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Date: 5/29/2015
HOLYOKE – The City Council’s Ordinance Committee approved a request for a special permit for a in-door flea council at its meeting on May 26.
The recommendation to approve will now go before the entire council at its June 2 meeting.
Speaking for business owner David Roman, Luis Lopez explained the business would be in a building off of Jackson Street. Lopez said that with the necessary permitting, Roman hopes to open the business on July 1.
The market would have 160 spaces for vendors, although Lopez said there would be vendors who take up four or five spots for their merchandise.
Roman hopes to have 100 people signed up for space at the market and it would be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. only on Sundays.
Lopez said the market should attract the same number of customers as the former in-door flea market did that was on Northampton Street.
The committee reviewed the improvements it had requested to the parking lot plans and noted all of them had been made. Councilor Joseph McGiverin questioned the number of spaces – 180 – and noted that if the market has a potential for 160 vendors that would leave only 20 spaces for customers.
Second Assistant City Solicitor Kara Cunha explained to the committee and McGiverin the number of parking spaces was determined by the city’s formula for the size of the building housing the market.
Committee Chair Rebecca Lisi noted the building would have to be up to code and pass city inspections before it could open. The License Board would have to approve the business’ license and the Board of Health would have to issue the proper permits of any of the vendors if any of them plan to serve food.
All of the vendors would have to obtain licenses for the sale of second hand merchandise, she added.
McGiverin also questioned whether or not the vendors should be required to pass criminal background checks. After some discussion, Lisi said the License Board could require the checks as part of the licensing of the vendors.
Councilor James Leahy noted that some flea markets have been known for selling illegal items such as fireworks and stolen jewelry. Lopez said there would be no illegal sales and vendors would face both “instant cancellation of their lease” as well as being the subject of a no trespass notice.
“It’s going to be real strict,” Lopez said.