One of the central discussions revolved around recurring compliance issues at Ye Village restaurant, which faced significant violations during a recent inspection. The inspection report highlighted several critical health concerns, including obstructed handwashing facilities, risks of cross-contamination due to improper food storage, and cooks not using effective hair restraints. The board deliberated on the restaurant’s failure to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public health standards. A board member noted the lack of progress, stating, “this doesn’t sound like a hardship to me,” indicating that the establishment should have resolved these problems by now.

The board granted Ye Village a 30-day period to rectify all compliance failures, with the understanding that failure to do so would necessitate further review and potential consequences. The urgency of ensuring compliance was made clear, with the board stressing, “we want this to get handled and fixed once and for all.” In addition to the operational changes required at the restaurant, the board acknowledged the financial implications of repeated inspections, emphasizing the importance of compliance to avoid additional costs.

Simultaneously, the board addressed the proposed Starbucks on Main Street. The Starbucks would occupy the space formerly held by Santander Bank in the Harbor Shopping Mall. As part of the transition from a bank to a restaurant, the board reviewed a proposal for a 1500-gallon grease trap installation. This installation is critical due to the restaurant’s potential to generate grease waste. The board conditionally approved the grease trap installation, contingent upon finalizing the restaurant’s seating capacity, anticipated to be 66 seats.

Additionally, the board discussed the ongoing changes to the town’s recycling program. The proposal introduced a flat fee of $5 per day for access to the recycling center, allowing unlimited visits within a single day. This fee structure aimed to manage the potential influx of recyclables, particularly from non-residents, and ensure efficient operations. Concerns were raised regarding the feasibility of allowing out-of-town residents to use the service for free, noting that enforcing a fee would require verifying residency, complicating center operations.

A potential municipal agreement with the town of Lunenburg was considered, proposing a fee of approximately $1,500 for Lunenburg residents to access the recycling center. This agreement would involve issuing stickers to Lunenburg residents to confirm their eligibility. However, the board noted that further information from Shaw, the waste management company, was needed to determine the financial implications of the proposed changes.

The board also reviewed residential and trash updates, noting progress at two properties, including one on South Harbor Road, which had a dumpster on site and had cleaned its front yard. However, another property on Mason Road continued to pose challenges, with a pile of trash remaining despite previous warnings. The board agreed to make one final outreach attempt to the homeowner before considering further enforcement actions, including the possibility of housing court.

In the realm of routine matters, the board addressed financial concerns, including an encumbered bill from last June and an invoice from Ado Waste for needle kiosk disposal, amounting to $150 for two visits. The cost of recycling stickers was discussed, with an order of 500 stickers placed at a total expense of $273. An operational adjustment was proposed to close the office on Wednesdays temporarily, allowing staff personal time without impacting operations.