Okay, I'm going to call the meeting to order. This is the Lawrence Board of Health. Today is December 16th, 2025. Um, roll call, please. Anthony. >> Dr. Gorn, >> present.
>> Steven Gil, >> Steven is absent tonight. He's been mandated to work overtime at the hospital. Dr. Madal Prito. >> Okay, we have a quorum. Let's proceed. Um, a quick public health update from
myself. Right now, there's a very low level of both influenza and CO 19 in the state of Massachusetts. Um, but this is uh the calm before the storm as we know historically. Um, so we continue to
encourage our residents to reach out to their primary care physicians and to their pharmacies to get a CO 19 booster and an influenza vaccine annually. Uh, additionally, we strongly urge our over
65 crowd as well as anybody with asthma or diabetes to consider getting their respiratory sensitial virus vaccine as well. Um there's a new recommendation for the PCB 20 numovax vaccine also
available for anybody over the age of 50. So those are our public health updates. Um we're going to jump now to tobacco sales product sales update. Caesar, take it away. >> All right. So uh we have four establishments before you tonight for tobacco permanent suspension hearings.
Right now there's only one uh person representing one of these stores here. I'm going to call them in a minute. Um so the first one is going to be actually uh Camila market let me just call >> discussion read There we go. All right. So, on uh
September 29th, we did a run of compliance checks and uh Camila Market was inspected. Uh we sent in as one of this kid who was 18 on that date. This is different dates. Um he was only 18 on the day of the check. He went in with a
$20 bill. He came back out with uh this back of Marvel cigarettes. This happened about 12:55 in the afternoon. This cost $15. This was a first offense. They were pay $1,000 fine and they up for one day tobacco permit suspension tonight.
>> Okay. You we just want to make sure that you've trained your staff, that you've updated your signage. Okay. Okay. Do I have a motion on the floor? Read this. >> I move to suspend the tobacco product
sale permit issued to Reco. >> No, no, no. Camila. Okay. I moved to suspend the tobacco product sale permit issued to Camila market uh called Bario Market located 160 Union
Street Laura, Massachusetts for one business day beginning at the start of the business on Monday the 5th, 2026 and ending at the close of the business on the same day. A motion. >> Okay. Do I have a second? I second the
motion. All in favor? >> I Okay, so you tobacco. Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. I think the rest didn't show.
>> Anybody back here? >> Find out soon. >> So, I think you Bruce >> No, Benjamin White. >> Benjamin White. Okay. Okay. Nobody else is here. So, >> all right. Let's move on. >> We still have to go through each one. >> Oh, we do? Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, try to be quick.
>> So, let's take the next one, which is going to be um Raquel's Market. Valuation happened on September 27th at 10:45 a.m. This is a pack of Marvel cigarettes that were purchased there for $15. Uh the same kid, same 18-year-old went in and was able to purchase it
without being challenged. They were issued a fine of $1,000 to pay the fine. They offer one day tobacco per suspension. Okay. Any discussion? No. >> Do I have a motion? >> Second. >> No. >> We have to make a motion.
>> I move. Yeah. >> Recommendation to suspend the permit is I'm >> I just read read this. I move to suspend the tobacco producer per apartment permit issued to Rakar supermarket located at 296 in Loving Street Loving Massachusetts for one
business day beginning at the start of the business day on Monday January 5th 2026 and ending at the closing of the business day. >> I second the motion. All in favor I >> motion carries. Next up >> next we have Himez Supermarket. They
sold this pack of Newport cigarettes on September 29th at 12:16 p.m. for $15. Same kid, same situation. We gave him a $20 bill. It came up with change in respect of cigarette. >> Okay, we have nobody present tonight, so there'll be no further discussion. Do I
have a motion on the floor? and move to suspended the bipot permit issued to Jimenez supermarket located at 117 street lower in Massachusetts for one business days beginning at the start of the business on Monday January 5th 2026
and ending on the closing of the business on the same day >> I second the motion all in favor I motion carries >> I report that I mentioned that every single one of these retailers confirmed I I received confirmation by US uh postal service that they received the notice of this hearing
U the last one is Blanco Aliba Meat Market at 352 Entry Street. Date of violation was October 27th uh at 12:13 p.m. This was $15 cigarettes. This was a second offense at the same location.
They sold tobacco to a minor on January 8th of 2024. Back then they $1,000. They received one day suspension. Now they're back within the same almost a year and a half just about the same violation. Uh they paid
the $2,000 fine. They're here tonight for uh a 7-day consecutive business day suspension. But that's an accurate permit >> and the fine of >> they pay $2,000. >> Okay. Do I have a motion? I move to suspend the tobacco product sale permit issue to Blanco Rivera Meat Market
located at 352 Hampshire Street, Massachusetts for seven business days beginning at the start of the business day on Monday, January 5th, 2026 and ending at the closing of the business on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
>> I second the motion. All in favor? I. Motion carries. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, now we're going to move on to proposed Planet Fitness at 280 Marramac Street. This is a followup um proposal.
