LIVERMORE FALLS — Resident and farmer Robin Beck presented a food sovereignty ordinance to selectmen Tuesday, explaining that several weeks ago, Gov. Paul LePage had signed a food sovereignty bill into law, allowing towns to create their own food ordinances without state interference.

Beck said food sovereignty means people can make their own choices for buying local food.

“I’m a small-time farmer,” Beck said. “For me to have to spend several hundred dollars in licensing and inspection fees is kind of crazy.”

Beck said a food sovereignty ordinance would be a “win-win” for everyone.

“People can legally buy from friends and relatives,” she said. “It’s good for producers and good for the local economy.”

Beck added that it could help encourage young people to become farmers.

“Does this release you from liability if someone gets sick from what you sell?” Chairperson Heather Bronish asked.

Beck responded that it didn’t, adding that she was still liable to customers.

Selectman Tom Barker noted that butchering was done at Beck’s farm as opposed to another facility and asked why the food sovereignty ordinance was necessary.

Beck said the difference is whether or not she has to pay state licensing fees.

“When you’re a small-time producer, these license fees are expensive,” she said. If people sold their items within the local community, it would release them from licensing fees, she said.

“In my eyes, the biggest point of it is to grow your clientele, grow your economic base,” Beck said.

Selectmen voted unanimously to pass the ordinance to the Planning Board for their consideration and suggestions.

Selectmen also awarded bids on a series of foreclosed properties to the highest bidder. However, after Tuesday’s meeting, Randy Lyon contacted the town to let them know he only wanted to bid on property at 54 Fayette Road for $1,100.

Other bids awarded Tuesday were:

• 14 Highland Ave., David Blais, $1,000;

• 34 Pleasant St., David Blais, $2,000.

Selectmen met Thursday to award bids to the next highest bidder for properties that Lyon had bid on. The bids were as follows:

• 17 Wheeler St., David Blais, $3,100;

• 60 Knapp St., David Blais, $3,100;

• 28 Fayette Rd., Donna and Mark Smith, $2,500.

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