Okay. Well, good good. I started to say good morning everybody. It's morning somewhere. Um and thank you. We got lots of people here tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Um and I do appreciate the Zoom capability. Erica, I I hope you're uh uh on the on
the feeling better. Um >> no, just just begin. >> I'm just about halfway. hope. >> But uh anyway, our healthy people are sitting there in the room. >> Yeah, we are. We're struggling. We're trying.
>> All right. Well, um I call to order the January 6th meeting uh of the board of health. And let's do roll call. Terry Putnham, >> Erica Prrowy, >> Trish Lean, Kayn Simons,
>> and we have Cindy Bart. Cindy Barton. >> Okay. Well, good, good, good. Um, and we don't have anybody for public comment, so if anybody comes in within the next 10 minutes, we'll we'll give them a little time um uh to to speak their
speak their piece. Um, under review of minutes, I had reached out to Kaine a little while ago uh and and said there were a couple of things, Cindy, that we need to tweak a little bit. And there were some things that I may be thinking that we that we um uh decided that that
we did not I know we had discussion about um where we would locate the is it the carbon monoxide or the purple >> the Yeah, I just listed Kaen had said that she wanted one the library, the
high school and there was one other spot but I had listed them because she had said that. >> Yeah. And I thought when and No, you did you did fine. Um, and this is never a criticism. I I bless bless you for listening to to us talk and and come up
with I know there's a lot with my language barrier, too. But um uh anyway, I thought we had discussed putting one in the elementary school. Do you remember? >> Because we had the discussion about starting it um early rather than high schoolers.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, they're all subject to change. So, um, one they actually came in, that's in my later report, but one's going to be posted at the town hall, one at the DPW, and then we gave one to the school
maintenance officer. Um, I know he he he said he would do his best to post it wherever kind of was easiest. I I strongly urged it to be at the elementary school. Um, but just kind of wherever he thought it would have the best out, you know, uh, electricity and
Wi-Fi capability. >> It's there's a good cove. It's almost like a cove of just trees. So, you don't want him to put it like right in the middle. He's just going to get pollenol in it anyways. >> Yeah. So, hopefully it goes somewhere like we had discussed. I think it would
be best at the elementary school. >> Okay. >> We know we're getting three. we just don't know exactly where they're all going to get. >> Yeah. Subject to change. >> So, we might want to reflect that in that manner that we that we don't uh we don't know exactly. Um and the other
thing and and I'll send these on because we're not going to, you know, we don't need to and I'll open it up Erica to you and Trish as well if you've had a chance to to um to review. There's a couple I I think we ought to be consistent about calling you the the interim health
director because sometimes I think that may be some of the people coming to you instead of the board of health because you're listed as the board of health director. I think we ought to be um if that's okay with Erica and Trish, we
ought to be consistent um in minutes and and and speaking to you as as the the health director because I think that may eliminate a little bit of the confusion throughout because we've called it a couple of different things and I know I've called it a couple of different things too. So that's that's not that's
not poking any any that's not criticism of anybody. Um >> when is that when is that going to be resolved? Um when we officially have H Ailen or somebody um be the board of health or not the board of health but the health director.
>> We had we had asked or I had asked Naen to post it until January 31st. >> Thank you. >> Oops, my screen went black for some reason. Can you guys see me? >> Yes.
>> Okay. All righty then. We'll There we go. Okay. It's probably still updating from 1944. Um, but yeah, we had and and uh Kaen, that as far as your understanding from Naen, that has I know that has been done. Um,
>> we have not had any applicants as of last week. >> Yeah. >> So far. >> Yep. So hopefully nobody's nobody was shocked by that. Unfortunately, >> very nice. Is that what you're saying?
And I think those were the major uh uh things, the couple of things, but I I've got some stuff written in the margin. And I'm going to scan this in. I'll scan this in for you and and for Cindy. Um, anybody else? Trish or Erica, have you had a chance to review? And is there anything?
>> No, I think you touched on what was important. >> Okay. >> Same. No comment. >> Okay. And there um on the very first page when we have roll call I know Erica was here but because we we put her members in attendance so we just want to
put yes after her name as well under roll call. >> Okay. >> Okay. All righty. So um with those do I hear a motion to approve once those corrections have been made?
>> Yes. Um motion to approve the meeting minutes from December once the corrections uh are put in place. >> Do I hear a second? >> I second that. >> Thank you. And all in favor? I
>> I >> I >> All righty. Then um why don't we turn it over Kaen to you for the ma the Western Mass Public Health District update. >> Great. All right. So, for the district updates, um we're consistently looking
to uh spend down the grant funds with programs that we think benefit public health the most. Last month, we had our district meeting. We got good attendance. We did not have a quorum for our original scheduled one, but then the
following week, we did get, which I was uh really happy with due to the holiday, and I know it was it's just a difficult time for everybody. So, um I think it was very successful. We're able to be spending down a lot of the funds. We're happy with that. I'm constantly putting
in requests for every single item that we go to spend. We have to get approval first from the state. So, we're constantly putting in the approvals, trying to spend down the funds as much as we can. We've spent almost 110,000 of our $300,000 grant. So, we're right on track to spend a good amount of it. So,
we're happy with that. Um, the nurses, I know you both saw the reports. If anyone has any questions, I could hopefully answer some without the nurses being present here today, but they're seeing a lot of the flu, a lot of flu, a lot of co. Um, so we're really encouraging handwashing. We're going to look to set
up some presentations, uh, regarding handwashing. And then, uh, Trisha wanted me, nurse Trisha Settle wanted me to say that she did reach out following the last meeting with admit. Sorry, we do have somebody coming. Let me just submit them. Um, so
we do have somebody Sorry. Um, I lost my train of thought there. Sorry about that. Um, Trisha wanted me to let you all know that she did reach out to the fire department to try to schedule some CPR classes. She hasn't gotten a response back yet. She
also reached out to the school and we're going to be doing a talk with seventh graders next week about epidemics and public health. So, I'm excited for that. I think they have 100 uh seventh graders signed up to talk about public health and pandemic preparedness. So, I'm excited about that. Um, as well as she's
been reaching out with the food pantry and looking to see what programs we can kind of create. Her and I had a great meeting last month. Um, so I'm hopeful that we can really start creating some programs. Um, and she alerted the board, the district board of her retirement in May as well. Um, so if anyone has any
questions about their reports, I'm happy to. Well, I appreciate the meeting with her about the food pantry because that seems to take quite a bit of her of her work time um and and to to partner because that's almost a captive audience
to partner. Thank you for doing that. Um if you need getting in touch for the for the um meeting house, let me know. Um and I can help you I can help you through that. And I see we have Mr. Salvini. Hello.
Up. You're on mute. >> Yep. Good evening. >> Hi. Are you >> here for public comment? >> Um, excuse me. I have a head cold. I got it for Christmas sake. >> That's why we're That's why we're virtual.
>> Uh, I'm I'm waiting for uh you to discuss Grapes Tea House. >> Okay. >> Okay. That is >> patiently waiting. >> Okay. That's right after this. So, um, if there's any questions on the nursing reports, I'm happy to answer as well as
they they can answer via email. Um, I know they weren't able to come today, but >> Erica or Trish, any any questions? >> Uh, no. Um, >> does Trish need help with any of that doing the education?
