Adams Board of Health To Revisit Smoking Regulations
 The Board of Health set a workshop day to continue discussing tobacco regulations. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health will once again look to craft tobacco restrictions after previous progress was halted because of the loss of a member.
The board had been looking into various tobacco bylaws — such as banning the sale of blunt wraps, the opening of hookah bars, the sale of tobacco products at pharmacies and requiring signage for tobacco dealers.
The board also hopes to include smoking bans on playgrounds, beaches, athletic fields, in nursing homes, at bus stops and on outdoor patios at restaurants.
But after choosing from a menu of options, they ultimately put the regulations on the back burner because the board's Chairman Richard Frost resigned early in the year. Reduced to two, the remaining members opted to wait until a new person was added. Allen Mendel was appointed and then won the seat by election in the spring.
The full board is expected to return to the issue on Sept. 4 at a workshop meeting, during which they hope to draft regulations. That meeting will be open to the public but discussion will be limited to board members; once a bylaw is crafted, a public hearing will be scheduled for residents' input.
In other business, the board agreed to having a table at a Sept. 13 health fair being put on by the Council on Aging. There the board hopes to expand the public's knowledge of what it does and hand out contact information directing residents to where complaints should be made. Additionally, they hope to pass out information regarding smoking since the regulations are back on the table.
Code Enforcement Officer Scott Koczela reported to the board the nearly 20 complaints the Health Department has handled. Some of the most notable current cases:
• A complaint was made regarding a bed bug outbreak on Winter Street. Koczela said one apartment was issued three $50 fines for leaving a couch and bag of clothing outside. The bed bugs have infested at least two apartments. One has been treated by an exterminator once already but other one hasn't. Koczela is recommending both apartments are treated again and that the others nearby are inspected. Kozcela and Administrative Assistant Susan Foster have since researched the bug and will be working with the residents to stop the infestation.
• A report was made that three people had gotten sick at the Adams Agricultural Fair. Koczela said he investigated and found the employee of a onion rings vendor was using bare hands to do everything from handling the money to cooking the food. He has since contacted the company operating the vendor and is requiring that a Food Safe certified manager is on site at all times next year.
• The board closed a case against the Adams Ale House, saying they complied with orders to repair a wall. Koczela had been concerned with one wall of the building buckling and a risk of falling bricks. The restaurant has since secured that wall and is expected to do more masonry work later in the year.
• A complaint was made of unsanitary conditions in the food preparations area of Bascom Lodge. Koczela said he observed some violations and discussed the issues with the managers. No citations were ordered.
• Multiple Columbia Street property owners will be taken to court after not complying with orders to clean up the rear of the contiguous properties. Koczela said there are old vehicles and construction materials scattered behind the homes. He ordered each of the owners to clean up their property but "nobody has done anything." The town is now taking all of the owners to court in hopes they reach an agreement among themselves over who is responsible for the cleanup.
• WoJo's Bar was fined $50 for an overflowing trash container. Koczela said the container has since been kept below citation level but the fine has not been paid.
• An East Hoosac Street home has been demolished after being significantly damaged by Hurricane Irene two years ago. Koczela has been working with the owner for some time and, eventually, the owner had the home razed.
• The board is putting a "lien and clean" on an abandoned Baskin Lane property. The town will clean the property and, when sold, will receive reimbursement. The bank is currently trying to sell the property, Koczela said, so the expense will be taken from the sale.
Tags: board of health, smoking awareness, smoking regulations,
