001Uh, good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the February 17th Ashland Board of Health meeting to order. Um, two of our board members are remote, so any votes tonight will be a roll call vote. Um, first thing on the agenda is citizen participation. Do I have anybody for citizen participation? Okay. Um, that being said, uh, the next thing on our agenda is 21 Main Street, Unit 2011, housing code violation. Raj, can you take us through that? >> Thank you, Chief. Uh, is there anybody from 21 Main Street, please? >> Good. Uh, good evening. My name is KJ Demani. I'm the owner of uh, Yif Management and Development. We are the landlord and uh property manager for the family trust that owns the property. >> Mr. KJ, I just want to brief the board
002of what's going on, right? And then like to know, you know, from your your side, right? >> Sure. >> So board, uh this was early early Jan. We we did get a complaint from the from the occupant at 21 Main Street uh unit 2011 that they they had a non-working stove because of a fire. Uh so early Jan we was out at the at the unit verified uh with the fire department that the the there was a fire there. Uh fire chief was on site on the day of the fire and the the uh stove was tagged by the fire department. Uh based on that inspection there was like three four more violations. Uh on Jan 6 we issued the order to correct letter. Uh and it uh there were seven days that we have
003given them to to the to the YF management. Uh there is a toddler uh that lives on the property but till now we have not gone compliance with this you know this is almost uh month and a half over over that you know. So I have three citations uh for value of 100, 200 and 300 issued. The first violation was issued on Jan 6. Uh the second was uh February 2nd and the February 4th, you know. So there are three violations uh that are issued. I'm sorry the the first one is not gen 6. The gen 6 was the order to crack letter. So uh Mr. KJ, can you please tell me like why we have not gone compliance with this so far? You know, >> I would be more than happy to. I'd like
004to first start out by saying that um while we understand that we must comply with this and we as the owner of the company, I take this quite seriously, but in terms of the events that transpired, I think it's imperative that um uh I articulate that the fire that transpired in the unit was a result of negligence by the tenant. Granted, it's not here nor there. From the standpoint of coming compliant, it's our responsibility to address it. Nonetheless, the tenant was cooking a turkey, started a fire. I am not going to sit here and speak to anyone's cooking prowess, but um it was completely negligent. That was verified by our staff, our plumbers, and by an appliance technician that we have. So again, the act itself is from what we gather the responsibility and failure
005of the tenant to adequately use the stove regardless. We went ahead and ordered the um stove, a brand new stove in order to get into compliance. Unfortunately, the delivery date given the holidays are a little bit longer than we'd like. Not again, that is not, you know, an excuse. We don't feel that that is by any means something that, you know, is anyone's fault but our own. We take full responsibility for that because the nature of the stove given it that it is a gas stove and that it's going to require um gas fittings. We were required to have a uh plumber come in pull a permit in order to connect the stove. Plumber worked very quickly to pull the permit to address it. The plumber however did take a little bit longer than we
006have liked to. where we have now found the delay uh respectfully is we've had the plumber for probably I'd say 10 days now and we have repeatedly requested to have a reinspection. We're being told that we have to call the inspector between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the morning which is non-b businessiness hours for our office and it's certainly non- business hours for the plumber and then we are going to then be told when the plumber when the inspector can be there. We have a litany of emails just saying, can we just please put together a time and a place so that all parties can be involved because the plumber will probably be in the middle of a job somewhere. And again, it's not unreasonable to put in a pre-ordained date and time for
007us to physically be there. And we have multiple multiple emails indicating that we're just looking to have a reinspection and we're being told call the inspector between 7 or 8 non- business hours so that we can contact the plumber during that period of time to meet us there at some point at the discretion of the inspector. That's a little bit difficult given that we are a professional company. This is a professional plumber. if we can simply just get um the inspectional services to just give us a date and time so that we can coordinate with the plumber and make sure that um we can do that. In fact, we had an inspection I believe sometime last week. We had the plumber there. The tenant didn't let us in. So there inter there are factors here
008that are not being articulated that have delayed this both from the standpoint of the plumber standpoint of inspectional giving us a reasonable ability to schedule this. We complied with that and we still had the plumber there and we were not let in. We would assume that you know the town would have made it very clear to the tenant that we had to address this and we now have to reinspect it. So we're at this juncture, granted because of some delays that had to do with uh ordering in the beginning. We take full responsibility for that. We feel that the recent efforts on our part are not our fault and feel that we should at least be given an opportunity to coordinate this with some degree of professionalism both with our company, our business hours and
009around the coordination of a plumber who again he you know he 7 to 8:00 a.m. 7 to 9:00 a.m. those are deemed as emergency hours. We've been cited for this for the delays that are being done by you know exterior variables out here. Again, everything is our responsibility. We hold we I wouldn't be on this call if I didn't take this seriously. However, we have been put in a position where our ability to conduct a reinspection, to coordinate with the plumber, and to gain access with the town there, which we feel is slightly unreasonable for us to close the door on this. And in that time, we've received hundreds of dollars of fines, which I feel at the very least the first one, we're more than happy to accept it. But I would like the
010opportunity to at least um you know somewhere down the line here express in writing and provide all the necessary documentation to maybe get some clemency on the other fines that we received because again we can only handle so much and again we've been there. We were there with the town. We weren't let in by the tenant. The town should have intervened at that point and that's why we're here even further now that should have been closed out at least a week ago. Um, and we just want to at at the very minimum and I think we should be given the professional courtesy of just given a date and time, a window of time so that the, you know, plumber can be there, the town can be there. I just think it's unreasonable for us to