>> I think she's she'd be open to it. We we could definitely My son happens to be in eighth grade at asking. if he need if she needed help, I'm happy to help her with that. >> We're meeting um to discuss it Friday. We're still waiting for the school nurse to get us questions back. Um just kind
of see the scope of what the students are going to ask because we're not obviously experts on everything as well as I don't feel like I'm an expert on pandemics necessarily. Um so hopefully they're not asking crazy questions to us, but we'll see. >> I'm happy to help with you guys. >> Great. I'm making Yeah, we'll definitely
reach out. I would throw in my hat as well. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of experience through the hospital with pandemic. So, anything any way we can help? No, thank you. Um, and one question went in my head and just went
out. Oh. um with Chris's impend with with uh Trish's impending uh resignation are are we going to be able to post for that position early enough to potentially have an overlap >> or is that
>> with our grant and the way we had budgeted it is until June um uh for our next fiscal year Trisha is um taking her vacation time so we'll be kind of slim to hire somebody June 1st. Um, due to
the budget, I'm hoping we we'll see how much we have left in the budget for the nursing slot, if we can kind of change around some some budget lines to make sure it fits. But my hope is to post it quickly after Trisha's retirement. We do have Maryanne who is willing to bump up
her hours for the time being and really focus on Maven, which is the big thing we want to be on top of. Um, so she's been she's wonderful. she she'll help us out as much as we can uh as much as she can and then our hope is to hire somebody obviously as soon as possible.
>> Do we have a job description? Everything already made up? >> Yep. All right. >> So, I just kind of have to change maybe a salary because it's full-time. Um I know we we'll see what we get. >> Okay. >> Um but yes, we do have one created. >> Okay. >> Okay. And would that be helpful um Kaen
for for the board to look at the job description and offer you any suggestions or is that something that comes from the grant? >> It does come from the grant. So, uh our next meeting, we have one in February where I'm going to be talking about the job description as well as we will have
one in June. Um May and June, we have scheduled meetings. So, we'll really be talking about it then. Um, with the grant, we only have one year left solidified of the grant. So, I think we're always kind of thinking um for our budget for the Southwick Board of Health, it could be a good idea to put
it on our pending in the next couple of years that we're going to be looking possibly for a public health nurse for the town of Southwick. just in the case that this grant does go away. I'm hopeful that it will stay because of how I think it's been a really great addition to the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and the advancement of public health, but you never know with a grant. Um so I think putting that on our budget for a few years down the road would be good just so that you know all the parties involved know we're probably thinking about that. But for now, yeah, the um description would be through the
district board. >> Okay, that sounds good. So, we'll be talking about it over the next couple of meetings. >> Yes. >> And when is that? In February. >> February 10th. 10th or 11th. I can double check. >> Okay.
>> On here. Yeah. I'll I'll send out because I know it the sooner we get it on everybody's schedule, the easier it'll be to um it is February 3rd, actually. The Because we're the first >> the pardon. What do I meant for the
for the district? Our next meeting is February 11th. >> Yeah. >> At 5:00 p.m., but yes, the Southwick is February 3rd. >> And can you send those dates out to us? You or or Trish, send those dates out to us so we can get them and that way Erica
is not always on the on the hook. >> Of course. So, do we want to go and uh hear from Mr. Salvini? Is that going to be because it looks like we're we're moving into
updates? >> Yes. >> So, this is about the discussion. I know we had spoken about it last month, but regarding crepes tea house and their special permit, um I don't know if Mr. Salini wants to
>> Yeah. Hi. Uh nice to see you. Uh I haven't met any of you before. Um >> ourselves and and then I'd like to know what your position or how involved you are with the what's your involvement with the crepes tea house. >> Sure. My name is Steve Salvini uh
president of Salvini Associates. for land surveyors, wetland scientists, land use planners, and we've been working with Crepes Tea House for a number of years as to try to get the uh gazeos that they built
uh available for use for special events to give you. I I I there's a lot of misconception out there about all this crepes tea house stuff. I know there's
been some abutters who have continuously filed complaints about everything with Crepes Tea House and I'm not here to talk about that. I just know that Crepes Tea House is an asset to the town of Southwick in a time when they've lost
several other restaurants. In 2020, when CO was hitting everybody, right, they had the idea of doing outside dining. A lot of places did outdoor dining up. You go up in Northampton,
they had people out on the side of the streets with jersey barriers and you could go and sit outside and and have a dinner outside. So, the idea spawned from that where they they wanted to offer some outdoor dining facilities. So, they came up with the idea of a
gazebo outside. We, excuse me, we got them permitted through conservation commission because their their property is in not only a flood plane, but it's in a wetland area buffer
zone and it's in a a riverfront protection act. So, it had three layers of conservation commission uh protocols to go through that we got them permitted for. Conservation Commission allowed them to build these gazebos, but at the time
they are their property is not zoned for business. They are a pre-existing non-conforming use uh which a lot of businesses in town fall into this category. So, fast forward through a couple of iterations
and the town of Southwick changed the bylaws so that a pre-existing non-conforming use for a business can expand a little bit outside. Before you couldn't, they weren't even allowed to put a outdoor refrigeration unit outside their
building because as a pre-existing non-conforming use, you can't you weren't allowed to expand that. So they couldn't even put a refrigeration unit outside. Southwick in its wisdom recognized that there's other businesses
in that same category that fall under this situation where they are pre-existing non-conforming use and they're not allowed to expand. So they passed a bylaw modification that allowed this. So we come back in through there's
a lot of push back by a Butters for some unknown reason. Uh it used to be a dilapitated bar called the stumble in or the tumble in. The S sometimes didn't light up and so it was either the stumble in or the tumblein. Uh, and it
was a at one time was a biker bar and now it's a a wonderful restaurant where it's very family oriented and what they tried to do was build these gazeos. Now,
when I picture a gazebo like you, you think of this open deck with a roof over it and that's a gazebo. But they also have gazeos that are excuse me that are screened in so you can sit inside and
the bugs can't get to you. They also have enclosed gazeos which are totally enclosed, have windows and doors and everything else. And that's what they built. They built an enclosed type gazebo and uh people in town had a
previous uh vision of what a gazebo is and it didn't fit that. So they they were like, "Oh, that's not a gazebo." It was approved as a gazebo by the building inspector with a building permit to build a gazebo and was signed off as a gazebo.
The conservation commission approved the building of these gazeos. And now we're trying to get them allowed for the use of it, which the town, like I said, passed that bylaw that allows expansion of a pre-existing non-conforming use.
And it all comes back now to excuse me capacity. How many seats can you have? And we all know that they're on a septic system. And that septic system is designed for a capacity of I think 93
seats. And that's all they that's all they have. And that's all they want. What they they do is they have a deck outside and they put seats out on the deck and then in the winter time those they don't use the deck. It's not heated
so those seats come back inside. What we're trying to say is that Tom u I might have got a little ahead of myself. Coming back to the board of health issue with Tom Hibbert who is a great guy, great friend and a very good health
inspector. Nothing bad to say about Tom. In in his report, he cites the clause for D that every every area, whether it's inside the deck, whatever, you have a certain number of seats there. And
that all has to be counted into your capacity. And what we're trying to what we're trying to say is uh Crepes Tea House has a capacity of 93 seats
and they seasonally take 20 seats and put them out on the deck. All we're trying to say is they want to take they want to take another 20 seats and put it in a gazebo. The gazebo is not open. If you wanted to go out with your
husband and you go to the you go to uh Crepe Tea House and you say, "Yeah, we got a reservation. We want to sit out in the gazebo." They're going to say, "No, that's for a special reservation thing." So, you have to it's a special reservation. So if if a party of 20 people want to
reserve the gazebo, then they take 20 seats out of the restaurant, they move them out to the gazebo and then they have their their their gathering there and then at the end they're going to they're going to put those seats back in the restaurant
because that's where the main uh portion of the business is. So there's there's absolutely Sorry about that. My wife works at the school and came home with a head cold and gave it to me for Christmas. Um,
there's no increase in seating capacity at all for the crepes tea house. It wasn't intended to be an increase in seating capacity, just taking seats and putting them out in the gazebo.
