Hi everyone. Uh we will kick off the meeting officially at on September 25th at 5:32. Uh in attendance are myself, Risha Hes, Betsy Brooks, Premlanire, um and that's a quorum. And then we're
joined by Kiko and Maheen from the health department. So, I was just trying to pull up the agenda and I don't have it, but I think the beginning is open questions and I Oh, I
think I do see an attendee has joined. Sorry, still trying to get that agenda. I don't I'm not finding it. Do you want me to resend it to you, Risha? Or I can just tell you that the first I'll resend it to you and that the first item is public comment um for
Yeah. And then old business and then known old business and then the new business is the tobacco sales permit transfer. Great. So um just for anybody I mean I see we have one attendee. Uh we will have um two comment sections here. uh
one before we start anything. Um and then if it's okay with everyone, I'd like to move a comment section before we take the vote um on each because I suspect that if there's anyone here that wants to comment, it's very specific to
the topics that we're talking about. Um so uh I see a satnam if you would like to um to make a comment before we discuss anything please feel free to raise your virtual hand now and we'll let you in to make a comment. Um if not
you can wait till the conversation that you're we have two agenda items of two different tobacco permits. Okay. I don't see a hand. So, Kiko, I'm gonna hand it over to you for the first item.
Okay. And then, and then Satnam, in case there's a chance that you didn't know how to raise your hand, we will, as we're discussing this item, we will unmute you to see if there's anything that you wanted to say about this tobacco sales permit transfer because it does relate to your business. So, um,
thanks everybody for joining at short notice. We did send out two documents. really we convened this meeting specifically to talk about this tob tobacco tomato tobacco sales permit transfer and then one other issue came across my desk after the agenda had gone
out which was also tobacco related and I thought let's just quickly add it to the agenda because I anticipate that it will be brief both of these items should be brief so the first one is that um Sutkart and Suns which is Sutnham Hans's business purchased Russell Russell's
liquors on Main Street 18 Main Street just around on the corner from the Bank's community center. And it was uh within 30 days of purchasing that business, he applied for a transfer of that tobacco sales permit from Russell's Liquors to his new business. The name of
the business has not changed. The business is sort of identical. Not that that really matters, but just so you know. Um so this is a very routine thing. Um it's not we don't have any new tobacco sales permits. This is a transfer of one because there are only 14 in the town. So, one of those 14s
being transferred from the owners, former owners owners of Russell's Liquors to Mr. Hans and his company. Um, the application was sent to all of you. It's complete, filled out correctly with all the uh necessary insurance
certificates and also the um licenses from the Department of Revenue at the state level um for three forms of tobacco, vapes, cigars, and smoking tobacco, and cigarettes. So, all of that is in order. Um, and I just referred you
also to the board of health regulations and to the section of the regulations that say that a transfer such as the one I've just described needs to be approved by the board of health. So, I don't know if people This is the first time this board has looked at something like this. It's also the first time that I have looked at something
like this in my role as public health director. It seems very straightforward to me. Um, just wondering if there are any questions or concerns. No, just to add that I uh like I'm sure others did reread the regulations and it seems like this is very straightforward.
There's no um you know it's not coming up against any of the things that would make it more difficult or an exception. It's certainly from where I I don't know if anyone else saw anything different. I see Betsy saying no.
Um, Sutnam, did you want to say anything before we take a vote? You're you're unmuted. But yeah, go ahead. Can you unmute, Mah? Yeah. Thank you. Hello. You guys uh listening me?
Yes, we can hear you now. Okay. Okay. Did you want to add anything? It seems quite straightforward, but just in case you wanted to to say anything, is there anything you wanted to add? I just want to say that thank you to
giving me opportunity. That's it. All right. Um, so, uh, I think we need a motion to approve the transfer of, uh, it's a tobacco I sales permit or is it the is
that the correct language? Okay, so moved. Can I get a second? I don't know if Premma is there and able to second. I mean, I can second, but we do need
Premala's vote. So, she's muted. Yeah. So, can you hear me now? Yes. We can't hear you anymore. are more complicated for me than
I second it and I'm happy to vote. Okay. So, all those in favor I either need to hear a verbal I or Okay. or uh or you can raise your physical hand. All right. Everyone, it is unanimous. It has
passed. Um the permit is transferred. Thank you. Great. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Hans. It's really appreciated that all of you to giving me opportunity.
You're welcome. Okay, take care. All right. And then the second agenda. Oh, Jack is joining. Hi, Jack. Hi. You missed the first vote, but uh you're here for the second. Okay, no problem.
Um it passed. Uh the the tobacco permit was transferred. Um so Kiko, over to you for the second issue. Okay. Um so oops, am I muted? No. Okay. So the second uh issue was that we got an inquiry from Neil Patel who is the
owner of Ammerst Wines and Spirits or Ammerst Liquors. I think it's known by both on um College Street. and he is considering a move to another building um just up the street uh where there's a furniture store right now uh what's it
called Talon Furniture where it was I think maybe still the sign is still there so just a little ways up the road um the only concern that so he reached out to the licensing coordinator Steve McCarthy about this I don't think he's signed the papers yet um but this is what he's planning to do and um Steve
raised the issue that this site is within 500 ft feet of the old East Street School. But I did some research and the East Street School is not a current school. That building is no longer owned by the school district. It's slated for redevelopment. It's going to be turned into housing. Um all
of that paperwork has been done. Um the housing project's been approved by the zoning board of appeals and they're just waiting funding waiting for funding to proceed with the development. So that won't be a school. So, the retail density requirements that are in the regulations about a tobacco establishment not being allowed within
500 ft of a school doesn't apply in this case. So, I I did that research in between sending you the info and adding this to the agenda thinking that this was the answer I was going to be able to present to all of you. And in fact, that is the choice. So, it's really to in my
estimation not an issue, but wanted to put it before the board just to make sure that you all are seeing it the same way that I am. just sort of curious. I don't have any problem with it, but Ammerst Wines and Spirits is it seems to me it's on
Shamway Street. It doesn't have frontage on I mean it's right next to the subway, so that's odd to me. But anyway, it doesn't matter. I think the the the proximity to the East Street School still applies with the move. So, I was
just curious about that. and and Kiko I mean I I I can't answer that premola. Um, yeah, I think I wasn't really expecting an answer unless someone knew, but um, my understanding is that we have nothing to do with this right now,
right? We don't have to take a vote because it hasn't actually happened, but it might just be helpful that he knows that if he wants to gohead ahead and move that the the health department or the board of health has uh, no issue. Yeah.
With the transfer of license. That's right. Yeah. and and we would have to officially vote on it. Well, I actually don't know that it's not technically a license transfer because it doesn't involve the sale of a business. It's the move movement of a business. So, I don't think this will come before the board again unless I'm
mistaken. It shouldn't come before the board again. Okay. Yeah. Great. Yeah. I mean, I think he probably can't move any closer because you you're going to get to the new school pretty. Not that far, but uh yeah, but where that location is, no issues,
right? Okay. Okay. Any other comments or questions from anybody, board members or Kiko? Um I don't think I have anything else. No.
Okay. And are there any last public comments or questions? raise hands if so. And since I don't see any, I am going to close the meeting. Um, thank you all for being willing to join quickly. I'm glad
we could not uh hold up the license transfer for two weeks um and allow this to move forward. So, I appreciate it. And uh I guess I always forget I don't need to vote to close the meeting, do I? Do I Okay, I'm going to say it is
officially closed at um 5:43 and that's it. Thank you all. Okay, have a great evening everybody. Bye-bye.