The meeting’s primary focus was a tobacco violation hearing involving Mobile Gas on Main Street. The violation occurred when a female clerk sold a disposable vape device to a 17-year-old on March 9th without verifying the buyer’s age. Despite the store having no prior violations in the last three years, the incident led to a $1,000 fine and a three-day suspension of tobacco sales. The manager, Rad Abd, explained that new protocols had been implemented, including ID scanning systems and employee training, to prevent future violations. He emphasized the financial impact of the suspension, noting that tobacco sales constituted over 65% of the store’s revenue, especially critical during a slow winter season.

Board members raised questions about the new compliance measures, stressing the importance of maintaining rigorous ID checks, particularly for individuals born after January 2004. The manager assured the board of ongoing training efforts, conducted personally, to reinforce age verification protocols. There was a suggestion from a board member to implement formal training records with signed acknowledgments from employees, which the manager agreed to create. The board weighed the necessity of enforcing regulations against the potential financial hardship imposed on the business, ultimately deciding on the suspension and fine to uphold compliance standards.

Another topic was the ongoing housing violations on Main Street. The board had previously inspected the property in December, identifying multiple violations. Despite a follow-up inspection in April, several issues, including window, wall, and floor problems, remained unresolved. The property owner, Mr. Babau, requested an extension to address these violations, citing medical issues affecting him and his worker as reasons for the delay. The board expressed concern over the delays, noting that four months should have been sufficient to rectify the issues. A motion was made to grant an extension until April 30th, with an inspection scheduled for May 1st, after which daily fines would be imposed if violations persisted.

Mary C., the tenant of 1051 Main Street, shared her perspective, expressing confusion and frustration over the repairs timeline and lack of communication from her landlord. She detailed incidents where she felt unsafe during repairs and was not adequately notified about work being done in her home. The board acknowledged her concerns and emphasized the need for clear communication between the property owner and tenant, urging both parties to cooperate to resolve the issues promptly.

The meeting also addressed various public comments, including a resident’s challenges in obtaining medical certification to prevent utility shut-offs due to serious illness, citing Massachusetts General Law. The resident urged the board to address her situation.

Additionally, a resident voiced frustration over the board’s perceived inaction regarding chemical spills affecting her property, which she claimed damaged her power wheelchair.

The board also discussed an update on the rodent program, reporting 81 rodent captures so far in the year, correlating with increased activity due to warmer weather. The logistics of participating in the April town meeting and updates from the monthly health report were reviewed. This included routine inspections, a foodborne illness complaint resolution, and various public health initiatives, such as upcoming blood pressure screenings and awareness programs for Parkinson’s disease and National Autism Acceptance Month.

The Dana Farber mammography van’s upcoming visit, hands-only CPR classes, and plans for the Pleasant Street Senior Center’s annual health fair were also highlighted. Collaborations with the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support for a community Narcan training session and ongoing takeback programs for unused medical supplies and medications were discussed.