In Tom's report, he mentions that it didn't seem efficient to do that. But what he did there was he he inserted a a he inserted a analysis of what it's like to run a business. And for Crepes Tea
House, they have employees and all Art has to do is say, "All right, we've got a we've got the gazebo rented for this Friday night and at six o'clock we need to have 20 seats put out there." So, they take
the 20 seats out of the out of the restaurant and they put them out into the gazebo. I don't see that as a major stress or strain on the septic system at all. I didn't pull this year's water use
records, but I did prior years, excuse me, and historically their water use is about a third or almost basically about a third of what the design capacity is. Design capacity is something like 3,500
gallons a day. And they're only using about a,000 to maybe 1,200 gallons a day in a restaurant. The septic system is primarily
uh inundated with water from the washing machine. It you you don't have 93 people going to the bathroom and using the bathroom in a restaurant. It's from the it's from washing dishes. And they have a very efficient system there. they have
a very efficient uh washing machine that doesn't use as much water as they call for. So their actual water use records are very low compared to the design capacity. And at one time we were
contemplating petitioning the state to have the septic system design recalibrated for the amount of water that they actually use. But the at that time we thought it was going to take too much time to do it. But here we are 3 four years later and
it probably would have been easier to do that. But it it it just at that time seemed too illogical to try to do that when we're not really increasing capacity. So, what I'm looking for is I'm I'm looking for the board of health
to be able to say that there's no increase in uh uh uh stress on the septic system that so long as there's not an increase in capacity, does it really matter where those seats
are? D says, "Well, you've got every room you have to account for, but what if I took a blanket and I put it out on the ground and I said, "We're going to have a picnic and we're going to have 30 people have lunch out on the ground and you know, we didn't have any seats." Uh, there are so many different reasons
why >> because then we're going to start thinking about, okay, yeah, you can because my my question is on the deck, do they actually put 20 seats? There's people are coming and going from the deck. there may be over the 20 um uh seats there as well. So, don't introduce
another variable. >> No, I I I thank you for Thank you for reeling me back in. I appreciate that because I >> But seating capacity is kind of a weird thing because you have 93 seats, but does that include
seating for children? You know, people show up and you got you have to have uh those little seats for kids. Do those count as extra seats? So if they have 93 seats and that's all they're allowed and they're told that is
all you can have here, you can have 20 on the deck, you can have 20 out on the on the thing, but now you're reduced by 40 inhouse. and Art Rabinsky Rabinis Kiss, sorry, I can't say that with my coat,
runs Crepe House in South and Crepe House in West Springfield. He's a He's a a good businessman. He's an honorable man. He's been beaten up by this for the last three years by adversarial abutters.
And I think that I I I think that there's been a a bad connotation about how he runs his business, but he runs a very good business. He's an he's a very honorable man. And if he says he's only got 93
seats, who am I not to agree with him? Any other business owner in town, you know, is the same thing. He has had complaints filed against him. board of health has gone out there and every business it it's if you run a business
it's not easy and yeah they might have something that went wrong but then they fix it so you can't I I don't think you can say well we don't trust you to do that >> well >> he's an honorable businessman >> from our perspective you're dealing with
an all new board >> so we you're dealing with an all new board I'm a new chair, the the we and and uh the other we have two other board members who are present and then you've met Kaen, the uh interim health
director. So So we're all new. We have no preconceived notions about what about any any shady dealings or anything like that. Um so you're starting at a at at a good point with us. >> Well, that's great to know. So I I guess
my concern and and Trish and Erica, please and Kaen, please please add in. Um my concern is that are are you is the board the last hurdle or you're wanting a different
report to make it to make the planning board feel better? Tell tell us what your goal is here to to with your presentation. >> Very good. The planning board's having a meeting tonight and they asked us to continue this meeting until the 20th
after you've had a chance to go through this. I decided that you needed to hear from from me and hear a perspective >> and I appreciate that. And all they're really asking for is >> in Tom's
recommendation and it gets kind regulations are are are not so clear and concise as everybody thinks they are. They're there's a lot of room for interpretation in that in that determination. de he
says D says every room shall have uh a capacity limit to it or seating it's not about occupancy it's about seating and and I get that that we're not disputing that at all we we actually
embrace that because what we're saying is all they are ever going to have on that property look at that property in total and that property in total can only have 93 seats. >> That that that's all we're saying. And
we agree with we agree with Tom. I'm not not disputing that whatsoever. It's you have 93 seats and looking at the property as the restaurant is a property and they're offering they're offering a
a different kind of seating plan. You know, they had three gazeos that we're just taking two of those gazeos out. Those gazeos are going to be locked and turned into storage sheds at this point. The one gazebo, the larger one, uh, is beautiful. And so, I don't know if
you've ever seen it, but >> not close, but they are they I've seen them from the road. >> Yeah. Well, he Art had an artist paint a uh a a nice natural scene on one of the walls like a
t a mural. It's absolutely beautiful. Um, and the point is look, they get a lot of requests for like after a funeral or something where you have a small gathering of people, 20, that want to
have a private dinner without people around listening to everything. And and that's what this is all about. It's not for everyday dining. Like I said, you you would not be able to reserve it for yourself. you'd have to reserve it for a
an event of some sort, a party or not a I don't want to use the word party, but a gathering. Um, and so we come back to the whole idea of looking at this property in total, it can only have 93
seats. 93 seating capacity. And so the property in total, whether they're in the restaurant, whether they're in the restaurant on the deck, whether they're in the restaurant on the deck and in the gazebo, their seating capacity is 93.
And you I don't know how you monitor that with these folks or with anybody else, but the seating capacity is 93 and they're not looking to extend that at all. Well, and and to answer your question about monitoring and Kaen can probably do this as well. Um, when they
are inspected, that that's of things that that is looked at. Do they have they have the correct seating and is it is it located in approved areas? So, >> question. >> I understand. >> I understand. >> Yeah. I'm sorry.
>> No, you're okay. So the reason that it it's on the agenda today and why it was postponed crepe se house hearing with the planning board was postponed until the 20th was so that the board of health could discuss the title 5 and the seating capacity. So um for board members who aren't aware I went to the
previous hearing with crepe sea house and I stated Tom's which Mr. Svini has um already expressed but Tom's um stance which I was approved to say um and Tom's stance was that the special permit to use the gazeos is from April 1st to
October 31st. Uh correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Selvini. But in that time, Tom's recommendation was take the 20 seats out of the 93 seat capacity and keep them in the gazebo because according to Tom in his talks with D, which he um texted me
that our you know he had extensive talks with D. I I don't think it was one singular talk. Um he he was told that there really would be no way for us to efficiently and effectively police that um 20 seats were being flip-flopped from
the gazebo to inside to the to the deck to back. Um so the recommendation was April 1st to October 31st taking the 20 seats and keeping them in in the gazebo and um either building or myself during our routine inspections would see the 20
seats there and see the other remaining 73 inside the crepes tea house facility or given the season on the deck. um that was his original recommendation, but then the planning board chairperson after that hearing asked for us to kind
of set in stone with myself being the interim health director as well as the new board members um to set a set set in stone a recommendation and a formal drafted letter for our decision regarding the seating and the title 5. Um so it's something to discuss. Um
again the policing would be my biggest concern and the only reason it's not trust in the business. I don't want that to that that's not at all what this is mostly what it is it's it's very old septic system I think any sort of stress and we can't we can't determine we can't
prove how much stress you know like we had talked um how much stress this would cause the system if for instance you had many days of people wanting to do events in the gazebo many days of 20 people in the gazebo using the the title excuse me
the septic system we can't really measure stress on a septic system. Um, so that's I'm assuming I can't speak for Tom, but I assume that's why he made that recommendation. He has a lot of experience in Title 5 um more than I do and so does Tom um Fitzgerald who is our
Title 5 um inspector currently who's helping us out and he also agreed with Tom Hibbert's recommendation. Um so just for the board's the board to be aware of that. Um >> question. Yeah.
