Board of Health - Regular Meeting

Yes, we're reporting. Okay. I'm just going to read the sun sunshine law statement. In conformance with the open public meetings act, notice of this meeting of the board of health of the bureau of Palton Lakes has been posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and mailed to the North Jersey Herald News and to the trends. Salute to the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, roll call. Um, Kelly Hollowitz is um not here. Valerie Quigley here. Katie Cole not here. Allison Foscalto here. Mike Fosaltos here. Jessica Frier here. And Michael Morris, I'm here. Okay. Um, approval of the minutes from March 17th, 2025. Does anybody need a few minutes to look over the minutes? No. Okay. Motion to approve. So made and second. Second.

All in favor? I. Okay. Resolution for approval. I don't think there is anything and we'll have open to the public. Okay. No public. Okay. Motion to close. Motion. Second. Second. Okay. And committee reports ordinance. Um Val Quigley and Katie Cole. There's nothing to report. Finance, Mike Morris, nothing. Personnel, Jessica and Allison, nothing.

Nope. Okay. Um, staff reports. Did anybody have any questions? Um, I noticed there's no um reports of like the um inspections like the name of the the names. Oh, the actual inspection reports. Inspection reports. There's just nothing. There's just the monthly reports showing how many were done. Are we gonna be still seeing these? Yeah, we can get them. Actually, I guess um Gabby would have them, the inspection reports. Okay. Yeah, I was curious. We give the copies to her. Any of the restaurants or any any of the

I know you want to know where to eat. So, let's cry. Yeah. Um, we do turn them in to Gabby who's uh the secretary for the or have them in next month. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I mean, see that and Lle had an issue. Yes. Couple weeks ago or months ago and they were closed. Love to know what happened. Yeah. Um, yeah. I don't want to go by Facebook.

Well, it was actually those pictures were great because that's exactly what it looked like. Um they were stuffing rolls of paper towels under the the refrigeration units that were leaking. Um the inspectors went up as soon as you know Mike um had given had sent the notices that he received and Katie had also sent me some. So the next day, it was over the weekend. So on Monday, the inspectors went up and investigated and found it exactly to be what what the photos said. We had shut them. We allowed them to voluntarily close otherwise we would have shut them down. Um they were closed for what about 2 to 3 days. Yeah.

Getting the refrigeration repaired. Apparently the back stock room was loaded with flies. They had an exterminator come in. The manager that was there was fired. Um a new manager was brought on about 2 to 3 weeks later. We had another issue about 2 to 3 weeks later. Same thing with the refrigeration units um leaking all over the floors again. So when I believe you went up for that one, right, Brian? I went twice. Yeah. Um, and oh no, I'm sorry. I apologize. Nancy went up because she met with the district manager at that point who was disgusted with how the place looked and new manager started like a day or two later and Brian's been checking it since then. So Brian Gutierre, he's a new inspector.

He's the new inspector primarily up here in heavy. Yes. So he was assigned pumped and as well as the other inspectors are up here doing like the temporary events and assisting if it's something like Lidol. They went up a couple times with three or four different inspectors in there going over everything. So hopefully they're straightened out now, but we're going to stay on top of them and see what happens. They did I think it was just opinion management issues or they don't have enough staff is what it comes down to. And I don't think the staff has the smarts to if something's leaking that I should be cleaning this up rather than stuffing paper towels underneath it. You know, a complete roll of paper towels and let it leak across the aisle. I'm surprised nobody slipped, which would have been another issue.

Absolutely. Yeah. But so hopefully this will they were uh given two uh fines for reinspection fees and they did pay that. And what is there a schedule to go back in there like timely or We've just been doing spot checks at this point. They don't know when we're coming. I was there last Thursday, right? And then the Thursday before that. How was it? Good. The whoever Joe was the new manager. Um, again, management was an issue before. He was there before apparently. He was there when the store first opened up. He turned around.

Uh, I didn't see any flags in the back. Uh, refrigeration units weren't leaking. So, yeah. No, they seem to be in the right track, I guess. Yeah. Again, there's obviously still some stuff that needs to be worked on, but they're working. So, Okay, cool.

Okay. So, no questions on staff reports, old business, anything. new business. I guess that was it. That was it. And welcome on. Maybe would you include the reports? Could you include the ones from Lidle? So at least they have they can see what Yeah, I find that that's fascinating. I have all your emails. I'll send them out. During the week, I'll send them out. Okay. You know, this needs to be done. This doesn't need to be done. And that's kind of important. Mhm.

