Board of Health Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ground Floor Conference Room
Senior Center, 27 Maple Street
5:15pm
Board Members in Attendance: Dr. Marie Walsh Condon, Mr. Gregory Leonardos and Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick (Chair)
Staff in Attendance: Natasha Thorne, Health Inspector, Joe Carabello, Health Inspector
October 21, 2009 meeting minutes accepted as written.
Inspector Thorne introduced Joe Domelowicz from MAPC, who gave a presentation on the regionalization process between the towns of Arlington, Belmont and Lexington. Domelowicz stated that the process is ongoing and his agency has been hired to explore the cost benefits and service benefits of combining the three town’s Health Departments to either provide the same services or better services at the same or lower cost. Domelowicz stated that by the end of this month he would be providing each Town Manager with a draft on what the structure, budget and memorandum of understanding between the towns would look like. Once these drafts are provided to each Town Manager, each town will have to decide if regionalization is something that they would like to move forward on.
Inspector Thorne provided the Board with a memo from Director Connolly outlining the Department’s efforts in implementing the vaccination of Arlington residents against H1N1 flu. The memo provided the Board with the total number of doses the office has received and the population of which the vaccine had been administered to.
Inspector Thorne led a discussion with the Board in regards to the renewal of all variances that have been issued to food establishments. Thorne explained that each year the variance must be renewed, however, this process has not happened for the past couple of years. Inspector Thorne recommended that all establishments that hold a variance come before the Board of Health to renew it at the next Board Meeting. All Board members were in agreement. Michael Fitzpatrick, chair of the Board of Health recommended that next year this process be done in December at the same time of the permit renewal process.
Inspector Thorne led a discussion about the renewal of tobacco permits for the upcoming year. Thorne explained that there would be two tobacco retailer trainings: one on December 3, at 6:00pm and the second on December 9, at 3:00pm. Michael Fitzpatrick, chair requested to see the renewal letter that was sent to each vendor outlining the mandatory retailer training. All members agreed that the language was clear on the renewal notice. The Board requested that Inspector Thorne review the attendance records after the first tobacco meeting, and contact the remaining establishments by phone and letter to inform them of the last retailer training of the year. The Board unanimously agreed that any establishment that did not attend the Tobacco retailer training, would not be issued a permit for the 2010 calendar
year until a hearing was held in January with the Board.
Inspector Thorne led a discussion on setting dates and times for Board of Health meeting for the 2010 Calendar year. At this time, Board members agreed that Wednesdays at 5:30 are generally good meeting days and times for them. A meeting date for Wednesday January 13, 2010 at 5:30PM was set. Thorne explained that Director Connolly would put together a list of potential meeting dates for 2010 and distribute that at the next meeting.
Inspector Thorne reported to the board the following restaurant updates: Brigham’s at 46 Mill Street has been closed indefinitely. The new Buona Vita will be opening within the next few weeks and the new establishment at 1060 Mass Ave is still undergoing renovations. Additionally, Thorne informed the Board that this office has received a letter from the attorney representing Sabatino’s Italian Kitchen. The letter stated that Sabatino’s has filed a motion to amend its original complaint in superior court in regards to the outcome of the Board of Health hearing held on November 4, 2009. Thorne indicated that based on this motion it appears that the Establishment will not be complying with the Board’s Order and so the Board would have to make a decision on its next steps, should this
establishment not comply. Michael Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Board, made a motion to move into Executive Session to discuss this matter, Marie Walsh-Condon seconded this motion, and Greg Leonardes voted in favor.
Board went into Executive Session at 6:15pm.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:45pm.
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