>> Um, do we know if they ever regularly filled a capacity of 93? >> Um, Art, I spoke with Art yesterday and uh, excuse me, his like a lot of restaurants in in this era
are experiencing a drop in patronage. They're down 10% from what they were last year. Other restaurants are down 30 to 40%. We've lost a couple of restaurants in town already. So, they are not at capacity with the
system. And that's why I said before I got their water use records and you can do the same. You can look at their water use records and their water use is way below design capacity. So there I
don't believe there is any additional stress and I think the misconception is that you're taking 20 people from seats from the restaurant and putting them out in the gazebo. You haven't increased your capacity. You've just put them out in the gazebo.
Um >> and we understand that. I think from Kayleen perspective, it makes it easier for the for the board of health, the the health director to go out and check compliance. I think >> very it would be very difficult for us
to to to see and and to say if you were at let's say 70 people in a restaurant and you got a party of 20 wanting to use your gazebo one day or you know whatever would get to that 93. Our concern with the health department is is an over capacity. um in the case of a few extra
chairs being around and and how we would police that is really the health department's concern um as well as probably fire >> would it oh go ahead ma'am >> from your gazebo uh uh capacity if there was a large group who wanted to use the
gazebo then that would get in fire and and building and all of that you know what what is capacity in that gazebo >> well I part of what I think he was saying is This is the gazeos are only to be used
like as a previous booking so they can anticipate >> um how many chairs they need to remove. I don't think it's where pe 20 people come in and you know they all come from wherever it might be. I don't think the
point is to use that gazebo um as a last minute like resource >> planned events only. Right. >> True. That that's exactly right. And the g reservation only. >> It is by reservation only.
>> And the gazebo the gazebo is rated to have 20 people in it. So the capacity of the structure itself can only have 20 people. That's by the building inspector. The fire chief has chimed in
on us. He didn't have a problem with all he wants to have is a a uh a fire lane marked by the pro in the driveway so that nobody parks in front of the gazebo so if they have to get there they can. The the fire chief didn't have a an issue with people in the gazebo. It is
rated for 20 people and that's it. It's actually rated for 26 but they're only requesting 20 so that they will only have 20 people in the gazebo. >> It is it is by reservation only. And what I would say is
to try to find a compromise with I know Fitzy, I know Tom Hibbert, and maybe the compromise is how about well, they're only going to rent it or typically they're going to only offer it Fridays and Saturday, Friday, Saturday
nights or something like that, maybe a Sunday afternoon. But if they notify the board of health that, hey, we have 20 people coming in on Saturday to use the gazebo, we're letting you know that.
If they if they announce to you that, hey, we have reservations booked for this Saturday, next Sunday, uh this, you know, if they give you their reservation schedule ahead of time so that you know
that this is happening. Um, I I would think that that would be a good compromise that you're aware of what their use is and they're aware that you know what their use is and it keeps everybody honest. >> Do you think that that would open like a
can of worms for other restaurants though? And then who would >> and then who would police not police that, but like who would keep the accountability? Like I don't think Caen has like the time to do that um or the resources. Um,
>> and >> yeah, >> also adds a level of complexity to Crepes Tea House that we don't have for any of the other restaurants. >> Exactly. That's my concern, too. >> Well, then I would then then I would also then then I would put it Sorry, I don't
mean to talk over you. I apologize. I I would put it back to then if you're not doing this for other restaurants, then how can you not trust this restaurant?
>> Well, the other it's not trust. It's Yeah. >> It's totally different in there. you you explained all of the little nuances about things were were h how how we got to this point. So it's you know it's
much easier to go into New Main Moon or to Tucker before they closed and say okay you're supposed to have 100 beds uh well I'm hospital so sorry I talked but you're supposed to have a hundred chairs and nope now I got to go outside and I
have to check uh um and see that. So your your your configuration is a little bit different. Um so >> I agree >> different and there there has been such uh uh I don't want to say ownorous because we we hope we're not putting up any any you know we're the bad people
and and and you're only trying to do a good thing, but there have been all kinds of conversations. So, we want to make sure we've got we want to be fair to you, but we also don't want other restaurants coming in. Um, and and um uh Okay, I'm going to put a gazebo up. I'm
I'm going to and and I I would probably not use the COVID argument for the gazeos because an enclosed gazebo would not have would not have cut it for for COVID. Um unless you had all, you know, because you could have that spread on to 20 people at a time. Um so so no to
answer to your question we're not going to hold you at a different standard than we are others and it is it is purely for us stress on the septic and and from the configuration and water pulling water reports is a retro thing. So, that's a
retroactive. I'm going to look back a year to see what the stress is. And unfortunately, and Kaine, please, I may be in my outside of my comfort zone here. That that that's not an an easy metric for us to use. Chairs are are the
metric that's approved across the state. So, so that that's why we don't use but if you would get that approved. Um, and I'm sorry, you know, that this has been uh uh fermenting here for 2 or 3 years. Um,
so anybody any questions or anybody else have any concerns or uh what I'd like to do unless I I'll open it up to Trish and Erica, the other two board members, and Kaen, the interim director. Any any questions?
>> Um, I do have multiple questions. What's the re and maybe this has already been asked and answered um but as I am newer. What's the reality of replacing the septic system for an updated um that could accommodate basically however many
people they wanted? >> It would be very expensive. >> It would be it's a large system. Um so that's that's the that's the whole whole part is we are trying to save them from having to do that um in any you know
long you know hopefully the system can last quite a while. Um but just the whole our whole point here in the health department is to reduce that if we can um but it would be extremely expensive to answer the question quite a lengthy process because it's so large it would
have to go through D. We don't handle systems that big here at the local level. Okay. And then my my other um question is although um Steve brought up like well what if we tell you guys every time that there's going to be a party. I
think that that's way too much. But would it be realistic to or even an option where say they have to keep a record log and then it gets brought to the board um during our monthly meeting
every 6 months so that there can be some type of accountability there but then also make it very clear or I don't know if there is any type of policy where if for some reason there are any discrepancies or we find that they were over capacity
that there are penalties or fines um just in order to keep some type of accountability. Is that like an option? >> Again, we'd be holding them to a different standard. >> Okay.