011call between 7:00 or 8 in the morning and then tell the plumber when the inspector will be there. And we have a litany of emails verifying this. >> Mr. KJ, I just want to clarify one thing, you know. So uh first thing uh I was never notified that you've been calling you know the department or >> oh we have we we we have emails we have emails >> not to me okay so if you are talking to a different department that's different >> they should have copied you you should have copied us on that email one thing other thing I want to point right now the tenant issue that they didn't give you access you should have notified us on that too I got a email half an hour back from your office regarding that
012now if you don't communicate to me. There's no way I'm going to know that that's the issue. Right? So, your office need to do a little better with the communication because if we don't know, there is nothing much I can do, right? Um >> I am uh I I am not looking to joust with this matter. We manage thousands of units across greater Boston. Um we looking to reconcile this matter. My response to that is that if your staff was there on site, I don't think there's any further room for interpretation that your department was made aware that we were not let in. I don't think we should have to be responsible to tell your to tell your staff that we were not let in because I'm going to guess that there's going to be
013a report filed that the tenant did not grant us access by your staff. But again, I'm not here to joust that. And as I'm reading these emails, I am looking uh Mr. Gupta at just I would say about a dozen emails where we've communicated this and I'm not looking to, you know, throw anybody under the bus here, but I stand by our communication. We communicate and respond to you probably, I would say in some cases a matter of minutes rather than hours and certainly not days. All I'm asking is that a very basic, very simple scheduling of this where everybody can be involved. And I would hope that we're not doing some sort of three-hour window where we have to pay a plumber by the hour to be there. I don't see why it's so
014difficult for us to just say, can we do 2 p.m. on a Friday? The tenant, whether they're there or not, they have to let us in. And again, I think that should have been something your staff should have addressed very clearly. And um once that's closed out, I fully intend on uh on fighting the fines that we were given because I think some of these uh some of these fines were given to us not only with uh the inability to really exercise our ability to coordinate properly and professionally. But again, I'm not going to sit here and joust about it. I have everything in writing. We have a lot of communication here. I don't even know if my head of maintenance, who I think might have called, Marco, are you on the on the Zoom?
015I don't know if he's on the Zoom or not, but he was supposed to be on it. Nonetheless, I don't see anything more than us sending you an email. And if there's an email that we can send to Mr. Gupta that we can also copy the board on, and I would be more than happy to forward all of these emails because I am not in the I am not in in in the in the business of, you know, providing proarications to a town and the people that run it. Um, we take this matter very seriously. It's a beautiful property. It also probably would be appropriate for to us to let you know that this is also a tenant that hasn't paid us rent and is quote unquote playing the system on us right now. But
016nonetheless, we just want to close this out. And again, I think we can all understand that when it comes to a plumber, um calling at 7 in the morning, 8 in the morning, and then saying, "We'll let you know, we're going to be there." And that is what has been told to us in writing. We will let you know and we'll be there is a little unreasonable. That's all I have to say. >> Okay. Um thank thank you for all that KJ. Um so um Raj I have a question for you Raj. The fines how many how much in fines have they been assessed? >> 600. >> How much? >> Totally 600. >> 600. Okay. What I'd like to do at this point is KJ I'd like you to forward all of the communication to
017Raj. >> Um >> No. I'd like I'd like to forward it to somebody on the board. >> Sure. Um you um what's it for for the whole board? What is a board of health? >> I also I also have one more request if I'm going to do this. >> Yeah. >> I would like to I would like to know that moving forward my building in Ashlin will not have a target on its back because the manner in which that we've been fined has been done so with impunity and without keeping any consideration to the communication that we have set forth >> that this is what I'm trying to fix right now. So let let me finish. Okay. Um, what I'd like you to do is forward the email to Raj and you can send those
018emails to the entire board of health if you do board of health at ashlandmass.com. >> Hold on. >> Um, I'm going to ask Raj >> Ashlin Mass like MASS or just ma >> Ashlin Ashlin Ashlins.com. Okay, I'm going to ask Raj tomorrow morning to meet with the inspector to have some kind of communication with you KJ so we can set up a time. Um I'm also going to ask Raj to reach out to the resident so that we can make sure that you can get access. Um, I I I hear your frustration. Um, >> under our lease under our lease agreement, if it's determined under mass law, if it's determined to be an emergency, which guessing by the fact that in the first time in 25 years that I've been owning and managing real estate,
019I've had to be put in front of a board about, you know, fines and violations and such. Okay. >> That I can enter that unit whether I want whether whether she lets us or not. >> But let's try to do this with everyone in agreement. We'll I'm going to ask Raj to contact the resident and I will have Raj contact the inspector and get back with you with some dates and times. Um, and then what I'm once we have the email, but I am going to ask my board for a vote to once we have all the emails that we we will wave these fines um with the understanding that there's been some miscommunication between multiple departments within the town. Um, so I would be I would look for a motion on that so we
020can then continue the discussion. >> I have one other question if you want. Let us let us finish our motion to get that through first. >> So moved. >> I'll second it. >> You'll second it. Okay. So I need a roll I need a roll call vote on that. Um Jay >> I. >> Maurice >> I. >> Barbara >> I. >> Dave >> I. >> And I'm an I. Okay. So we have a motion, a second, and it's been approved. So once we have those emails, we will wave those fines and we've asked our health director. We've given him some action items to deal with this. >> And one I just have one last question. >> Sure. >> What is the scheduling protocol with the board of health? >> Is there is the is the
