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
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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
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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
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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.
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