But I mean that sounds like a good idea, but but and it could be it, you know, speaking from a hospital standpoint, when we go and check logs, we're checking to make sure, you know, the past six months, the past 3 years, etc., you've been doing what you're supposed to be doing. Um, so so that's not that's
not a you know that that's not that that's a very reasonable thing, but but it's a my opinion, and I'm not speaking for the board. speaking to just from me, we would be holding them to a different standard. I I guess Steve, and I'm I'm sorry, um Erica, uh if I interrupted
you, u what does Mr. Rabinski, what did he think of the um of Tom's suggestion to move those chairs out seasonally? Because what happens is because the
>> if you have a drop in in customers, >> the uh the idea is that the gazebo is only going to be used >> sporadically. It's not open to the daily. So if he were to take 20 seats from his restaurant, then he's reducing
his potential customer base in the restaurant when the gazebo is not in use. So it's >> it really it would really styy his ability to try to generate and keep keep
the business in the restaurant going. They might not they might have a they might have a month where they don't have anybody use that gazebo. So to permanently pull those seats out is really it really kind of hurts. You you said that in the in the hospital
you look at last six months and the last year to try to see where you've been, where you been. By looking at the water record use for the system, you can get an idea a picture of how much use that that facility
stresses the system out and their water use records are close to a third of what the design capacity is. So they are not o at their current rate at current stuff they are not overstressing that system
they're kind of nursing it along and they are not and if they have 20 people out in the in the uh in the uh gazebo they're not adding any extra stress on that system. Uh >> what about like a trial trial and error
period where I mean you have already said that he's not reaching capacity and people going out is declining. So what if he you know what if we for is that a possibility where for you know 3 to 6
months whatever time frame he could commit to taking those 20 chairs putting them out in the gazebo and if he doesn't get the capacity filled
then could maybe keep it that way but if he's had to turn customers away then he can revert back to putting those shares. Um, but that, you know, would need to be approved, you know, by the board. >> I think with the special permits, since
they're yearly and they go through the planning board, I do think and and I know the board can discuss this more, but my recommendation would be at least one year following this April 1st to October 31st. We can compromise. Maybe it doesn't need to be the full 20 seats
go out to the gazebo. Let's say for instance we say 10 whatever the board decides 10 seats are allocated to the gazebo from April 1st to October 31st for the first year and we see how many how many times the gazeos are used how
frequently um and and we kind of get a sense of what these gazeos are going to look like for crepes tea house um so that we can reach you know for the ne the next year maybe they come to the planning board and we discuss that and we can kind
I don't want to say reconsider but you know do something else um to make sure that the system is not um stressed. So would you be changing the gazebo capacity then? No, I think it would just be allocating at least 10 seats to always be there, but the capacity would
still be 20. And they would, if say they have a, this is where it gets kind of complicated, but say they have a reservation for Friday at 7:00 p.m. for 20 people, then they could move 10 from inside Crepes Tea House to the gazebo, >> but not getting in that muddy water. >> Yes. So, that's my concern. And so I I
just I I struggle with the back and forth of 20 seats >> um outside to the to the gazebo on a Friday night, coming back for f Saturday Saturday morning. I know they have a lot of staff. I was just there for their routine inspection on the 22nd of
December um due to a complaint I got, but um it's really the board's choice. I know the the planning board was looking for us to kind of make a final decision today. I I don't want to push that though. I I I would kind of urge maybe
more discussion at our next meeting and and kind of think about it and and we can talk individually. I know we can't meet all together outside of an open meeting, but um their next meeting is scheduled for the 20th of January. I I just don't see us reaching a I don't I
don't want to speak for anybody, but I I don't know what the best choice here is right now. So, Steve, um, uh, Mr. Rabinsky has been has been, uh, he's been informed, well, of course he has, that, uh, we recommend
in April through October that that the those um, suits are are that Tom recommended that that time period, right? >> Yeah. And that kind of makes sense because they closed the deck during that period of time and they would not use
the gazebo because they're not heated. So I mean right now right now you can't go sit on the deck. >> So I guess so I guess if they if they automatically put 20 seats on the deck, what what is what is the what's the issue with the 20 seats now instead of
being back in the the restaurant moving over to the gazebo? if they already if if during, you know, those outside months they they they move them out automatically. What what's what's the deal with that?
>> You you walk into the gazebo and uh you have maybe two or maybe there's a uh two couples. You walk into the gaze or you walk into the restaurant and you want you want to get seated. You Yeah, we'd like to sit out on the deck. Okay, go ahead. because they they have
that situated so that they take their 20 chairs, they put them out on the deck. If you walk in with another couple and say, "We'd like to go to the gazebo." They're going to say, "It's not available. It's by special reservation only." So, I think that's what the main
difference is. Well, from your perspective, the board of health that the the that it's it's and I'm being very frank with you um and to the board this just hearing from this in the sidelines and thank you for for for um
for coming tonight and and talking to us directly. I appreciate that. Um you know, from it it seems that this has been turfed to several committees. You've got the conservation committee. My question would be, did they see the design of the gazebo? Because as you
described when when you when when it was when it was sent to them, oh, a gazebo is a nice little Yeah, that's they're thinking the garden type gazebo. And then you you have the planning board if I'm not mistaken. I took notes, but you've got several committees and now it
hinges on the board of health. Is that what I'm hearing? >> Right. There there's a couple layers here. one because there's a flood plane, there's a wetland buffer zone, and there's a riverfront. >> In order to build the gazeos, they had
to get conservation commission approval first. Okay. >> Did they approve the design or did they approve the concept? >> They approved the concept. Gazeos were elevated above the flood plane and the conservation commission said, "Yep, this
is not a problem for us." Okay. So, they approved it. that only approved the construction. It did not approve the use of them. The planning board is the next layer to approve the use
>> and that has not happened yet >> and that's what we're in the process of. And now the planning board has said, well, we're going to kick it over to the board of health, >> stress them out. >> We are very appreciative of that. Um,
>> so they want final they want a final recommendation for us from us um to give to them so that they can kind of put the special permit together with all their different >> you know all the different levels of it,
what days it's permitted to be used, what you know they'll add all that. But the the for us it's what what is our final recommendation regarding the title five and the the seating >> which >> your recommendation would be I mean
unless you say no it's not going to work but if if you have a recommendation and and I appreciate your concept of compromise putting 10 out there and uh if whatever your recommendation is would be interwoven into the special permit
Can we go into executive session after this and discuss it? >> I don't know. I think I think we could at the end of the meeting because we have it here so we can discuss more. Yes. So maybe that's what we should. >> Yeah. >> So So Steve, thank you. This has cleared
up a lot of the questions that I had. >> In in all likelihood, we're going to come back with another compromise. Um but we discuss that. We we need to discuss that among the board. Um, and we will do our best to have something um uh for for the planning board by their
meeting. >> That would be awesome. I appreciate your I appreciate your consideration and uh it's nice to see a face that goes with a name. So, uh oh, by the way, uh just so you know, my father is a retired pharmacist.
My my oldest sister is now retired, but she was a nurse for 40ome years. My younger sister's a pharmacist and my mother sold insurance and that makes me practically a doctor. >> Okay, we'll take it.
>> Want to be on the board of health because we, you know, get looking for new. >> We are all doctors here. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Okay.
Okay. So, >> all righty then. So, we go quickly through the agenda and we'll spend a few minutes afterwards talking about I would uh put if you can we can postpone till the next agenda anything that we don't need to go because I want to be I want
to be cognizant of people's time. Um but go >> but go right on my dear. >> Okay. So, I can table both the private well regulation and septic regulation of the old business because um I have nothing actually to add about that right now. Um I I haven't worked on those two.
So, I apologize. I I >> didn't have the moment. So, to go into my health director report interim, um I have from November 23rd to December 31st, we completed 59 total
applications. We brought in 8,115 total fees. Um, so that's pretty good. In the month of December, I conducted 15 inspections. Um, so I can go through all of those, but you know, I won't. Permit renewals. Um, those were due on 1231.