021protocol to call us before your offices are even open >> and to let you know when we can be there? So, so us as a board, we we're an elected board. >> The health director works for the town and he he in essence reports to the town manager and us as a board. >> Okay. >> What time does So, so what time So, what time does the building department and and and the and ISD, etc. Just I would imagine that public works in general all opens at the same time. Correct. uh they uh the building office opens at 7:30 you know they start functioning at that so I and I cannot uh talk on their functioning I mean you can check with them sir one thing I want to point out I have another complaint
022in this building now I want to be very clear up in public you know that it should not be taken that we're going to another unit because of you've been called here you know I have another logged complaint at the building >> heat's been fixed heat's been fixed >> I don't know sir I did get a complaint I need to look into that Help yourself. Heat's been fixed. >> So, we didn't even talk about it, you know. So, I just want to let you know that you actually brought it up in an email the other day. >> I mean, we we I never mentioned brought it up. You brought you brought it up to me in an email the other day in almost a threatening kind of way as if you could as if to
023say you're dealing with this and now we're dealing with that. And we've already fixed that issue. So, don't say you didn't bring it up because you brought it up to me in an email the other day. >> Mr. KJ, I have a duty to do. >> I'll I'll let the I'll let the emails speak for themselves. >> Absolutely. I would like to see those emails as well, you know. So, I'll and I want the board to see those emails as well, you know. So, I we're going to go on the facts, you know. >> All right. I don't I know you guys have a lengthy agenda tonight. I appreciate you guys um voting and everything. I look forward to hearing from uh from uh the health department. And thank you guys. I appreciate it. Have
024a good night. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh, next on our agenda is an update for Chestnut Apartments. Is there anybody from Willow Bridge Management here? >> Hi. Yes, it's Stacy Level. >> Hi, Stacy. Um, so, um, who wants to go first? Raj, do you want to go first or Stacy or um, >> I guess the board asked for the update from >> Yeah. So, yeah, Stacy, do you want to just give us an update since the last meeting on what's um, happening there? >> Yeah, sure. And, um, my apologies. I tried to send you guys something to review prior to this, but I I didn't realize there was a general board of health email, so I can see if I can send it after. >> Okay. >> But with the um the three
025open cases um the first apartment 19 AO3, they're still refusing us to enter the apartment for more treatments. I believe that Raj and Brian have been in touch about that. Um 2035, Raj, you you inspected that on the 12th. Is that all set on your end? >> That's correct. So that that unit is good. >> Okay, that one's all set. And the last one is 8:37. Um the resident as well was refusing us to enter the apartment for more treatments. We did um get them to agree to let us in. Um I believe it was this week or next week for another treatment. >> Um that is that all Stacy? >> Just the three. Yes. >> So yeah, ju just uh my update to the board, right? I I had like maybe three inspections, right?
026Uh the sanitation being better, but still uh way more to go. You know, I I had seen stuff I've sent you pictures, right? Uh some are getting matter around the dumpster, right? I met Brian last week, end of last week. I guess it was Wednesday, right? Uh when we inspected the unit, uh we talked about it, right? Uh there's some some debris around the dumpster there, you know. So the definitely there is improvement but uh we have way to go you know only other thing I guess again I don't think so it's my matter uh what I was told right like uh during the last whole month one of the employees was out right so you guys have only one employee you know managing all those 206 units so I I will say you know
027>> that's incorrect that's incorrect we had one employee out we have four on site we had one employee on leave so we had three >> now there are four four employees. So, yeah, that's good, you know. So, just just my note, right, that we want to keep up the sanitation, you know. >> Um, so Stacy, thank you for that update. Seems like we're making progress there. Um, if if maybe if you could just if you notice anything happening or having issues with getting into tenants apartments, maybe if you just um email us in Raj so we know and that maybe we can offer you some assistance there. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Great. Thank Thank you, Stacy. Appreciate you coming tonight. >> Welcome. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. >> Bye. >> All right. Uh,
028next thing on the agenda is an exterior grease trap for New York pizza at one Western West Union West Union Street. Do we have anybody here for that hearing? >> I'm here. >> Okay. Um, do you want to introduce yourself? My name is Khaled Adam and I'm the owner of New York Pizza on West Union Street. >> Okay. Uh Raj, you want to >> So chief uh again you know this is a change of ownership. Uh we have previously had a external lease trap waiver at this place. You know what I have found out the neighboring two businesses uh is is attached to to the grease tab. They do have external grease tap on the property but this particular uh one Bella pizza was uh now New York pizza is not attached to it you
029know given uh given uh it's a change of ownership you know it'll be heavy burden uh at this point asking them to to hook up to the external three-step or I don't know if it is it's even feasible you know that um I am in support of uh the external three-step waiver for for the New York visa you Only thing I want to mention that uh they need to maintain and properly you know uh get the internal grease tap serviced on a regular basis you know uh to to make sure that none of the grease is going to our waters. >> We we have a company that picks up our grease on a timely manner. The grease we have a we have a drum outside of and they're going to be cleaning our grease trap
030monthly or quarterly however the town wants. >> Sure. But that that the inspector will discuss with you sir you know given how much grease will you be generating and all that looking at that you know we'll we'll we'll convey that to you. >> No problem at all. >> Okay. Thank you. >> When do you plan to open? Do you have an a rough date yet? >> So so I don't have a date yet because we I'm about to put up prep sync this week. Uh you know the uh the town inspector the plumbing inspector asked me to put up a prep sink. So, uh, I'm trying to I'm trying to tackle that this week. So, I'm hoping hoping maybe the first week, second week of March. >> Okay. Uh, well, first, welcome to Ashland. >>
