Board of Health

Office of the Board of Health City Hall 166 Boulder Drive – Suite 108 Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 978-829-1870 An organizational meeting was held on August 3, 2017 at 5:00 pm. Present: Ian Murray, Chairman; Stephen Curry, Director; Sandra Knipe, R.N.B.S.N., Member; Dr. John Bogdasarian, M.D, Member; Stephanie Holinko, Food Inspector. July Meeting Minutes Review & Approval: Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the July 13, 2017 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Ian Murray. All were in favor. Motion carries. Eating and Drinking Establishment Permit Fees discussion: Stephanie Holinko, Food Inspector, stated the Board had voted on new fees in March but wishes to propose added additional fees and new food permit categories. Ms. Holinko added a seasonal food permit category for establishments that operate six months or less. The seasonal food permit would be half the cost of the annual food permit fee. Ms. Holinko also changed the Mobile Food Permit from $150.00 to $200.00 annually for Risk Level 3 and 4 mobile food operations. She did however state that if someone wanted to have a seasonal Risk Level 3 and 4 mobile food operation, it would be $100.00. It was also stated that the food permit fee will be waived for charitable non-profit organizations that operate establishments, such as “food pantries” or “soup kitchens,” that offer food to the public at no cost. Ms. Holinko wishes to add a $35.00 late fee for not turning in applications by April 1. The Food Code states establishments have to submit their applications 30 days before expiration date. There will be a Catering plan review fee of $50.00 if an establishment wants to add catering. Dr. Bogdasarian asked how Ms. Holinko knows if a Food Truck has a permit. Typically most Food Trucks will have a permit but on occasion Ms. Holinko is notified someone is running a truck without a permit and will send a ticket violation or a ticket warning. Ms. Holinko stated all the applications will go out in February of 2018. Mr. Curry stated the Council has to approve the fee schedule due to a city ordinance Ms. Knipe made a motion to approve the amended updated fee schedule submitted by Stephanie Holinko submitted on August 3, 3017. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Body Art discussion and approval: Mr. Curry stated we are looking to implement a temporary body artist fee. This individual would need all the requirements that the normal annual Body Art permit requires. This temporary body artist fee would be someone that would come in as a guest artist. Mr. Curry stated he would like to implement a $75.00 permit and fee that would allow the artist to operate up to 14 days. Ms. Knipe made a motion to implement a $75.00 permit fee for a temporary body artist to work up to 14 days. Dr. Bogdasarian 2nd the motion. All were in favor. Motion carries. Staff Reports: Mr. Curry presented the Nurses Report for January-July, 2017. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to approve the Nurse’s reports for January-July, 2017 as presented. Motion was 2nd by Ms. Knipe. All were in favor. Motion carries. Mr. Curry stated Ms. Holinko has a six page report and would like to email it to the board members for their review and discuss at the September meeting. A report will also include the Housing or Sanitary Inspectors reports as well. City Council Petition #194-17 (Delays for resident use at the Landfill) Discussion: Mr. Curry stated there is a petition from the City Council that is directed to the BOH to investigate and mitigate increased delays for resident use at the landfill. Mr. Curry met with Waste Management at the landfill. Mr. Curry stated the proposal would be to put in 3 temporary lanes at the entrance of the landfill. The commercial vehicles will continue to go onto the scale and there will be a dedicated entry lane with signs and lanes formed by barrels. This is a temporary experiment to see how it works. The second lane will be for residents who are using just the trash roll off to dispose of household waste. The third lane will be for residents going to the recycling drop off area. This will be changing in the coming weeks. The scale house operator will only be dealing with commercial vehicles, a Waste Management individual would be working the trash roll-off disposal area which will now be located near the Waste Management offices and the scale house. These residents will not have to enter the current drop off area. Ms. Knipe made a motion that the Board approves the council petition #194-17 to remedy the landfill delays for residential use. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Ms. Knipe made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Mr. Murray. All in favor. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm.