MAYVILLE — Village officials are exploring the option of allowing a food truck to operate year round on public property.

During a meeting of the Mayville Village Board, a representative from Best of Buffalo by Byron asked about having a food truck to operate a few nights a week. The owner is Byron Woods Jr. and the business is based in Mayville.

Mayor Ken Shearer said he talked to the state about the proposal. “When I talked to people at the state they told me that if you don’t have a law, you can’t allow a food truck,” he said.

Shearer said he believes Jamestown has a law on the books regarding food trucks. He has reached out to city officials asking them to send a copy of their law so the village board can examine it.

The village permits food trucks during special events, including the Mayville Winter Festival, concerts in the park and farmers markets. Shearer said those food trucks are permitted through the Chamber of Commerce, which is different from what Woods is asking. There have also been food trucks during the Chautauqua Pops concerts, but those were permitted through the Pops as part of their contract.

The woman with Best of Buffalo by Byron said they were looking to have a food truck operate year round on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from around 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

One resident expressed concerns about the food truck competing with brick and mortar restaurants in the community. Shearer said the food truck won’t be permitted to operate within a certain number of feet of an established business.

The mayor asked Trustee Ben Webb, who owns a restaurant, his opinion on the matter. “I feel like there’s enough of a difference there that if someone wants to get something from a food truck, they can go get something from a food truck. At the same time if someone wants to come in to an atmosphere that’s controlled they can come in and sit down,” Webb said.

Webb said he also believes that if there’s more options in the village, that will naturally draw in more visitors to the community, which he supports.

Shearer said he sees food trucks and established restaurants as serving different customers. “If I have a choice, I’ll sit in a restaurant because that’s what I like. But 20-something kids, they live on food trucks,” he said.

The woman added that if there is another COVID spike, a food truck allows people to get food without having to go inside.

No final decisions were made. Shearer said when he gets more information he will pass it along to the rest of the board.