031Um, so I I will entertain a motion to approve the exterior grease trap for New York pizza at one West Union Street. >> Thank you, sir. >> So moved. Second. >> Okay. And we need a roll call vote. Dave, >> I. >> Jay, >> I. >> Um, Barbara, >> I. Maurice >> I >> and I'm an I. Um that is all set, sir. And um Lori, you'll get in touch with him with his waiver. Okay. Thank you for coming tonight. >> Appreciate you. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh next thing on our agenda is an external grease trap waiver for Killer Pizza at 9 Home. Do we have anybody on for that? >> Yes, I'm here. >> Can you introduce yourself? Yes, I'm David Barrow, owner of Killa Pizza 9 Homer F. >> Okay, Raj, >>
032thank you, Chief. Again, you know, change of ownership here. >> David, >> yeah, thank you, David. Again, board, you know, uh same same situation here, you know, a change of ownership. Uh I I'm not even sure if they they have uh external preap in this building you know or anything around. So again I'll support the external bea waiver given it was given to the previous owner you know uh >> and when do you plan to open? >> Uh I'm trying to open as soon as possible. We we have uh scheduled a final building inspection with Doug Scott. I'm trying to see if he can come by earlier uh with our contractor trying to get a hold of him, but he has his schedule for March 5th and after we get that final building inspection, we
033can get you guys in here to do a an inspection so we can open it. So, I'm going to try to have my contractor get a hold of him so we can try to do it sooner. But I am, you know, planning to do a grand opening and ribbon cutting, but I'm just waiting for the building department for that final build inspection. >> Okay. So, I will entertain a motion for an external grease trap waiver for Killer Pizza at 9 Homer A. >> So moved. Second. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Dave >> I. >> Jay >> I. >> Barbara >> I. >> Maurice >> I. >> And I'm an I. Uh sir, you're all set and uh we will get that waiver over to you. >> Thank you so much, guys. Have a great >>
034Thank you for attending. >> Yep. >> All right. Next thing on our agenda is theraton continued discussion. I'm going to leave that up to you, Jay. >> All right. Thank you. I think um the first question I just asked the board is did is it did everybody get the material that Laura had sent out um that I sent to her in January? It's just a lot of information about uh what the issue is, what the product is. Um and I just want to make sure that we're as efficient as possible with this discussion. So Dave and Ed, you guys are pretty much And then Maurice and Barbara, do you need any background information about this or can I just proceed with the conversation that I had with um Jack Lewis and and kind of move
035forward? I'm happy to to give you a a briefing on the product too. >> I am very well informed. >> Okay. And Barbara, >> no, you can go ahead with the information you have. >> Okay. Good. So, um so I one of the action items from the last time we were sitting here was that I would go um speak to Jack Lewis just to find out more about what the current legislation was in Massachusetts. and um as we had um determined that there were several bills kind of moving their way way through the state um and so he brought me up to speed. We didn't talk about all of them. Um we focused on one um which he said was the furthest along in the process. Um so he was aware of all this and
036this is House Bill 4394 which has um kind of an interesting history to it. So, it used to be it originally was House Bill 1631 um which was a total ban onratom products and I I forget who sponsored it. I I don't have the name. It might have been somebody on the Southshore, but um Jack told me that it went to House Ways and Means or it went to committee and it was rewritten um to be more of a regulation than a ban. And so um in the s in the sense that we had talked about previously which was to regulate crowatum products to remove uh or to um ban synthetic products or concentrated 7 hydroxy metroine products um to ban analoges um and I forget the exact wording but basically it was to put
037on you know age restrictions um and things like that. Um, so he told, and I can go into a little bit more detail because I kind of uh sketched out a straw man for what maybe a regulation might look like in Ashton if we were to go that route. But he said that this is the furthest along. I looked into it a bit more and it looks like that the next hearing for this is scheduled for March 26, 2026. Um, and again, this is a regulation. I think that the state is I get the impression that they're taking it seriously. I'm not sure what the status is of the other bills that are in the process. So, um, what I had done, um, given that Maurice, you had a, I, I think the way we
038left it the last time we're actually sitting here at the end of the meeting, if I remember correctly, was my feeling was, um, we're not really seeing any of these seven hydroxy metroine concentrated products in Ashland. It didn't really seem like it was an issue. I felt as though we should maybe consider just waiting for the state to act on it. And Maurice, I think you rightfully said, well, um, you know, why wait when maybe we should be proactive? Why wait for for a problem? And I think that, um, Raj, when you had mentioned that one of the establishments that was selling a matum product was asked to stop selling that product based on the food code, which you have, you know, every authority to do. I think that isn't, you know, a bad problem,
039but um if we had some regulation, you know, that might not have had to happen. And so what I went ahead and did was I looked at House Bill 4394. I looked at the um the model of theratom consumer protection act um and some other ordinances um plural from places like I think it was North Attalboro or Attalboro and then one that I think was from South Hadley from an email that we had received prior to this meeting. um and then at some other sources and I can't remember but I basically took all of those things and put them together and drafted what perhaps a regulation might look like in um Ashland and again this is regulating catam products um it's not a ban onratom and then what I did was um and again I'm
040not advocating for this I'm just putting it out there is maybe something to discuss if we wanted to regulate it this is one thing that we could do and it would be aligned with that house bill that I'm talking about Um I then I thought okay maybe this is going to confuse everybody because you know where is this coming from last minute. So I put together a summary sheet that I sent out to Laura. She emailed to everybody and basically it just provides a little of the rationale for this and um I think more importantly it outlines the key provisions in this draft or straw man regulation which would be something like this. Uh you've got to be age 21. You've got to have a photo ID. So just at the the same way we
