As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
FOOD
Any raw, cooked or processed edible substance, beverage or ingredient,
including ice, used or intended for use, in whole or in part, for human consumption.
FOOD ESTABLISHMENT
Any vehicle or place where food or beverage intended for human consumption
is manufactured, prepared, stored, offered for sale, sold or served, including
but not limited to the following categories:
A.
FOOD VENDING MACHINEA device automatically operated to supply food without direct supervision by a human being.
B.
ITINERANT FOOD VENDINGThe serving of food and drink from any establishment or conveyance without fixed location and without connections to water supply and sewage disposal systems.
[Added 12-1-1979]
C.
CATERING FOOD SERVICEThe sale or distribution of food and/or drink prepared in bulk at one geographic location for service in individual portions at another public or private premises not under the ownership or control of the operator of such service.
[Added 12-1-1979]
D.
TEMPORARY ESTABLISHMENTAny place or location where food and/or drink is being served on an irregular basis for relatively short periods of time not exceeding 14 consecutive days.
[Added 12-1-1979]
No person, firm or corporation shall operate or maintain within the
Town an itinerant food vending business serving food or drink from any establishment
or conveyance without fixed location and without connections to water supply
and sewage disposal systems, except after compliance with the requirements
of this chapter.
No person, firm or corporation shall operate or maintain within the
Town a catering food service, which involves the sale or distribution of food
and drink prepared in bulk at one geographic location for service in individual
portions at another public or private premises not under the ownership or
control of the operator of such service except after compliance with the requirements
of this chapter.
A temporary establishment serving food or drink shall comply with all
provisions of this chapter which are applicable to its operation. The local
Director of Health may augment such requirements when needed to assure the
service of safe food, may prohibit the sale of potentially hazardous food
or drink consisting in whole or in part of milk or milk products, eggs, meat,
poultry, fish, shellfish or other ingredients capable of supporting the rapid
and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms or may modify
specific requirements of physical facilities when, in his opinion, no health
hazard will result.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment
within the Town of Bethel without the possession of a valid license issued
to him by the Director of Health. Only a person who complies with the requirements
of the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut shall be entitled to
receive and retain such a license. Licenses shall not be transferable from
one person to another person or from one location to another. Licenses will
be issued yearly and shall expire on June 30 of each year. Permits for temporary
food service establishments shall be issued for a period not to exceed 14
days. The owner or proprietor of a food establishment or food vending machine
shall keep a valid license posted in a conspicuous public location, visible
to the patrons of the establishment and protected against defacement or damage
at all times.
[Amended 12-1-1979]
The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. Residents of Bethel offering fresh fruits and vegetables
grown for sale and sold from their own property.
B. Nonprofit and Town-sponsored groups may be granted a
waiver.
C. Cake, cookies and pie sales for local organizations.
All baked goods must be covered, indoors and outside.
The regulations and standards of the Connecticut State Department of
Health and the Department of Consumer Protection, as may be amended, are herein
incorporated into this chapter.
The owner or operator of an establishment aggrieved by an order, within
48 hours after such order, may appeal to the Director of Health, who shall
thereupon immediately examine the merits of such case and may vacate, modify
or affirm such order. The owner or operator of an establishment who is aggrieved
by such action of the Director of Health may, within 48 hours after the making
of such decision, appeal to the Commissioner of Health, who shall thereupon
immediately notify the authority from whose order the appeal was taken and
examine the merits of such case and may vacate, modify or affirm such action.
When food establishments are hereafter constructed or remodeled, or
when existing structures are converted for use as food establishments, properly
prepared plans and specifications of the types of fixed equipment and sanitary
food-service facilities as specified in the State of Connecticut Health Code
shall be submitted to the Director of Health or his representative for approval
prior to the issuance of a building permit. This review shall be completed
within 30 days after filing. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for
a building or part thereof which has been constructed or remodeled for a food
establishment until the Director of Health has certified that relevant aspects
of such construction or remodeling have been carried out in accordance with
approved plans.
[Amended 12-1-1979]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, in
addition to any other penalties provided herein, be subject to a fine of up
to $100 for each offense, and each day an offense continues shall be considered
a separate offense.
The granting of a license or permit hereunder shall not absolve the
applicant from meeting the requirements of any other applicable code or regulation.