Um, trying to obtain best faith effort to ensure compliance. Um, and actively trying to get these permits completed. Um, Cindy and I have been working tirelessly this month. Uh we have sent out emails, calls, letters, you name it,
we've tried it. And I I know I've given you guys that letter via email or document via email. We have quite a few uh food establishments, both of the tanning facilities, a funeral director's license, and many septic callers and
installers who have not done their permits yet. Um a few are pending. Um, I have a few that have submitted and we're waiting on some items with them. A lot are still awaiting payment. Um, but there are quite a few that have not even
responded to me. So, um, I know I I didn't know we wanted to move forward with that. Uh, I can send out cease and desist letters, but wanted to make sure I got the board of health approval before I before I did that. >> So, what are the cease and desist letters? What do they what what are we
giving them a time frame? Um, you. >> There is a fine to operating without a food permit, especially operating without a tobacco license. Thankfully, my last tobacco did come in, so that one is all set. So, we have no pending tobacco permits, which is good. Um, but
for the food, it would be a letter sent out. Their uh permits would be double, so double the permit fees for being late. Uh, cease and desist, ask them to stop operating. Um, usually that kind of kicks people into gear ideally to get
on. Our online permit system makes it very easy for the renewals. You click a button that says renew, you scroll down, submit. It should be very timeless and effortless. Um, but the cease and desist just really I think it's that final step some facilities
need to show that we're really trying to get this compliance and that we've given them. I've been sending out letters since late November >> and kind of giving the history of this situation for the past couple years. I think maybe the cease and desist would be like, "Hey, you really need to pay
attention to this stuff because a lot of them just completely ignore us." And it's it's they know year after year they're doing the same thing that they need to do the same thing for us because >> Yeah. >> And these are establishments that have been in the town of Southic for many
years. Um, so these food permits are not new. >> Like the occasional hauler or installer person being like, "Oh, I don't know how to do that." And it'll be like, "Okay, come in. We'll do it with you." But restaurants that have been here for 10, 15 years, it's like, "Okay, can you do
that again this year?" >> It's been quite the struggle. Is there late fees? >> It's double. Um, I can look into if we can do if we have regulations for more fees. Um but there the permit fee would
be double if you are past January 1st. >> Okay. Um we have quite a few. >> And do we have we have a history of of these organizations going past January 1st and do we have repeat offenders or >> Yes, >> we have some that oh gosh I I missed the
deadline and they don't usually do that. >> Yes. So, I knew we had a few that from when I started that Tom always said were a struggle to get the permits completed. So, actually I learned that if you go for their routine inspection in the month of December and tell them we
should do the permit today. And I went through with almost five establishments to get the permits done while I was on site. So, that worked out to be I got the the the establishments that we had known trouble with um them to complete it. So, that was good. Um, but there's
just a few that I had reached out, one in particular, the bar shop. They told me they were not serving food at this time, that they were not going to go for their food permit. Um, and then I see on social media that they are serving food. >> Um, so I have called and emailed and
left a letter. Um, their operating hours are a little difficult for me to get there in person to send it. So, that's I'm I'm I'm hoping to get there this week to make sure that we send one out. Um, and then a few are waiting. A lot of ours currently have been submitted but are waiting payment. Um, a lot are just
left without paying. So, >> we were also question how bar shop are they allowed to serve liquor with no food, no chips, no nothing. >> Yeah. I'm not sure of the liquor laws. I'm not familiar with liquor laws, but but I don't know if you can serve
alcohol without any sort of food in Massachusetts, so I have to look into that more extensively. Um, but that >> liquor is one thing we can say is not our purview. >> Yes. >> I'm not familiar with the law >> there.
>> Well, you know, Erica and Trish, what do you think? Um, do you think we we send have these been sent out or would this be the first time that these letters have been sent out? I believe Tom has had to send a few.
Probably not to this magnitude. This would be a lot. Um, but there's a few on that list that I had sent. Congam closed. They're they're no longer operating. Esserie, they closed because they were operating out of Tuckers, so they're not currently they don't have
anywhere to cook, so they're not going for one. Um, Fusion Bar and Grill, which is Lakeside Tavernd Cafe. They closed in November, so they're not going for a permit. Blossoming Acres has a sign out saying that they'll come back January
9th. Um, but I had spoken to the owner before that and I had gotten no response. So, or or I had gotten no renewal done. Um, the Dollar Tree for their retail food. I spoke to two managers. I talked to their district
person. um and has have still not received their permit uh application. The Town Beach will renew in the spring. Um Fancy Bagels is waiting on payment. Kettleb Bread is waiting on payment. Mulicious is waiting on payment. Um Saunders Package Store, I'm waiting on
some items. So, it's a lot of some some things are just I'm waiting on. So when you say waiting on payment, is it something that they just apply for and say they're going to send it in >> or you can um send payment via online through the permitized system or via check? And >> so they they basically a lot saying
they're going to do check and they don't send the check >> or we send Cindy and I send emails uh through the permitiz system that says we're waiting on payment here is the amount please pay it through the portal or via check. um as the others >> they haven't completed the process
>> the process is not completed. >> So my take on this with licenses and I you guys would probably agree with me on it is I can't practice anesthesia without my license if it's a day expired >> you know and it is very
>> it is extensively as your all of your practices but you can make somebody very sick in a food establishment and that's my concern. Uh the tanning facilities as well. Tanning is very dangerous. We know that. Um I'm concerned about that. Uh and the funeral director that is also
serious. I don't know if Avalon Life Celebration is is open though. I I'm not I I have called numerous times. They still have they don't have a first sale sign out, but nobody ever answers. So I'm not sure what's happening with the funeral director license there. >> I've never seen anybody there to be
honest. >> Yeah. >> And I drive past it all the time. I can't get a sense of if they're open. And then with the haulers and installers, like Cindy said, if they aren't doing Title 5 work, it's the winter time. I I I'm okay with letting that slide um until they're working
again. >> Um and same with the recreation licenses. They don't have camps right now in the winter, but obviously in the summertime, um they'll go for their permits before they open. Um, so mostly what it is I I would recommend is the
letters for food and tanning >> just to show that our new board is very serious. I think >> I agree and and we were taking this seriously and we can't Cindy and I have worked really hard this month. Um, it it's been constant handholding to put it
lightly. Um, we can't do this every year. We we don't have the capacity to do this every year. I would need a lot more than 10 hours a week. >> And it's not these some of these people haven't even responded to you, you said. And that's not okay.
>> Yeah. >> So I I you have my vote to send it on out. >> Can somebody make a motion? >> I Erica Proud make a motion to send the cease and assist letters. >> And do I Trish >> Leveniac?
>> All in favor? Okay. So then that's a good step for the permit renewals. Housing cases. I have an update on 16 Congam. I was able to get into the home on December 3rd. I did not observe any evidence of a rodent infestation per se. I didn't see any
active rodents in the home. I went throughout the basement, the kids' rooms. Um so I didn't I didn't see any rodent droppings or dead rodents. Um, but what I did observe was quite a bit of refu in the house. So, the kids had a lot of garbage on the floor, food on the
floor. So, I really encourage getting that up if they're observing a lot of rodents, making sure that we're cleaning up the trash. And I had been working also with the um it's a housing authority property and I've been working with the manager there who have licensed
exterminators on their staff. So, they were going to set some traps and uh they did have a it was very cold in the house. Not cold enough where I would be concerned that the heat wasn't working, but that the heat just wasn't being turned on frequently enough. And she did have a space heater. The space heaters are not
allowed in our housing code, nor with the housing code for the housing authority. So, we did ask her to remove that. And on a little later in the month, I did reach back out to get a status and they had found and trapped uh five to six rodents. Um large rats were
found and they were able to patch up some holes that they did find present in the basement and in the door frame. Um so I did reach out yesterday to also get a new update. So I'm still waiting on that, but I'm hoping we're on the right track with that. getting getting some some movement going and some education
about we really can't be leaving the trash in the basement or else these rats will be attracted to that. So hoping for the best there. Um >> you know I've only ever seen mice like I don't I don't I just don't know where the rats come from. >> Yeah property had done a large amount of
cleanup to the backyard due to a lot of refuge collection in the past. Um well not the past pretty recently a couple of months ago. So, the thought is maybe they got in then and then they've just been reproducing in the basement. Um, and they have a food source down there. So, that's what I'm thinking was
happening there. So, hopefully with the holes patched up, we're we're on the we're on the up and up. Um, ideally, so another case we got was 179 College Highway. I got an anonymous complaint about a person living inside an RV. I went on on 1211 to conduct a plane view
inspection um and to knock on the front door of the RV. I was present with our regional staff trainer Sasha. Um somebody did come out of the RV who said I had woken them up from a nap. She declined the formal inspection immediately. She also had two very large
dogs on the property. So we did leave. Um and then I sent out a notice for inspection due to the fact that these are in conditions deemed to endanger. somebody living in an RV really raises concerns with us making sure there's heat, water, what is she doing to use the restroom, etc. Um, so that was
conducted on 1223 with the building inspector and the fire inspector. Um, there was no evidence of anybody living in the RV. It seemed to be a place where the resident hangs out with one of her dogs. She takes naps in there. Um, and with the building code, you can't have
an RV present in your front lawn. So, we did give them best faith effort to get that out by March. I know with the winter time and um there was some struggle going on at the property. Um we wanted to give them enough time to get that off the property. But I encourage nobody should be sleeping in an RV,
especially in cold temperatures. There's no running water attached to the RV as well as no septic hookup. So that was good because the anonymous complaint was thinking that they were using the restroom in the RV and they are not. So that is good. Um, but they did also have a spa. I'm commonly seeing some space
heaters in a lot of these establishments. Um, those are not allowed in the housing code because there's such a fire risk. So, I did um put out an order to make sure that they just removed that. Um, and they did. So, good with that. An update on 403 College
Highway. That was the property that had a large amount of refues and a few unregistered vehicles. the owner of the residence did reach out to me and ask for an extension on that and I just asked for a good faith effort to start removing some of the some of the refues.