041handle tobacco products labeling would be required of the product um the ingredients serving sizes limits on 7 hydroxy metroynine and that would be um 7% and that number comes not only from the consumer protection act but it seems to be in that 2% a number that scientists that are studying this and have testified at um in front of congress um health and human services they seem to focus on um a 2% limit or 1 milligram per serving. Um so that seems to be the what's considered reasonable. So there's a limit on how how much of the seven hydroxy product can be in theratom product. Um it would ban like I said alkyoids, anything extracted, any adulterance in the product, um any synthetics, child resistant packaging, um behind the counter um have it situated behind the
042counter, offered behind the counter. There'd be, you know, we could decide on what the penalties might be um enforced by Ashton's uh Board of Health um according to Department of Public Health standards at state DPH standards. Um and so I I think that these would be considered by a lot of people fairly reasonable and again I think most importantly is that they would be aligned with that House bill that we talked about. So, I know that that was lot. If anybody has any questions or comments, um, or even if you want me to back up a little bit, I I can do that, too. >> Have you opened a public comment? >> Nope, we are not. >> Okay. Uh Jay, one question I had was around the uh uh fourth clause in the in section
0439 for enforcement, which is the standards for testing uh Kraton products. So a lot of the regulations um in this draft are you know around sensible things like establishing sort of a a number for both um like an acceptable level um for the seven hydroxy especially which is which is appears to be the the most common um and dangerous uh you know uh ingredient in these sorts of products. But and and there's there's plenty of uh language around the labeling requirement, which of course um is important. But I guess what I'm trying to uh figure out is like what is the recourse if somebody mislabels something um and and says that there's you know that they have less than say you know whatever 2% or or so forth of the seven hydroxy but they actually
044have more. like this is a common problem with nutritional supplements and so forth and I don't know whether the town has the resources to >> that was actually that's actually in here um um I saw that >> there's there's a good faith defense clause um but you're asking I think >> how would it be tested right >> right >> like so so so yes it's entirely possible that a merchant might believe that the product that they're selling is, you know, accurately and legitimately labeled, but it still may be mislabeled. >> Correct. >> Um, so there so the the crowd products that I've seen, at least the ones available on the internet, um, many of them now are are contracting out the analysis to third parties. And so they're doing um you know whatever if it's
045HLC or whatever they're they're doing um to to look at concentrations um and so I think that they're getting a certification that way and I mean to me that's the best you can do and then that goes somehow on the product either as a stamp. I I don't know if you know we're talking about food products now. I don't I mean at that point right so I don't know if you know more about Raj what is required. So Dr. J say again you know u this is my understanding according to the food code right you cannot add it to the food it's similar to you know anything like cannabis or this this we have dealt in before right it can be cannot be additive to the food so any product that's coming right it should
046be in different form if you're going to be allowed you know if if I don't think so that we can surpass or overpass what what the food court dictates and you have people sell anything in food. >> I don't think I don't think that's the case because the these are all would all be considered food products and there's definition of food as this isn't a food product just like you know you know cannabis or CBD would be in a gummy for example. >> Do you know what I mean? So I think that that what this does is it it allows coverage for it as to be in the food product >> but >> because how else are you going to take it >> Dr. J like you know again then that that we need to
047check you know because the food court being very strict of anything that can be added right so now the gummies and all that that you know earlier it was coming >> that was coming all out of state right u like in Massachusetts that's not allowed you know uh we we need to reook uh like if this can be an additive to the food, you know, so that again that the products we saw, right, that we asked the vendor to take it, you know, off the shelves, right? That that was added to the food because it's it was in a drink form, right? >> So that we definitely need to do we we all together as a board need to look, right? Yeah. >> If Massachusetts uh or I to my understanding it's prohibited in food
048it anything, right? for for that matter cannabis or anything is not allowed to be sold as an additive to the food product. >> So it for cannabis as an example are the CBD gummies or cannabis gum uh like THC gummies are those not considered food? >> So that's not allowed sir you know >> what it's not allowed or it's not considered food. >> Yeah. If it is in food right then then it's not allowed. The sale of it is not allowed. That's my understanding separate. So, so the gum the gummy that you purchase is not considered food. >> It is food, >> but it's not allowed, >> but it's happening. >> That's 100% agree with you. But >> okay, >> that's happening. You know, that it's coming out of state. You again not allowed in
049Massachusetts, you know. So, >> but I'm talking about the gummies that are sold at your local uh recreational cannabis shop. >> No, I'm I'm not sure. Right. Like if uh because we don't have a cannabis shop here, you know, like there might be in adults use stores it allows, right? That might be a factor where with the other cities and towns that have allowed cannabis, right? >> That's allowed, you know, in in those stores, right? >> Yeah. >> But not generally allowed as an additive to the food, you know, uh that at least I know. And then we can check more into this, you Yeah, I think we should check because if if it's a state regulation um that this just isn't possible, then I don't understand how that House bill would be able to
050go forward, >> right? >> Um because at the end of the day, you've got to consume the product. And so if you're if it's leaves and it's being consumed as a tea, then technically that's a food, right? >> Like there'd be no way to get it into the system. >> True. And again, that that's the debate, right? again a lot of lot of stuff that been happening till now right or you know even even with cannabis or TSC right everything is coming in in in in form of the food and like maybe that's the reason that the court doesn't allow it you know so that it is just you know like anybody can sell that then you know like >> and I have read a lot about it I I've seen other health department taking
