It remains baffling why the Montville Town Council, or at least its Democratic members, feels compelled to dramatically alter the town's vendor ordinance. If there was a groundswell of support to make things easier for vendors peddling cheap roses from their vans or for ice cream truck operators to grab a prime spot, we missed it.

It appeared to be a solution without a problem, a change without a strategy.

Granted, the town's old law was excessive, requiring a one-mile buffer between street peddlers and brick-and-mortar businesses selling similar goods. However, the replacement policy, shrinking the buffer down to 500 feet, appears to be an excessive change.

Existing businesses, which have to pay property taxes to the town, should be concerned that a competing vendor, with little overhead and the ability to sell items cheaper, will be able to set up shop just a few hundred feet down the road.

Town Planner Marcia Vlaun didn't like the idea, saying the regulation change is "setting business against business." The Economic Development Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission both objected.

If the majority of council members felt the one-mile buffer requirement went too far, a half-mile buffer, as recommended by some opponents of the ordinance, would have been a fair compromise.

Voting in favor were Democrats Billy Caron, Tim May, Laura Tanner and Chuck Longton. Council chairman and former Democratic mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz did not attend. Republican Tom McNally and Independence for Montville member Kathy Pollard both voted no.

While there was no big push for the policy change, it would help a former Democratic town councilor, Gary Murphy, who operates a hot dog stand and was outspoken in trying to get the buffer reduced. That does not rise to the level of an ethical breach of conduct, but it sure does not look very good.

Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel should veto the ordinance with directions to the council to consider a less dramatic reduction in the buffer zone. While it would be unusual for the Democratic mayor to block an ordinance passed by the Democratic majority, it would send a strong message and burnish Mayor McDaniel's credentials as a leader who is willing to put sound policy above politics.

Council Democrats could muster the two-thirds vote to override, but we suspect they would show deference to the mayor.