Um, and I know due to the snow it's a little bit more difficult. Um, speaking with the building inspector though, there really hasn't been any fa good faith effort. So, we we are going to send out a second order to correct um just to ensure we're seeing some
progress being made. Um I'm not expecting everything to be cleaned up overnight. That that's unrealistic. But just seeing something um especially in the periods of no snow. >> Now is a good is the reason why this person has not been able to remove more stuff is because they can't financially
afford it >> or Okay, that's that's a tough one. >> There was a few factors, but that was one of them. And there are some large bulk items. I mean, there's large uh furniture, there's a mattress, um and and they're being saturated by snow, so
they're getting wet and heavy. Um so, you I I understand the times, so I want to be, you know, as um empathetic as I can. Um but also ensuring that this trash is not rolling onto other people's lawns and and it's right on College
Highway. So, um the complaint was from the police department to to to get this moving a little bit. So, >> now do we know of like any like assistance programs or like volunteer groups that this person like maybe we could give him a resource to reach out
to to help with something like this? >> Yeah. So, I had reached when I was on the phone with her, I I asked if she would like help from the health department. Um, and and she said her and her son and her husband were going to work on it. Um, but of course when I send a second letter and and give her a call, I can always say that we can offer
her some sort of support. If I can kind of navigate that, maybe the nurses and I could work on some places um because I know it is hard. It is challenging times and I know it's expensive to remove this kind of amount of refuge. So that's a that's a great idea and I I will
definitely do that. All right. Any questions on the housing cases so far? Nothing. Okay. Um, so food establishment inspections. Um, this was kind of a a busy uh season of inspections. Um, and I
was able to go to uh the Daily Grind, Lucky Stop, Shabelli's Mobile, New Main Moon, Oak and Keg, Village Pizza, Pasceteria Italia, AFC Sushi, which is inside the Big Y, uh, Mrs. Murphy's Donuts, and Crepes Tea House, as well as
the South Meeting House. Um, so three kind of main bullet points from all of those inspections. Overall, most places their routine inspections went well. A common theme I'm seeing is date marking. Um, that's usually due to lack of
oversight, I would say. Um, they haven't had inspections in a little bit. So, I just wanted to note that and I I want that to be known because um I'm trying to be aware of that and not come in and and have a laundry list of inspection
and and violations for these places. Um but date marking is incredibly important because you need to know when you go inside a fridge or a freezer when something was made, what it is, and when it needs to be out of the refrigerator by when it's no longer good for use and
good for people to eat. So, I'm really trying to work with the nurses and we're going to try to get some restaurant owners together and just urge the importance of date marking and other practices like handwashing, glove use, some things that I think are um evidently lacking in our in our food
establishments and I I really want to push. >> Um but overall, they're doing a great job and and there's some really successful stories. Um the Daily Grind was excellent, like a very clean establishment. Um so that was great to see. So, my three bullet points in my
notes was New Main Moon. I in uh conducted an inspection on 129. They had a large amount of violations. They had 17 violations out of our 29 that are related to foodborne illness. Um I allowed the restaurant owners to voluntarily close for 48 hours. Um in
this case, this restaurant is open 7 days a week. They have long hours. I think it's very easy to become overwhelmed with the cleaning, with the setup. and I I want to be aware of that. So, I went back on 1211 and enough progress had been made that I felt
comfortable to allow them to reopen and yesterday I went for another reinspection and they're still on the up and up. So, I was really happy to see that. Um, we're really promoting again thermometer use, really cooking all of their foods to the correct temperatures, keeping cold foods under 41°,
urging that. Really, really urging that. Keeping your surfaces clean, really encouraging that as well. and just proper food safety protocols. So, we did a lot of education. Um, I used my pocket talk for uh language translation which was very helpful. Um, and I think we're
on uh we're doing well there and I will be back there in 6 months for their routine inspection and I hope not to see any any um reviolations coming up. >> Are they having in dining or no? >> They do they have two seats? >> Okay. like two tables. So, they don't
get a ton of people, but some do some people do sit down. >> So, um yes, >> I guess my question is I mean with all of the violations is is six months um soon enough >> probably. So, I say six months because
routinely we go every six months, but I agree. I I was teetering on the thought of three. >> Yeah, I agree. >> Yeah. So, I probably will be there in three months. Um you're still having trouble with with temperatures. I mean, that that's that's
>> not good at all. >> Yeah. >> So, since being interim, I have had three complaints about raw chicken being consumed. >> I I hesitate for three months, but that's better than six.
>> Okay. So, absolutely, I will be there in 3 months. Um, yeah, there was some there was some concern. There was some raw items left out of the fridge. Uh there was some major major violations for me. Um and I do have photos that I can that I
can share um with you all. >> Uh and then yeah, I don't know if you want to also um but Southwick Meeting House, I did receive an anonymous complaint about the meeting house kitchen serving holiday meals and not having any inspections conducted on file. Um, so I set up an in
an inspection prior to the Christmas meals being offered with the owner. Um, that was conducted on 12:22. Um, the owner explained to me that a lot of the food is received through catering, which they have um large warmers on site um that they just bring the catered food in and warm it there or keep it warm there
as well as >> this where the food pantry is. >> Yeah. >> Is this where the food pantry is with Dee or whatever? >> Yeah. Okay. >> He's the owner. Um, and he explained to me that he was cooking ham as well. Um,
which was really what he's doing is great for the community. And I I told him that um and that I didn't observe any any noticeable violations. The kitchen was clean and equipped with resources. Um, it doesn't have a three-bay sink, which isn't, you know, an issue for us as long as those dishes
there's a dishwasher on site. I think a lot of things are um throw out items. paper plates, plastic plastic silverware. So, nothing of concern to me. So, I signed um that inspection and we're just waiting on his final temporary food establishment permit that
I gave to him on paper to do. Um since it's a nonprofit though, we don't receive any um there's no permit fee. Um, so another thing that I think goes with our previous discussion about Crepes Tea House is I did receive a complaint about Crepes Tea House not following their special permit to cook
outside on grills one weekend day a week. Um, so I had a resident come in, I believe she's in a butter. She came in to tell me that they cooked both on Saturday and Sunday using their grills. Um, she expressed to me that she thought it was very loud, it was smoky,
and she wasn't happy about that. So, I did go out for a routine in inspection because they hadn't had an inspection in a little while. So, it was time on 12:22. I didn't note any major violations. Their establishment is very clean. Their practices are up to my the the health code. Um, but I did speak to
the person in charge and really reiterated the guidelines of those special permits. I teeter on talking with about the special permits since they are permitted through the planning board. I'm not a representative of the planning board. I don't I don't really want to speak for the planning board. Um
but just reiterating how important it is to follow that special permit, especially when it comes to grilling. And I I believe they only went for one day a week due to, you know, fire risk and if they were going to have people outside on the patio, they have an extension wire to the grill. So that's
obviously a trip hazard that I was concerned about and did speak about with the person in charge, but as we kind of go maybe into discussion about crepe sea house later, >> is this a sign that we're going to have issues with the special permit? And I
didn't want to, you know, I don't want to assume that, >> correct? >> But it does raise a concern for me. >> Yeah. Um, so that can be talked about a little later, but Title 5 inspections. Tom Fitzgerald has been very busy, so he's done some septic design plan reviews at 662A College Highway, which
