Suggested Solution
for Addressing “Re-selling” at the Charlottesville City Market
Establish a Complaint Protocol
Complaint Protocol
To be considered as a basis for action by the Market
Manager, complaints must be submitted in writing and signed by the complainer.
1.
First complaint received in writing specifying why the
complaining party has reason to believe a vendor is not selling his own farm
and/or home-produced products at the Market.
2.
Market Manager contacts accused vendor to inform him of
complaint and asks him whether complaint is justified. Manager Informs vendor of steps 3-7 if
necessary.
3.
Second complaint received in form as required by Step One.
4.
A. Warning letter is
sent certified mail, or delivered to accused vendor, by Market Manager, apprising
him of penalties for continuing to sell other persons’ farm-produced products
at Market.
B. Said vendor is required to
submit sworn (notarized) affidavit stating the following: “I am selling at the Charlottesville City
Market only products that I and/or my immediate family or employees have
produced on my property and/or property I lease.”
5.
Failure to submit sworn (notarized) statement within three
weeks of request shall be grounds for expulsion from Market.
6.
An appeals process shall be created for vendors expelled from
the Market.
7. Vendor
has submitted affidavit, but a third written complaint is received. The Market Manager files a formal complaint
to the City Commonwealth Attorney who is the proper authority to handle what is
now a criminal investigation, as per Rule 17 of the Market Rules and
Regulations, which states, “Pursuant to
city code 8-4, conviction for a violation of these city market regulations
shall be treated as a class III misdemeanor and as such is punishable by a fine
up to $500.00.”
This protocol should be part of
the “vendors’ package” and available to customers at the Market who wish to
lodge complaints.
