truck, and it was Van Antwerp Road between Plum and Union Street and this is not a street to stop on,` said McKinney. `Right off the bat, the common sense of the driver is in question. It was out at 8:15, which is past our 7:30 curfew. It had no safety features turned on at all. This is my worst nightmare, we haven’t even started the trial and we’ve had a breach.`
McGraw saw the problem of `rouge ice cream trucks` too, but thought a different solution would be better for the town.
`Ice cream men are already coming into this town,` said McGraw. `There are people who aren’t registering with the town. I don’t think they have the proper safety features. Why I think I really want to support this effort is I want to make sure they’re registered with the town, that we’re able to get our arms around the people who come into this town.`
Kasper said the children who expressed comments was wonderful, but she couldn’t support the resolution because of the safety issues involved.
`Tonight, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to vote no,` said Kasper addressing the children. `It has to do with that I do not think it’s safe. Children are more distracted than they ever were.`
Other board members thought the safety issues could be addressed during the trial period.
`We understand the safety concerns and I think every member of this board has talked about it and has some angst about it,` said McDonnell. `I’m hoping that we will hear back quite a bit at the end of the month and I’m hoping that it’s going to be a positive experience.`
The owner of Mr. Ding-A-Ling, Brain Collis, attended the meeting with his planned driver for the town David Bond. Collis said he is a member of the Ice Cream Vendors Association, which provides him with various safety posters and performs background checks on all his drivers. Around 70 percent of his drivers have pervious experience with the company.
When Kasper asked Bond, a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill, what his `music repertoire` is for the truck, he answered, `I got 32 choices and they are all entertaining, I promise you.`
One concern for some residents is the noise volume, but Bond said he usually turns down his music when he stops the truck for children and, if requested, will turn it off when stopped.
The children in attendance were visibly pleased with their victory.
`I think it’s a great idea because kids love ice cream, and everybody likes a nice summer treat every once and a while,` said Alex.“
