New London – A public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. today on proposed changes to food service regulations for the five towns served by Ledge Light Health District.

The hearing will take place at Ledge Light offices at 216 Broad St. Towns in the district are: New London, Waterford, Groton, Ledyard and East Lyme.

The changes would reduce fees and requirements for some food service license holders, such as soup kitchens, temporary events and seasonal establishments, clarify definitions for farmers’ markets and allow restaurants that already have a food service license for their main operation to use that license to serve food at a temporary event such as a fair or festival, rather than obtaining an additional license. Requirements for inspections would not change.

“We’re not reducing the food safety end of it,” said Stephen Mansfield, deputy director of Ledge Light.

The changes have been reviewed by Ledge Light’s Board of Directors and its Food Service Advisory Committee, Mansfield said. After the hearing, the regulations will go back to the board, which would then decide whether additional changes are needed based on comments at the hearing, or whether they will receive final approval.

For information, visit: www.ledgelighthd.org.