051enforcement on that right uh even with the gummies and all that you know so >> yeah you mean THC goes, >> right? So, >> and in that House bill, is that good faith defense for the retailers protecting them that they're going to rely on the manufacturers's representation? >> Uh, I don't know if it I don't think it was in that house bill. I think I grabbed it from >> Okay. >> I actually it it might be, but I I'm sorry. I don't I don't remember. >> But but again, if that's something we should look at that also, make sure we should look at that also. Yeah. Well, and along those lines, I guess what I was getting at is like, so let's say for example that that the both the consumer and the retailer is
052being deceived and that the manufacturer is selling something that's got a higher level of seven hydroxy, you know, like what is uh first of all, how does that get determined? Like how do you I mean, hopefully it's not because somebody had it and had a bad reaction to it, but that might be the way that you figure it out or at least the first clue. And then like you know what's the recourse in that case? Do you just work with the the retailer and say you know stop selling this stuff? Um because it I mean that that's I think where it starts to get a little bit >> I I would assume that I would assume that if there's evidence that the product isn't what uh that the labeling is wrong that based on this
053we can go in and there there would be repercussions >> and then there's probably some kind of reporting mechanism to the state. >> Well that's yeah and that's that's the part that I'm also kind of asking about is like how does that information get disseminated so that other retailers don't make the same mistake. I think we I think if we discovered that, we'd have to report to the state. >> Yeah. >> Um and let the state take action from there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> But I I I think that that is important for all of us to understand, not even not just for this product, but for any products because I'm still kind of confused. I mean, you know, we we can imagine, you know, I don't know if melatonin is one of like
054melatonin gummies, for example, you know, cannot be in a food. Um, it's in a gummy it's sold at CVS. Like I I I just I can imagine that there are several examples that, you know, according to that definition wouldn't wouldn't be these products some products wouldn't be allowed. So to better I' I'd like to better understand that too, >> Dr. Like that's what I have learned you know again like it'll be uncontrollable you know if this is allowed in food food you know like >> you know so how do how do we how do we regulate it you know or how do we keep it off the hands of the kids right now that was a problem with the gummies earlier with TSC now they've been instances right that kids have consumed it not knowing
055what's in it you know so right like that those gummies like if up in the counter and kids buy it or even if they don't buy it somebody have it and they end up consuming it you know so I guess that's one strong thing about the food part of it but again we need to look more into >> yeah yeah if you could if you could maybe >> provide us with something that that gives us some clarity around that again I think even beyond this issue that's helpful >> absolutely yes so I think at this point our next step is to see what happens on March 6th >> I think it's 20 you mean for for that next hearing >> 26. I can follow up with uh with Representative Lewis and just Barbara and Baurice,
056do you want to add anything? We can't see you, but I see your names. >> Um yeah, I just wanted to say um thank you for sending all that information along and that draft of what something could look like for regulation in Ashland. I think it looked pretty good. Um I do think it's important that we um ban if we can or or restrict at least um the seven hydroxy metrogenine if we can. Um in terms of the the natural um we can talk about that obviously but um I think it's important that we distinguish between the two of them. So in your opinion, Maurice, it's worth following through with some kind of regulation that at least prohibits you covers the synthetics or the analoges of uh these the alkyoids in crowd. So what? >>
057Yeah. My my personal feeling is we definitely should at least for that. >> Yep. >> All right. So we'll wait at this point. We're going to wait for the next hearing to happen. >> I I Yeah. I mean, I I would be in favor of that. You know, just kind of threw this out there for people to think about, >> but you know, it's it's and and Barbara, did you have anything to add? >> No, I just wanted to um mirror what Maurice said and um I think it's it's worth the wait, >> right? >> Okay. So, and so we'll also plan to keep this on future agendas to continue our discussion. >> Yep, that sounds good. Is the material that you sent around is that available um uh to the public or through the
058meeting minutes or anything like that? >> Right. This this can be part of the minutes. >> This But are you talking about the other the other stuff? >> Um but I but when we do if we're going to put this on um it should be draft. We should label it as a draft. >> Okay. >> Um >> Laura, are you able to do that? >> Do a watermark. Yeah. >> Yeah. Watermark draft. um that way people can view um this proposal and you know and um for the public you know if if there's something in there that you see that we should add change you know please we would um we would like your comments um so that they can be part of our next discussion also >> particularly for Ashlin residents. >> Yes absolutely
059yes we would we would definitely entertain your comments and your feedback on this proposed draft. So you have a public hearing. >> Not a hearing yet, but but if people want to comment and then you can bring that we can you can present those to us at our next meeting. >> Yeah. And and you know apologies for not taking comments right now. We we have um citizen participation at the beginning of each of our meetings. That would be you know the time to chime in on that. So um but not on the regular agenda. And to to your question, Dave, for for the previous material that I added, like some of the videos and stuff like that, that just gives kind of the signs, >> we can put it all in one place >> and
060would that be available? Is that your question to >> Yeah. And I think it's a good idea both in terms of the open meeting law requirement since we did discuss it, but also I think if the public is looking to get educated on it, those were those were pretty good resources. I think they were accessible for for I think most people. >> And Laura, you have both of these that you can post for us. Perfect. Yep. So, um >> Okay, >> we'll get that out on our website for people to view and make comments. >> All right. Great. Thank you everyone. Uh next thing on our agenda is um >> Oh, Dave Kinsman, you're next. Discussion on uh decisions at every turn. >> Uh yes. So, the first meeting um that I attended as the
