Posted on 08/04/2005 8:56:38 AM PDT by raccoonradio
SALEM, Mass. (AP) A dispute between two grade-school boys hawking lemonade on Salem Common and a rival vendor who forced police to shut down their unlicensed stand was resolved Wednesday after the mayor orchestrated what he called ``a corporate merger.''
Mayor Stanley Usovicz said sausage stand owner Kevin Kefalas agreed to allow Dominic Serino, 9, and Ryan Decker, 11 to operate as subcontractors under his vending license following an impromptu outdoor meeting initiated by Usovicz.
``What we've experienced here was a corporate merger and it's good for all,'' Usovicz said.
Kefalas and his employee Jarrod Crowley, who phoned the police about his competitors this weekend, needed no persuasion to accept the deal, Usovicz said.
``I think they understood we needed to promote small business,'' he said.
The agreement expires when school starts, Usovicz added.
Attempts to reach the boys Wednesday weren't immediately successful.
Crowley reported the boys to police Saturday, saying their stand was affecting his business, which also sells lemonade. He said he didn't want the stand closed, just moved further away.
But without a $2,200 vendor's license, the police were forced to shut it down.
Crowley said, since the incident, he's endured his share of icy stares.
Ryan Decker's mother, Angela Decker, said the boys started selling their powder-based brew on the Common last summer and made a ``killing'' $130.
After Saturday's eviction, the boy's relocated to a spot in front of Serino's house, just down the street. But business wasn't nearly as brisk.
>>Crowley said, since the incident, he's endured his share of icy stares.
There's the real reason. Sausage guy's business took a dive!
Mayor to sausage vendor: "Either you accept the deal, or the health inspector will be at your stand every hour until you do."
Exactly. This was done to help the sausage guy who was getting killed by the negative pub.
Another govt bail-out of corporate America...
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