SLIPPERY ROCK — The contested food truck decision ended in a 5-2 finale at Tuesday's borough council meeting.

“I'm hoping this will bring new life to the downtown area,” said Mayor Jondavid Longo, who worked closely with borough council on the issue. “Hopefully we can use this to build momentum that Slippery Rock is open to new business, and we welcome newcomers with open arms.”

Council members Russell Karl, Royce Lorentz, Denton Zeronas, Mike Sullivan and Tom McPherson voted in favor of amending an ordinance that would allow food trucks to operate in the borough with some limitations.

Council members Eugene Allison and Ron Steele voted against the motion.

Before the vote, council conducted a public hearing. Seven people spoke.

Rob Fegley, a Slippery Rock resident, said he supported the food trucks and the culture they could bring to the community.

“I think there will be room for them,” he said.

Scott Murawski, owner of Wieners Gone Wild restaurant on Route 8 east of Slippery Rock, said he has been hoping to start operating in the borough.

“We're still on board, and we're interested in getting into the borough,” Murawski said.

While a majority spoke in favor of the food trucks, Lauren Christmann was the sole person to speak against the proposal, based on concerns for security.

Christmann said she feared that being open during popular drinking hours would encourage fighting to break out. “How are you going to keep things safe?” Christmann asked.

The council members opposing the food trucks echoed these and other concerns.

Allison said people he talked to have opposed the food trucks. He said he believes it will interfere with businesses that pay taxes to the borough.

“I'm all for them for an event,” Allison said. “I think it's a slap in the face to the people paying taxes in this town.”

Steele said he was concerned about security with the food trucks being opened during typical bar-time hours.

“I don't like 3 a.m., that's too late,” Steele said. “Our officers can't be babysitting those food trucks.”

John Trant, borough zoning officer, revisited the details of the amended ordinance.

Food trucks will now be allowed to operate in the borough on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between April 15 and Nov. 1.

One point of contention before the vote was the hours of operation, which originally were proposed at 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Karl, the council president, suggested shortening that to 4 p.m. to midnight, but Sullivan suggested a compromise of hours between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., which was set with the final vote.

“My concern was to give all students and residents another option,” Karl said.

Zeronas said the original hours were selected by the planning board to limit concerns of food truck business interfering with permanent businesses downtown.

“(We) just wanted to ensure that it didn't curb too much of the business there,” he said.

Food truck operators will need to buy a temporary business license to sell in town. The fees include a rate of $75 per day or $200 for the three-day weekend. This vote also ended in a 5-2 decision with Allison and Steele again voting no.

The ordinance also specifies that the borough can revoke or suspend these licenses if the food truck does not follow restrictions in the amended ordinance.