061liaison from the board of health was also the first meeting this year which took place on uh January 21st. um was attended both by Raj, myself, um Kelly Sor, the principal of the Ashlin High School, and and a number of other people, including um the new uh the new um point person, uh Berlin Awatch. Um so, it was a lengthy agenda. Uh some things that that were included were um discussion of of the youth programming that's mostly focused around the schools. Um there's a a uh lunch engagement uh where you know there's a there's basically a table open uh during high school lunch for kids to uh get information. Um there was some discussion about how uh it's probably appropriate and perhaps even effective to to certainly effective I think to to uh have something
062similar going on at the middle school and that applies to some of the other programs as well. So uh there was discussion and I think some action items around that. Um there was uh so Berlin uh discussed the youth prevention council um that has four student members and uh working with them to uh come up with projects and and uh material that that can uh be used to you know get information to the students. uh as well as working with some of the clubs at the high school um to do the same thing. Uh there was also a section on um mostly around sort of training and building capacity within uh the group and um and then there was also um some I'm just trying to figure out how to characterize this um methods to
063um get information out to the parents as Well, since they're sort of a key part of that problem. So, a lot of these were um you know discuss brainstorming amongst the groups uh amongst the group that was present to to come up with some new ideas, new approaches to um strengthen those sorts of uh programs. And then finally, let's see. As I said, it was kind of a lengthy meeting, so I won't hit on everything. Um, but there was some talk about uh the sticker shock campaign, which I guess met with sort of limited success last year and some things that would that could be used to to uh strengthen that. That's a program working with the Ashlin police and local retailers to try to um both educate and sort of control the access of
064high schoolers to alcohol around the prom season. Um and um then you know some other uh messaging campaigns that are going on within the high school as well um and effective ways to sort of reach out to to high schoolers and and uh change some of the norms uh in terms of you know social behaviors and and that kind of thing. Um so the next meeting is March 18th. Um and prior to that just a minute there is a um there is a ad hoc meeting um uh talk they hear you which is scheduled for February 25th um at 4 o'clock. So, I'll be attending that as well. >> Thank you. Any questions for Dave? Anybody? >> I have a question. Dave, did they talk about the grant? >> I don't think so. Uh, not
065specifically. >> Grant that's funding the right position. >> Yeah. No, it wasn't specifically uh talked about, but um >> curious. Not that I don't remember. And I don't Yeah. No, not this. Not this meeting. Okay, >> Maurice Barbara, any questions? >> No. >> Uh, no. All set. Thank you. >> No. Thank you. >> Great. All right. Uh, next thing on our agenda is the health director's report. >> Thank you, Chief. Uh, so first with our food establishments, uh, Joani 67, that's the, uh, ice cream place we have on Union, right? Uh, so that been closed for some time now. We did had an application from the new owner. Uh we almost done the review of it. Uh only thing we are waiting is uh in more information on the new hood they're trying to put
066over over the pizza oven they're going to be installing. So that's almost there. Killer's Pizza, we did had our pre-opening inspection. They we didn't had any issues there. Hopefully now the owner was here in front of the board uh tonight. And then New York pizza previously Bella Pisa we did had an inspection before the current owner took over and it was a bad bad inspection. So he's actually currently renovating it you know as he mentioned and then hopefully we have him back soon. Uh with connect church uh this one is uh pending from new year you know they they had their permit laps because they didn't apply on time. I guess we still missing one certification from them. Laura that's correct. So we have not granted them permits so far for this year. Uh that's
067with the connect church. We'll be hosting our second stop the bleed training snap and uh she did the first training and she'll be doing the second one as on March 18th from 6:00 to 8. Then we are also planning uh a bigger training uh with our MRC unit uh Mr. Faric who's who's the main coordinator for for our whole unit the middle folk uh he and me and planning a bigger training uh on on the shelters right last year the town we updated our shelter plan now u this training will going to be more for 10 towns uh earlier we was looking at our community center the space might be a little smaller now they're looking at a space in nic where will be looking or they'll be training us you know multiple departments almost
068every other department in the town you know who in case we have to shut up a shelter in three three different scenarios right like shelter just if it is cold or hot day we have to shut up a shelter or then if it is a bigger event you know if we have to set up a shelter overnight you know how how do we deal with that so that's what we are planning right now I did also attend uh the MOS Boston Marathon meeting on Jan 30th with the PD and other town departments, you know, with the with the course planning team. And then again, I'll request the board, you know, if you can be present for for the marathon day for for our shelters, you >> wanted to talk to you about that. I'm going
069to be in New York. >> This will be the first time in a while that >> maybe somebody else too. >> Sure. >> But we can talk about that. >> Thank you, sir. And >> we'll fill it in. >> Whichever board member can be present, you know. uh I guess most of you have done it you know so please let me know uh with the citizens academy this will be my third citizens academy will be presenting in front of the citizens academy on March uh 12th and then with our tobacco educational visits uh tobacco control manager or the team uh conducted uh the training for all the 17 vendors in town uh with the housing cases 49 Cherry Street this this is the case we we picked in August 2025. We finally have got compliance
070with it. Uh so I did get a did a pest control report uh end of last week. We did an inspection couple of weeks back with the building fire and myself. Um there were a couple of items from our site still missing that they have corrected since but the building department have given them a list of things to do to bring the building into compliance, you know. So they'll be looking at that side, you know. So I guess uh the management team have addressed a couple of them you know or few of them already but uh that was a list I can forward it to the board in case anybody's interested. Uh 321 Land Farm Road this is another housing case we picked up uh uh last week that we have issued an order to