Um, and today you can present what you brought for us. >> Yes, absolutely. So, what I did bring in is we have all of the tanning waivers. So, anybody that comes in, all of our team members, first of all, are tanning certified. So before they're able to
operate any of the tanning units in our facility, they have to be tanning certified and we do that through train Massachusetts. In addition to that, they're all trained on how to properly use the equipment and make sure that they are knowledgeable about the system and operating it to make sure that our members, you know, are safely utilizing
the equipment. In addition to that, some of the forms that I brought along in here uh that I saw that you have as well are regarding just the different waiverss that we have. Making sure that everyone when they go up, we have a computer system where they go to sign those waivers. So when they go up for the first time to tan, a team member is
there to assist them, making sure that they sign all the waivers, they know about the dangers of UV uh radiation. In addition to that, we have a Fitzpatrick skin type waiver that everybody does, which basically tells them based on their skin type, you know, if they're able to tan and the length that they're
able to tan for. So, if you're like skin type one, it blocks you from tanning at all because they they can't tan. And then it basically what the system does through that is it gives an amount of time for tanning that's allotted. And that way the team knows right away exactly how long to put them in for. Um
all team members are required to make sure that uh members have eyewear. They can bring in their own and we check for that every time. We also have free eyewear available as well. Um something else that I included here too is a photo uh that one actually right there. Yep.
That is within 3 to 5 ft in the rooms with all of the tanning units that's hung up in there as well as uh we will also have signage in there for medications and like photo uh photosensitivity lists as well. Well, good. I'm glad you brought all
this. Um, you know, we of course as a public health organization, um, public health body want to make sure that we're making our public aware that when they come to TAN that there is an associated risk of not only skin cancer, but you
know, obviously repeated exposure to skin dryness, fragility, bruising of the skin. Um, and the fact that this is posted in a in a visible location and that p clients are signing waiverss and you're using the Fitzpatrick skin type
chart to calculate exposure time. That's reassuring. Um, do you have any questions for him? >> I have a question. What's the process? Do you have any particular process for cleaning between uh member use that? >> Um, so each time somebody goes in, the
system that we use tracks what time they're in there for. counts down and everything and it lets us know and notifies when they're no longer in there or when the times run out. So, we do ask that all of our members wipe down their equipment before and after use, but we don't just leave it there. We also go in after and ensure that it's cleaned
before we let anybody else go and use the equipment. So, we actually have a tracking sheet for that that's on paper and we make sure that all the team members wipe down the equipment before we let somebody another another person go in to use it. >> What product do you use? >> So, we use a Byrex product. is through
Staples um which is a disinfection product. >> Can I ask that um you guys have a safety data sheet for that? >> We do. Yeah. So, we will have all of the MSDS sheets that will come with all the
products that we have and we have that in a binder at all of our locations for all our different cleaning chemicals. >> Okay. Well, I think uh we've seen we've seen what we need to see. Do I have a motion on the floor to grant uh Court Fitness at 280 Marramac Street a permit
to operate a tanning facility? Do I have a motion? Make a motion if you see f. >> Um I'm asking if there's a motion on the floor to grant um Core Fitness, otherwise known as Planet Fitness at 280 Marramac Street, a permit to operate a
tanning facility. Looking for a motion. So you I make a motion if you agree. I mean I want >> That's right. >> Make a motion. >> I I make a motion to fitness for opening or operating the
>> to grant a permit to operate a tanning facility. >> Okay. To grant a permit to operating ting facility which is uh black fitness center isn't it? Yes. Okay. >> Okay. I second the motion. All in favor?
>> I >> I Okay, good. Good luck with that. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And um we'll be seeing you. I think he's going to provide the uh like >> ah okay to provide that.
>> Yeah, we can we can absolutely do that. I don't have that here with me but I can absolutely have that provided. >> That would be great. >> Okay. Um I do need a motion on the floor to accept the minutes from uh our last
meeting which was November 18th. You make a motion. make a motion for the uh >> to accept the >> to accept the minutes from the last meeting of >> November 18th. >> November 18th. >> I second the motion. All in favor? I >> Okay, so the minutes are accepted. Um in
regards to other um items, we have um some old items on the agenda which we are going to um table. And um do I have a motion to adjurnn? Actually, we need the next meeting, >> right? >> Yeah. Very good. Yes. Um,
>> can I have a question for you? >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, I will not be able to meet early in January. So, the the first available Tuesday I have is January 27th.
