Leaders in the Town of Sweden have moved to withdraw two proposed laws that would have amended town codes covering special events in the town and defined terminology regarding agribusiness.
Sweden Supervisor Rob Carges tells the Suburban News that Councilperson Bob Muesebeck moved during their regular meeting Tuesday, December 13, to withdraw the proposed amendments and council members voted unanimously to do so.
The changes drew adamant opposition from town residents, particularly the farming and agribusiness community, during a public hearing December 6.
“The board decided it was not worth it to try and unscramble (the proposals),” Supervisor Carges said. “They are now off the table.”
Local growers including Adam and Aimee Mesiti at Five Sons Winery and RG Brewery on West Sweden Road and Paul McCracken at McCracken Farms on White Road, argued that farmers are already regulated by the state and must also go through a permitting process from the Monroe County Health Department whenever they serve food at events. They said if the proposed changes took effect, it could threaten the viability of their farms and businesses.
“Farmers have a right to sell their produce in an agricultural district,” Paul McCracken said.
Supervisor Carges says there is a possibility the town will consider the topic from a different angle some time in the future. “We may do a re-set, in some ways, from the way it is now,” he says.