071crack letter Friday with our disease investigation. Uh we have one TV case that we was working from the last meeting. We did investigate one Salmonella case that came to us from Framingham and that the case was referred to us from Framingham. They was investigating somebody sick there with Salmonella. So we have to look into one of our vendors food vendors and today we did pick up another TV case that we are looking into and I'm open for any questions for the board. Now >> anybody have any questions for Raj? Uh, not a question, but just to follow up on the marathon. Um, yeah, I'm going to be in New York, but if um anyone from the board can do it, it's basically it's pretty simple. So, I I don't know. I know that Barbara has
072volunteered. Have you volunteered for them? >> I don't think I have yet. So, >> okay. It's the year. >> So, I usually sit at the um high school, which is, you know, a emergency evacuation site. A lot of people go down and they watch the marathon and they just make sure that they can get back to the high school and they go in and check. It's pretty easy. I bring homework. So, um, you got to be down there at six o'clock and they typically wrap up by 1:00 at the latest. So, it's not, you know, it's pretty simple. So, I'm not saying asking you. Um, but if there's anybody um on the board that would consider doing that on Marathon Monday, that would be really helpful. >> Yeah. This will be the first year in
073a while we don't have like a family vacation planned because we're off the school schedule for now. >> Wonderful. And just just to update, right, we do set up two shelters, you know, one at the middle school, one at the high school, right? So, usually I I take at one one of the shelters, one board member can be at the other shelter and then we usually request four to six uh members of the American Red Cross. You know, basically our job is to host the person till help arrives. If somebody got injured, dehydrated or anything along the course, right, we host them till more more help arrives. So >> yeah, and I've never seen any action or emergencies up at the high school end of things. So >> that's what you know in last four
074or five I have done, we we had like maybe two or three individuals we have helped you. So but that's what we don't want to >> have the more of it you know. So >> thank you. >> I'm sure the weather plays a big role which actually leads to my next question. And so the shelter training it sounded like so and you can correct me if I'm wrong that the shelters that that uh you're talking about are both sort of like extreme hot or cold uh weather shelters but also extreme weather events or did I get >> anything you know of a bigger nature right so we do open shelter right now also usually in the summer season right when when temperature goes above 1992 right so we have uh shelter at the community center
075as well as the library, right? Where we we during the business hours, right? Anybody can go there. We provide water, you know, all that good stuff, right? So, >> but now this training is more like, you know, supposedingly in case of a bigger hazard, right? We lost power in the whole town, you know, we have to open up a shelter. So, >> we have in our middle school as well in the high school, right? These are the two places that we will be opening up a shelter in case we have to. Right. So, there'll be training around, you know, what do we do, >> Right. Like nowadays, right, there's a lot going on with the pets, you know, or even, you know, who can we let in in the shelter? No. Though there is no
076restrictions, but at the same time, we have to watch, you know, somebody have a criminal background of stuff of that nature, right? So, this this will be more around how do we manage that or how do we manage conflict at a shelter, you know, right? >> All right. People with pets again, right? Or people with special needs, you know? I guess recently a hospital got I guess two weeks back a hospital was shut down you know like >> Oh right yeah yeah yeah Marboro right? >> Yes. So something of that nature if the town have to host right like even so I guess we are dividing into three parts you know temporary shelters right overnight shelter or something bigger like of bigger displacement you know how do we navigate through right like now if you
077put put it up at one of our schools the school won't be able to open you know right >> so stuff like that you know how do how do we how do we go out so >> this is our MRC unit the middle folk you know they are they are planning it you know >> we're trying to hold it at a community center right but our capacity is around 60 70 you know uh people we can host so there might be because of 10 communities right we'll be will be invited to this training u then they're looking for a bigger space you know so this is where we are planning process you know possibly in end of uh March or maybe April we'll be we'll be posting that training >> got um and the stop
078the bleed training Who is that open to? >> Well, it's open to our MRC volunteers but like if any board member want to do you know we'll be open to do that you know and then at the same note I want to say that I mean I'm going to send some training opportunities for the board now under the SAP you know 2.0 Oh right uh there are certain trainings uh that are recommended for the board members you know uh there are some required for us right like as as health inspectors or you know as the agents to the board but there's some recommended for for the even even for the board members and I have some resources uh to get the those trainings paid for for our board. with our uh shared services we have
079some funds we have allocated for for our boards you know if they want to attend that trainings and one of the trainings uh Dr. is about MAHB, you know, >> training around that. So, I'm going to send that to the board. Uh, but if anybody's interested, please reach out to me or enroll, you know, and then let us know and then we'll get that taken care >> Maurice. Any questions? >> No. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, next thing on our agenda is the consent agenda. review and approve the fiscal year 26 year-to- date budget reports and the meeting minutes from January 20th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. And we need a roll call vote. Maurice >> I. >> Barbara >> I. >> Jay >> I. >> Dave
080>> I. >> And I'm an I. That's approved. Laura. >> Uh future agenda items. Um, we have nothing here. So, our next scheduled meeting is March 3rd, 2026. >> Again, will be in person and hybrid available also. >> Okay. >> Um, so I do need a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make the motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Oh, I guess we can do an all in favor on that one. >> I Great. Thanks everybody. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> You