Board of Health

CITY OF GARDNER OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH 95 PLEASANT ST, ROOM 29 GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS 01440-2630 Members Present: Lauren Saunders – Health Director Susan Avallone, RN – Chairperson Geoff Tobia, Esq. – Member Dr. Michele Parker - Member Absent: Attendees Present: Board of Health meeting held May 8, 2023 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:30 Meeting called to order. 4:31 The February 6, 2023 meeting minutes have been approved. The March 27, 2023 minutes have also been approved. 4:32 COVID Updates: Gardner is currently at 5.69% positivity compared to the state at 2.63%. 4:35 Old Business: At the last meeting we had the variance request for 400 Matthews St, since then a letter was sent letting them know it was approved. In the letter the stipulations were outlined as well as the conditions of approval. Lauren went and inspected the tanks at 400 Matthews St last week and they are good. We will continue to monitor that. The Inspector position had been posted and came down last Friday. Lauren is hoping to review the resumes this week. We hired someone to fill the 26-hour transfer station position, his name is Brian. He started about three weeks ago and is doing well. There was discussion at the last meeting of a restaurant we had repeat issues with. We had issued fines, which were paid. However, that restaurant has since closed its doors permanently. We’re currently in the process of soliciting quotes for pump work at the transfer station and we’re just working on getting one last quote. The GCAT Wellness Fair was well attended on April 12. It went well and had about 50 resource tables, raffles, and had a good crowd of visitors. A reminder that the May 20 Keep Gardner Beautiful event is being held from 9am-12pm and will be happening at the Staples parking lot. The manager of Staples has reached out and is interested in making it a joint event with Staples holding their own recycling that same day and would take items such as copiers, fax machines and computers all for free. 4:38 New Business: Annual funeral director licenses signed by the board. Recently we’ve had some significant issues at another establishment regarding food inspections. The owner did come in today and stated that they are working on some of the major issues. There was also alcohol on the premises, and they do not have a liquor license, so Gardner Police Department were notified and will follow up. They may need to be brought before the board at next month’s meeting. There are three major housing cases right now. Due to the severity of the cases, all three have the potential to end up in housing court. We’re currently working with the Law Department on these cases. Septic work is also ramping back up for the season. There is now an illegal dumping and littering hotline that we monitor. There are signs out in the community and we’re hoping this deters people from illegal dumping. The city is currently doing a compensation study for all non-union employees that is underway. 4:45 Next meeting: Monday June 12, 2023 at 4:30 PM here at Gardner City Hall in the Mayor’s Conference Room; adjourn. ____________________________ __________________________ ____________________________ Susan Avallone RN, Chairperson Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member Michele C. Parker MD, Member All conversations are documented on recordings identified as BOH May 8 Meeting, 2023.