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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-02-02Howard Disposal Fitz's Disposal City Sanatation Fred Miller & Sons Allstate Disposal James A. Freaney Sullivan Trucking Co. Food Establishment Permits Bamboo Hut Brigham's, Inc. Suburbanite Cesspool Joseph App Co. Herman Theising Vernon T. Aall Electric Sewer Co. John Brucchi _ 6 Service The Health Officer's report was discussed and Mr. Heustis was instructed to check with Mr. Davis at 314 Concord Avenue to find out what his plans were to correct an overflowing septic system on his property. Also to check the Food Establishment, Countryside Fish & Chips to see if any improvements can be made. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M. BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING FEBRUARY 2, 1968 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Friday, February 2, 1968 at 7:30 P.M. in the Selectmen's Room of the Town Office Building. Members present were Dr. William Cosgrove, Acting Chairman, Dr. Charles Colburn, and Robert C. Heustis, Director of Public Health. read. The minutes of the January 5, 1968 Meeting were approved as The reports from the Reilly Laboratories on the Cumberland MILK Farms store milk were checked by the Board. COUNTS Mr. Heustis explained that the Reilly Laboratories was checking the products in the two Lexington stores on a quality control basis. He pointed out, that both of the reports were done on the 8th of January, one at the Lowell Street store, the other at the Massachusetts Avenue store, and if the Board noted the heavy cream plate count of 800,000 and coli count of 620 from samples taken at the Massachusetts Avenue store were very high but the samples taken the same day from the Lowell Street store were very good. The reports on both stores dated January 23, 1968 were very satisfactory. These reports would indicate that the handling at the store needed improvement, either the manager at the Massachusetts Avenue Store is not rotating his stock properly or the refrigeration is not adequate. Dr. Cosgrove asked if after these tests were made and the cause of the high counts found would there be any assurance that the milk SHERATON MOTOR INN counts would be better. Mr. Heustis said there was no assurance that things would be better because with the random sampling there was not much you could do eith the control. Also Cumberland Farms do not use a coding system so therefore it was difficult to keep track of the products once it left the plant. The reply to the letter sent to Mr. M.M. Cleveland, Quality Control Manager, for David Buttrick Co, was read by the Board. Again it was noted that the cause seemed to be improper handling after the product was delivered to the store. Mr. Cleveland did sayhe hoped the addition of more help and a change in personel would enable a closer supervision of the dairy case and a satisfactory solution to the problem. The inspection of Blue Ribbon Dairy by Dr. Colburn and Mr. Heustis was discussed and the letter written to Mr. Joseph Martines after the inspection was approved. It was reported that at the time of the inspection the water used for sterilizing the equipment in the plant was only 160 degrees and according to regulations should be at least 190 degrees. There is no question that this could be one big factor in the high milk counts. At the time of the inspection it was also suggested to Mr. Martines that a better in -plant quality control program be initiated to determine if the plant operations are producing satisfactory results. Dr. Colburn and Mr. Heustis discussed with- Dr. Cosgrove a number of violations noted on the inspection of Blue Ribbon Dairy. It was agreed that if this Dairy did not correct these violations and the samples collected did not show improvement a sampling program as stated in the milk regulations would be carried out and a hearing held. Dr. Colburn commended Mr. Heustis on his excellent perform- ance of his duties during the inspection of Blue Ribbon Dairy. The letter of complaint from a Fitchburg resident regarding the eating utensils at the Lexington Sheraton Motor Inn was discussed by the Board. Mr. Heustis reported he made an inspection the day this letter was received and found the dishes and silver were spotted with dried on detergent. The dish -washer was evidently not operating correctly. Mr. Wheeler, Manager, had all the silver- ware and dishes removed from the tables and rewashed while Mr. Heustis was there. The dish -washer has also been checked and repairs made. Dr. Colburn said he felt that a letter should be sent to tr klb4 1 1 1 169 the Sheraton Corporation stating the problems which exist in this kitchen and dining room and request a plan of correction be sub- mitted to the Board. Dr. Cosgrove said as he understood the set-up the Dunfey Corp- oration was in charge of the dinning room and kitchen and he thought possible quicker action would be taken if they were notified. Dr. Colburn said, in other words we have here a corporation within a corporation, then maybe it would be better to notify the Dunfey family of the conditions at the Lexington Sheraton Motel. I do feel, however, that someone other than just the manager there shoud be aware of the problems. Mr. Heustis said the hot water problem had been corrected and plans are in the making for an addition to the motel plus a new kitchen. The Board asked if the blue prints and plans for work had been submitted to the respective departments and had permits been issued for this work yet. Mr. Heustis said, "No, not yet". Dr. Colburn said "Plans such as that could be months in the process." Dr. Cosgrove explained that the kitchen at the Motor Inn had been a bone of contention since the Inn opened. First it was on a consession bases and the consessioner was changing all the time. Now the Sheraton Corporation had purchased the establishment and they have, as I understand it, turned the dinning room over to the Dunfey Family. Now this transaction took place over a year ago and with the reputation the Dunfey family has on the East Coast it seems to me they should be making the necessary corrections now and not waiting until a new kitchen is built. I feel we cannot tolerate this condition any longer, I suggest the Dunfey family be notified that we want things straightened out right away. Dr. Colburn added if they are going to put in a new kitchen fine but I want to see the work contracts, blue prints and a work schedule at the next meeting. Dr. Cosgrove said we have had one complaint after another about that place. Mr. Finneran spoke to them well over a year ago. I think the best thing to do is to request someone from the Dunfey family come in at our next meeting and see if we can resolve this situation without further delay. The Board instructed Mr. Heustis to write a letter to the Dunfey Corporation and request that they come into the next meeting and discuss the dinning room operation at the Sheraton Motor Inn and 170 32 JAMES STREET REGULATIONS FOOD MARKETS also if they are going to build a new kitchen then the plans etc. should be brought in also. The Board discussed the letters of complaint from a Mrs. Kuyamjian regarding the space heaters provided by the landlord in a dwelling she is renting at 32 James Street. Mr. Heustis said he had made an inspection with Donald Irwin, Building Inspector, and could find no violations to the State Sanitary Code. He did not see a copy of the lease therefore had only Mrs. Kuyamjian's word that a central heater was supposed to be installed. The owner, when contacted, said he had not installed the central heater because of the expense of installation but he did provide space heaters properly vented. Mr. Heustis said he suggested Mrs. Kuyamjian contact the Fire Department to see if this was a fire -safety problem. The Board agreed this was not a health problem. However, Dr. Colburn suggested that as we are a public service agency he thought we should adopt the policy of referring matters such as this direct to the department responsible rather than have the complainant redirect their original complaint. It was agreed that this policy would be adopted and used in the future. The new regulations governing food markets was discussed by the Board. Mr. Heustis explained that these regulations had been passed by legislature action and were now law, however, very few of the Health Officers knew of the regulations until now. He said he felt there was a great deal of confusion regard- ing some of the regulations, for instance; the law states all meat cutting rooms be kept at a 35 to 40 degree temperature; question: does that include the meat packaging room too. Mr. Heustis went on to explain that if these regulations were enforced as written more than nine -tenths of the small store would be out of business. Mr. Heustis went on to explain that although this is a State regulation and must be enforced he would like more information before issuing the permits etc. The question of wether we would have to set a fee and charge for this permit was raised. Dr. Cosgrove said he felt there were more fees than necessary put onto the small business operator and he would like to table this matter until the next meeting or until Mr. Heustis had more information on these regulations. It was agreed to table this until the next meeting. 1 1 1