>> Is that the second? >> That's the fourth. >> The last Tuesday of the month. >> The last Tuesday of the month. So, January 22nd. >> Yeah. >> 27th. >> 27th. >> Yes. Okay. A motion to object. >> Motion to
>> I want to say he has a question. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I have a question about the uh the new place that they open in the city. We didn't have any knowledge about a cigar
club that they open in the city of >> which one is that? >> The one that was open on I believe was in Mil Street. >> No, the one that we spoke about. Oh, that's that's a private club. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I provided Dr. Gordon with information about that is basically
there's a private club and they allowing some of the members to come in and just smoke cigars. That's pretty much what it entailed. Uh the problem with that was that the the uh the group was advertising. >> So yeah, I was advertising Paul was there regular club. Now I didn't go but
I know Paul was there. >> Right. So he spoke to Pedro. Um I forget his name, the last name. >> Dada. >> Yes. Uh it was a very long conversation with Pedro and he said he had no idea that that was being advertised. He was going to talk to them and see if he
could cancel that event. Based on what you're saying, the event was not was not cancelled at all. No. >> Right. So um I still have to touch base with them. You can have smoking in private clubs, but it cannot be open to
the public. If it is open to the public, the whole club has to be smoke free. And that's the problem there. Pedro understands that. He knows what the law says about that. He said he was not aware that that group was going advertised to the public uh for that survivor.
>> I get that invitation from somebody else. >> Can anybody become a member at the door? >> I guess so. >> He said that. No, he said that every person that becomes a member is a member for is a regular member. I think it's one year. >> Uh if you don't have the money, they can
just like, you know, pay the installments. I don't think it's a lot of money. I think it's $25 to become a member, but every member has the same rights. Uh and uh so they're not like selling membership at the door for an event.
That's what he said. >> But they can they can sell memberships at the door. >> They do. Yeah. That's what I mean. you pay and you're just getting ready like I go to an activity in the club. You pay at the entrance and you getting >> but once you become a member you you're a member for the whole year. So you pay
membership >> but apparently there was a disconnect between what he was telling me and what he knew about how that group was operating in advertising for this. So I think there still we still have to look into this but uh uh he's well aware of
what's what private club can do. Question to you. >> Yeah. >> So a private cigar club, can they host a activity outside their space like let's say that if they would like to have an
activity only for members? Can they go to another space that is bigger because they are expecting like a bigger crowd? Can they go to another space under the license? >> That's an interesting question. I I don't know how to answer that right now. But I think the one thing that's
important to know is I mean there's a a set of criteria for private clubs to allow smoking and they have to have to register every single guest if a guest is going to be present. Pedro said that no guest will be there's no structure for a guest to be in the club. So
everybody becomes a member or they're not there but they could allow them to be a guest so long as the guest is registered by a person and the person a member stays there with them. The smoking can only take place at the members only area. That area has to be fully segregated. So smoke doesn't drift
through other areas of the club. Especially if they have like a puncture hall, they want to rent it out to the public. That hall has to be smoke free and the smoke cannot be drifting into that place. I haven't been to this club yet. >> I love you to go there just as a surprise. Don't adise that I go. Just
go. >> Just go and you see what >> might not come out. I feel like I know >> you know >> well let me show you this >> I will show because everybody know in the city so you know I don't want to create enemies >> everybody love me in the cities I don't
want to create enemies but you know some regulation we have to follow >> so you want me to make enemies >> I think but >> you're not as well known as I am >> well Pedro is very u I'd say he's a challenging guy you know he's not happy
with tobacco uh involvement in the past tobacco control involvement in the past. He claims that you know he alleges that you know he had to close his uh restaurant in the past because of tobacco regulations. So he's not going to be happy to see me as he was not
happy to hear from me when I called. But if you want me to look into this I will look into this. Yes. Sure. >> I think we're going to see on the agenda in the near future a discussion about the new Massachusetts law about social
consumption because it's coming. >> Social consumption of what? >> Marijuana. >> Marijuana >> in public uh establishments. >> There's a state law just passed the commission um it's starting. So that's something
that we're going to have. >> So then people can my one in the restaurant in a club. >> I don't know the structure of what law was passed. >> We're going to work on that. >> But but and cities and towns can opt in or opt out. So, but it's going to be important that um you get up to date on
the regulations that were just passed regarding social consumption establishments. >> We're looking to that >> because um there's going to be a lot of questions. >> Right. Well, this city I mean under the state law as far as smoking is concerned. It doesn't say smoking of my wine specifically
>> but um you know lost my train of thought. What were you saying >> about social consumption? >> Social consumption right? So uh there's only two ways that you can allow smoking in places. either become a cigar bar with smoky bar which this city has
passed regulation to that doesn't allow it or they are private club and the private club even a a private club there's no like license for private club to allow smoking but they have to meet all the criteria and my guess is a lot of the clubs they don't really meet the
criteria because they they advertise in the public or they invite people to come to lunches and people smoking there if that happens that's a violation so those are the only two way they can have smoking. So if there's new consumption law that will allow people to smoke marijuana, that doesn't force the city
to have a place or have regulation that allows them to smoke in here. >> That's my understanding, but I have to look into the regulation. >> Okay. >> Well, we'll continue that conversation at the next meeting. >> Um, do I have a motion to adjurnn?
You make >> you have to make all the motions because I'm the chair and you're you're a board member. So we all start all me all motions with I make a motion or I move to ajourn. >> Okay. >> But you have to make the motion. >> Okay. So I'm making
>> I move to adjourn. >> I move to >> I second the motion. >> All in favor. Thank you all for