The Board of Health’s meeting prominently featured the suspension of a local restaurant’s food license due to multiple violations. The establishment faced an emergency closure following an inspection on October 9th and a reinspection on October 15th, which revealed six critical violations related to foodborne illness prevention. Violations included unsanitized food contact surfaces and improper employee behavior in food preparation areas. Over the past five months, the establishment had undergone 11 inspections, consistently failing to correct cited issues, despite attempted enforcement of compliance through staff changes and corrective actions.

The Board mandated the hiring of an external consultant, Mojan Solutions, to provide training on food safety practices, though subsequent mock inspections continued to uncover similar violations. A particularly concerning incident involved an employee handling raw chicken and then ready-to-eat rice without changing gloves, heightening risks of cross-contamination. The Board emphasized the need for a knowledgeable individual in charge to ensure food safety compliance and considered the suspension necessary to protect public health.

On another front, the Board approved Amherst College’s proposal to install 141 geothermal wells as part of a broader initiative to reduce the campus’s fossil fuel dependency. Chris Tate, a capital project manager with the college, explained that the college would enhance water production efficiency by transitioning from air hammer to mud rotary drilling methods. This change aims to address previous issues with water disposal from test wells. The Board expressed support for the project’s environmental goals and safety considerations, unanimously approving the well installation.

In tobacco regulation discussions, the Board finalized revisions that included removing an employee age restriction for selling tobacco, aligning local cigar pricing with state minimums, and simplifying the definition of government-issued IDs. The Board plans to match the state’s 30-day permit renewal grace period and confirmed a mandatory hearing after four violations, consistent with state standards. Following deliberations, the Board approved the revised regulations for public comment.

The meeting also covered the approval of a water supply certificate for a well on Henry Street. The Board reviewed the applicant’s submitted laboratory testing results and confirmed compliance with local requirements. Despite slightly elevated manganese levels, the Board approved the certificate, acknowledging the installed filtration system’s effectiveness in addressing this concern.

In additional business, the Board discussed body art regulations, particularly the requirement for an anatomy and physiology course. It was noted that a piercer from Northampton sought a license in Amherst but did not meet this requirement. The Board considered making temporary allowances while exploring alternative course options.

Updates on local health initiatives included plans for COVID-19 and flu clinics in collaboration with the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services, with the first clinic scheduled for October 21st. The Board also noted that mosquito surveillance efforts revealed no local cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) or West Nile virus this season. Lastly, the Board addressed staffing changes and agreed to adjust future meeting schedules to better accommodate members.