is going to be the uh self storage unit, 269 College Highway, 59 Binding Hill. Septic inspections were conducted at 59 Bing Hill, 383 College Highway, 10 Tall Pines, 13 North Pond, and 93 Sheep Pasture was a bottom inspection. And
then he also did one perk test at two John Mason Road. And I am noticing I forgot 772 College Highway is going to be the large dentist office going in on College Highway. He is currently doing the plan review for that property as well. Um and I'm waiting on Tom to I I
did create an invoice for Tom. I'm waiting on him to kind of review that and add or remove anything that I missed. Um and he will sign that and we'll get that going with accounting to pay him for all his work. Um, and Tom's been a great resource for me. I wanted to note that Tom Tom has been helping me
with, you know, Crepes Tea House and any questions I have regarding food inspections. So, he's been really great and and very helpful. Um, I think that's the air sensor grant. Um, we did receive the air sensors to Southwick. Um, and I did drop those off
to the maintenance department. So, those are going to be posted at town hall, the DPW, and one of the schools. Um, so that's great. We purchased some more CO 19 test kits. So those will are pretty much gone actually. People are taking those in Southwick. So um people are not
feeling well unfortunately. So I'm glad to see their testing. >> Um and in my shared service coordinator role, we've been doing like I said the we're buying as much as we can to support public health. I attended the Blandford lunchon where we got to talk about the shared service agreement which
is always great. Love getting out into the community and talking with the residents. Um, and then one new item is the annual town report is due to the select board on February 20th. Um, so I wanted to discuss uh the important items that the board members would like to
have noted on that annual report. I have Trisha working on the nurse portion and I'll have a depending on what we want to be added, I'll write up and have a rough draft of that for our February meeting so that you all can review that and we can decide what we want to um send to
the select board for that. Um >> but yes, >> when did you say that was due? >> February 20th. >> Okay. And then the last big thing, I'm not sure if you all got to look at it, was the board of health budget for this next upcoming fiscal year. Um, mostly
everything is staying the same. If I can find my paperwork. Um, Nicole, the town administrator, is trying to get rid of um, in recent past years, we've met on, I believe, Saturday mornings with the finance committee to
talk about the changes and and what we were looking to do. I think the town administrator was trying to eliminate that. So, she wanted to meet with each of the department heads just to discuss what we were thinking about doing. Um, and I know we were keeping our budget pretty much the same and we were proposing the Title 5 um part-time
inspector. Um, her recommendation would be that that's out of a revolving fund. So, any of the permit fees we take in, we just would pay the Title 5 inspector with that money. Um, which I think is a great um opportunity. it would really help our our board of health or our
health department um to alleviate some of that inspection work um so that we really can focus on food. Food is my main concern right now and something I really want to get on top of. Um so I think that this summer with how many perk tests and how many um systems we've
been reviewing and with Tom in the past, I really think this is a great opportunity for us. Um, so for the budget, everything would be staying the same with the health director inspector salary. Um, the clerical part-time salary, cell phone would stay the same
at 600. Dues would stay the same at 300. Education would stay the same. Um, consultant, we we looked at how much we'd been spending in the past. We don't I I don't take more vacation time than I'm granted. So, um, we could drop that
down actually to a,000, um, from 20 thou, uh, from,900, um, just due to the fact we don't use it. Um, it's never been used 100%, especially if we have the part-time, uh, Title 5 inspector on staff. If I was to take vacation time, we wouldn't really
need the consultant. Um, because everything usually, Naga would is nothing emergent within in the summertime within 72 hours. Um, >> who are we paying Tom Fitzgerald from right now? >> Right now, we're paying Tom Fitzgerald
out of consultants. So, that will change this year, but then the hope is in the next fiscal year, we won't use that money at all. >> Are we expected to level fund or are we expected to decrease by a certain percentage?
>> So, they are asking us to do a 5% decrease and then also level fund it and then our department request. So the the numbers I just said are what we're putting as department requests, but then anything in that other category is the 5% decrease. I don't foresee them. They
didn't state that they're going to decrease us by 5%, but they always want us to put that, I believe. Um but that is there. Um >> in the case that they do decrease us by 5%. >> Yeah. if we don't if we don't have to, you know, and I don't know what the
other two of you feel like, but if we don't have to decrease the consultant, we never know what's going to happen. Um, you know, I I would keep that money in if we can just in case >> find anybody who wants to be a title five. But you and I I mean, we can look
at that. To tell you the truth, I I couldn't pull it up on my phone and now that my computer has has updated since, you know, for the last five years, I should be able to look at it. So, I I'll I'll and if the two of you would look at it as well and send any um send any
suggestions to to Kaine. Now, this is due when the budget's >> this is unfortunately due on Friday. Um so, I'm sorry for the quick turnaround. Um but that's the only area that we we proposed decreasing was the consultant.
Um everything else is staying the same. So, supplies, minor equipment, the permitting software is all paid for. So that is um good. So really seated in any area? >> No. >> Okay. >> Um everything is staying the same pretty
much just the consultant. So >> it's not too much. >> Especially our board our our budget small. Um there's not a lot of line items. So that's helpful. >> Revolving money. We could we could we could pay a consultant if we needed to out of that as long as we have. So I
your idea is fine. So, also the thinking there is in July when we or whatever month we're looking to hire the part-time inspector, I would recommend that we probably increase our Title 5 fees. Um, we're probably the
lowest in the area. Um, a lot of places do a fee for the review of the septic plans and a fee for the final inspection. We just do one all together. Um, so I would recommend maybe considering separating them into two and it could bring us some more revenue. Um,
because they'll pay for it. They, as terrible as that is to say, they have to get the plans done and they're not an unfair price. Um, >> they're not >> for that earlier. So, I think yeah, we could certainly we could certainly look at
>> Yeah, I think we all fee schedules we could look at all the items. Um, some of our fees are are are pretty low for food. Um, as I kind of saw during this renewal process, I think we have areas where we could bring in some more money. Um,
okay. Anything else? >> Anything else before we go into executive session briefly? Um, the only thing I want to have down on the in the on the recording is um well, you and I have had this discussion. I think with everybody being new, there's been a
tendency to come to Caen and and come to Caen with requests that uh that that should come to the entire board and put Caen in a in an awkward and sometimes a a difficult situation. So, if if the
other two of you are okay with that, I you know, we're we're trying to I I have the email addresses of all the chairs, and it sounds like that's what the planning committee did tonight was send was send him to the full board to talk about it. But I'm going to suggest that we have more of those conversations
rather than Kaylee represents uh the health director when when they're asking for board of health um weigh in. It needs to come to us as a full including Kaine. Anybody have an issue with that? Does that seem like a reasonable
expectation? >> Um I think yeah, I think that's certainly reasonable. >> Okay. just not to I mean Kaen's new she's doing an excellent job but she's being pulled in in in in being
>> asked to provide things that that that should come to us um uh before that's done. So all right well any other thing any other uh do do I hear a motion to adjourn to executive session?
Yes. Hi, Trisha. Oh, sorry. No, at 7 at 7:32 and we're not going to reconvene an open session. Um, and this is for Massachusetts General Law Chapter 3A section 21 number two to to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-UN personnel or to
conduct collective bargaining sessions or to contract negotiations with non-UN personnel. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, Trish Leiniac. Um, adjourn the meeting. and I second. And Erica, you can third.
>> Erica Prrowy, third. >> All right. So,