Correction: The Saads say they took out a $5,000 loan to make repairs to a flooded basement. They did not receive stimulus funds to start their business. This article has been edited to reflect that information.

New London - Manal and Aiman Saad checked all the city's rules, regulations and restrictions before investing about $80,000 to turn a panel truck into the Munchies Food Truck.

They paid $200 for a vending permit, met all the health codes and even got fingerprinted. And since April they have been selling burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and ice cream around the city. They park their colorful truck for a couple of hours on State Street and other locations downtown, as well as on Pequot Avenue and in the parking lot at Shaw's Cove.

But they may have to turn off their grill and shut their window.

It appears the Saads were issued a permit based on an outdated ordinance. The new ordinance, which resulted from a 2007 amendment, does not allow parking for more than 30 minutes at a time and restricts vendors from selling anything downtown in the so-called Central Business District.

Manal Saad said she couldn't operate for 30-minute intervals.

"It's crazy,'' she said, adding that it takes nearly that long to heat up the grill.

For the past four years the city has been issuing vending permits based on the old rules.

"The ordinance was updated but our procedures were not,'' said City Manager Denise Rose, who will be sending out letters to the Saads and six other vendors who currently hold licenses.

The police department receives applications, reviews them and makes a recommendation to the city manager, who issues the permit, Rose said.

"We're going to advise them of the limitations and provide them with a copy of the ordinance,'' she said of the vendors, who will be able to ask for exemptions from the City Council.

But the Saads don't think they should have to suffer for an error made by the city.

"We've been running for two months and there's never been an issue,'' Manal Saad said. "I think there's a little miscommunication here."

Manal and her brother, Mohamed Saad, work on the truck.

The Planning and Zoning Commission discussed the ordinance last week after receiving a complaint that the truck was blocking businesses downtown. The Saads attended the planning meeting, but Chairman Mark Christiansen said the commission does not have jurisdiction in the matter. They were advised to see the City Council.

At Monday's council meeting, the Saads were told the item was not on the agenda and would not be discussed. After they left the meeting, however, the item came up in a report from the city manager.

Rose told the council she looked into the ordinance after receiving a complaint that a vendor was staying too long in one place. She was ready to send a letter to the Saads and the other vendors, but councilors asked her to send them a copy of the letter first.

Manal Saad said she is working with downtown businesses - even moving her truck on upper State Street after one restaurant owner asked her to. She also has a letter from the owner of the Subway at the corner of Bank and State streets supporting the Saads' business. She said he sometimes eats lunch at the Munchies truck.

"We're not trying to block anyone's business,'' she said. "We're trying to make a living like everyone else."

k.edgecomb@theday.com