On Jul 11, 2025, at 9:46 AM, Jim Young via groups.io <jim=sharonautobody.com@groups.io> wrote:

Thank you for your time, Mr. Rompre.  I appreciate the clarification.  So legal mandates, not the law.

Please be sure that I'm not asking these questions in any official capacity and truth-be-told most officials find me annoying.  I'm asking them as an average citizen that would like to have the freedom to choose Betsy's potato salad or not.

I'd guess people find it ridiculous that we're banned from that by some rule someone dreamed up in some agency somewhere for the sake of public health.  These are the same agencies that let us ride our motorcycle without a helmet while smoking a cigarette to McDonald's and eat all the garbage we can afford.  Grab a fifth on the way home!  The public health argument falls flat.

I'm wondering what "common ground" as you mentioned we could find?  Suzie making a casserole at home and putting it on a table in town hall is out, yes?  What if a whole bunch of people decided to have dinner at the town hall and happened to put all their dishes on the big table up front?  What if there happened to be a serving spoon in each of those dishes and people uninvitedly helped themselves to someone else's food?

I'm not trying to put you in bad spot but sometimes silly rules need to be challenged and ignored or changed.  I would guess that if presented to a jury my arrest for holding a public pot-luck would be dismissed and the rule jury-nullified.  And I'm sure you and your people have more important things to do than police pot-luck suppers?  I'd venture to guess you'd appreciate that off your plate, as it were.

I say we make a spectacle out of this whole thing and see where it goes.  Call the press, the TV stations, People Magazine and the NYT!  There's enough writers and playwrights in these parts....I can see a feature film or perhaps Broadway!

Thanks again for your time and your thoughts and for all the real work you do.

Jim Young

On 7/11/2025 8:23 AM, Justin Rompre wrote:

Mr. Young, 

Thanks for reaching out to the Torrington Area Health District and trying to gain some understanding on what is allowed and what is not allowed at public events when it pertains to food service.

There has been some recent changes within the State of Connecticut in recent years. The FDA Model Food Code was officially adopted in Connecticut in two stages. The Connecticut General Assembly passed regulations establishing the FDA Model Food Code on June 17, 2017. The new law began phasing in the FDA Food Code on July 1, 2017, and it went into full effect on February 16, 2023. This replaced the previous Connecticut Public Health Code food service regulations.  Its fair to note, the Connecticut Public Health Code food service regulations dating back to its final amendment never allowed “Potluck”.

Regarding your inquiry about potluck events and adherence to food safety regulations, it is imperative to understand that these are not discretionary rules, but legal mandates designed to protect public health. Deliberate non-compliance with these regulations would not be treated as a trivial matter and can result in legal action.

Furthermore, any disregard for these established regulations could jeopardize the future approval and viability of community events.

I must strongly advise against any action that would intentionally violate these critical public health standards. I do trust we can find common ground to ensure the continued enjoyment of community events, while upholding all necessary safety and sanitation standards.

Kind Regards,

Justin Rompre, R.S.

Chief Sanitarian

Torrington Area Health District

350 Main St., Suite A

Torrington, CT 06790

Phone:  860-489-0436 x316

Fax: 860-496-8243

 

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From: Jim Young <jim@sharonautobody.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 2:24 PM
To: Jessica Cranney <JCranney@tahd.org>; cornwallcommunitynetwork@groups.io<CornwallCommunityNetwork@groups.io>; Robert Rubbo <RRubbo@tahd.org>
Subject: Community Pot-Luck / Chili Cook-Off

 

Hi Jessica.  Hope you're having a nice summer.

First of all, thank you for your direction and input with our Boy Scout
breakfast sandwich fundraiser down in Kent this spring.  You were a big
help.

The reason for my email as that we here in Cornwall have a long and
happy history of community events that are pot-luck.  From town picnics
to Halloween parties, people brought dishes from home and all were
shared.  Good times.

I understand that the rules (or laws?) have changed and that in no
uncertain terms are we allowed to do that anymore.

What I'm trying to understand the enforcement side of that rule and what
we could expect if we ignored it.  Would there be finger-wagging?  A
sternly worded warning?  What I'm really hoping for is that the State
Police would roll in and throw us all in the paddy wagon.  Teargas,
batons....Make a real show of it!

Its been a bit of a boring summer and perhaps a bit of civil
disobedience would be just the thing to spice things up.

Can I put you down for a dessert?

I look forward to your reply.

Thanks for all you do!

Jim Young