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 February 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm. Present: Stephen Curry, Director; Sandra Knipe, R.N.B.S.N.; John Bogdasarian, M.D.; Ian Murray, Chairman; Dorothy McNamara, Public Health Nurse; Stephanie Holinko, Food & Milk Inspector; William Marks, Williams Southern Soul; Dennis Bradley, Microhair. Approve Meeting Minutes: Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the January 3, 2019 meeting minutes. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Hearing (Continued from Jan): Williams Southern Soul – William Marks, Owner: Mr. Murray stated the reason for this hearing is Mr. Marks is required by code to install a mop sink and a hand washing sink and was asked by the Board to come back with a few estimates. Mr. Marks presented the two estimates to the Board and stated they are very high and he doesn’t have that type of funding available at this time. The Board also agreed that the estimates seem high as well. Business has been slow and he is trying to make ends meet. Mr. Marks said he is willing to get additional estimates from other licensed plumbers. He is also in the process of trying to sell the building therefore he would no longer have his restaurant. Mr. Marks stated he wants to stay open as long as he can but understands whatever the Board decides he will accept. While lengthy discussion and reviewing the estimates that were presented, the members of the Board of Health asked numerous questions to Mr. Marks and Ms. Holinko. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to give Mr. Marks until March 7, 2019 to have the hand wash sink and mop sink installed by a licensed plumber. If this work is not completed by then the BOH will order the establishment closed until compliance is met. Motion was 2nd by Ms. Knipe. All were in favor. Motion Carries. Fitchburg Body Art Regulations: Discussions regarding Sterilizer Unit at MICROHAIR, Dennis Bradley, 76 Summer St: Mr. Curry stated in previous discussions regarding amending the regulations there are concerns about a sterilizer unit at Mr. Bradley’s shop having multiple failed spore tests. In the past year there has been three failed spore tests. Ms. McNamara stated she is not receiving the results of the tests directly from the company as she had discussed with Mr. Bradley previously. Mr. Bradley did sign the permission disclosure when first permitted but since has asked that the BOH be removed from the email list therefore the BOH has no way of knowing of a failed test. Ms. McNamara receives all the test results from all the establishments in the City directly from the lab. Ms. McNamara is requesting that Mr. Bradley re-sign the disclosure that will allow the Board of Health to be notified via email of passing/fail spore tests. Ms. McNamara stated all establishments receive guidelines stating that “All Body Art Establishments are required to contract with an independent commercial testing laboratory to do monthly spore testing of the Autoclave or other Sterilization Unit. A provision shall be included in the contract to notify the Board of any failure of the Autoclave or other Sterilization The previous company had this provision in their contract but has since gone out of business. The new company did not have that provision in their contract but in lieu there is a permission to disclose test results in which all establishments gave their permission to notify the Board of Health via email the results of the tests. .Ms. McNamara doesn’t recall any instances having a failed spore test from any other establishments in the past ten years while using the autoclave machine. The Health Department Inspectors did approve the sterilizer for this establishment which is also approved by the FDA. Mr. Bradley stated he was sending the test results to Ms. McNamara every month but now Ms. McNamara wants to receive it directly from the lab. Mr. Bradley wants to follow the rules therefore, the regulation does not state that a laboratory has to send the results directly to the BOH. He feels the BOH is forcing him to do something that is not required by law. Mr. Bradley was not working on any clients while there were failed spore tests as he was learning how to operate the sterilizer. He feels he is being targeted by the BOH and is continuously asked to come before the BOH for one reason or another. Mr. Murray stated Mr. Bradley is complying with the regulations as it’s written. Dr. Bogdasarian and Ms. Knipe were in agreement. Appointment of Chairperson: Ms. Knipe nominated Dr. Bogdasarain for the new appointment of Chairperson. Mr. Murray 2nd the nomination. Dr. Bogdasarian accepted the nomination. Ms. Knipe nominated Mr. Murray for vice chairperson when Dr. B isn’t present. All were in favor. Review and approve FY 20 Budget: Mr. Curry presented the FY 20 budget. Personal Service changes are mostly contractual raises in staffing. In FY19, the Mayor had proposed a reduction to CDBG funding in the Department from $150,000 to $100,000. The Mayors goal is to get employees off CDBG funding and use that money for other purposes. The FY20 budget proposes a new part-time position for a Sealer of Weights and Measures. The past 14 years we have contracted with the State. This salary would be $13,000 annually. Sandra Knipe made a motion to accept the FY 20 budget as presented. The motion was 2nd by Ian Murray. All were in favor. Motion carries. Next meeting scheduled for March 7, 2019. Sandra Knipe made a motion to adjourn. Motion was 2nd by Ian Murray. All were in favor, meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.