Two weeks ago, I did a full inspection. So I checked all the refrigeration and stuff. And then last report was a project because I think the town deserves to know it and it's all published what's here. So I think you know has to be out there. It's all public record. So if anybody requests it's not secretive. I mean they're even they have copies of the reports. If if you went into Lidol and said I want to see your most recent report they should be able to show it to you. Who's going to do that? Well I know but I'm just saying you could say let me see your reports. Be like what's going on now? So I just think it's important. I might if I was pissed enough. Yeah. But we've had issues in town, you know, with Chinese restaurants that were just

horrendous. I mean, you know, and would you ever eat there? No. Because of the reports. It's kind of important. I think first thing to look for is the placard. You know, you see it's satisfactory, it should be good. Anything any color other than white, I would not eat there. Yeah. Brian's a tough inspector, too. So, he's experienced. So if you don't see a good blacker, don't stay away from my place for a while. Seven or eight years already been doing this. I mean, some of the recruits have been I think amazing. Mhm. No, it has been. It's really been

a place in town that was that had a had a I remember they had a um Annie Freeze. Annie Freeze was right next to a meat slicer. Yeah, meat slicer in a deli a jar of antifreeze. I'm like, whoa. You know, you'll find that you'll find pesticides lots of times stored on the shelves above like the sink where they're washing the dishes or, you know, just they don't think when they're doing it and they should know it, but they don't. I think it should be published that what you find should be published. They can certainly put it sometimes do that. Yeah, they can go on the website. Yeah, it's up to the town.

You can see the ratings of the places and you've got the inspection reports. If they want to put them up, they more than welcome to. Some places do that. Yeah. Where you can actually click on it and see the entire inspection. Single out one. You should do all of them. You know, it'll be a policy. So all the, you know, these are the month, these are the inspections from October and you can see all of them. Click on it and see what it is, what the report says. That goes to a whole different different level to get up onto the town's website. Yes. Sometimes we'll do my pay scale here. It's definitely above mine. It is not mine.

I know I had reached out to cuz I saw things on Facebook about the mold in the new apartments. So the the board of health doesn't inspect for the apartments. Okay. We do not. There's no standards for mold. Mhm. Um, any of the multif family units in town are inspected by the DCA. Um, I actually left a message, never heard anything back from them. I was curious what, you know, what happened and I got nothing. I've had several problems. Even in Wayne, there's some issues. I'm still waiting for calls that have actually called the director's office and I don't even get a response back from them. So, the DCA is horrible. Wow. And are they is that county or is that state?

State. State. State. Yep. They do the inspections. Um I know S was on the emails, too. If it's a mold issue, to me, it sounds like there's some kind of leak in the building that would have caused that. So, I don't know if he found out anything. Mhm. Because I haven't seen any responses back from him either. And I didn't see it on Facebook anymore. So, it's so hard not to comment. No, I know. And they can't just say enter at your own risk. I mean, if there's an issue with that building, the landlord's got to move. They're responsible for paying for those people to be to put them up to relocate them. And they're paying a lot in rent. I'm sure they are buildings.

And that's a fairly new building. It is. What is it? Can't be more than 10 years. No, I don't even think it is. The where the Salvation Army was. It's generous. Right before CO, I think. Yeah. Was that when it opened before CO? right before I think cuz I know at least 5 years. Yeah. Do we know the extent of them? I don't know anything. It was just a sign posted on the door that was on Facebook. Oh yeah. That apparently it told them to enter at their own risk. Yeah. Yeah. That there's there's mold in the building. You know, enter at your own risk. Oh my god. Was that authorized or is it just somebody could have randomly

posted it has mold and was like I don't know. And mold is mold is left up to interpretation, too. There's no real scientific evidence out there, which is why they have not regulated this industry about what's considered toxic, what not, and what levels because there's natural mold in the environment. So, I can walk into your house, put a meter in, and say, "Oh, by the way, I'm certified to do mold testing." And yeah, you have a mold problem. But that means nothing because mold spores are present in the air. And just because it's black doesn't mean it's or something along those lines that are considered more toxic. But again, what threshold is considered toxic because my thresholds may be different than what yours is. And this is part of the issue why they've never regulated over the years. I don't agree with it. But

yeah, there's the way to address it is really from more of a building construction code when you're looking at are the walls intact? Is there an active leak going on and addressing it that way? And then making them replace drywall because it's cracked or there's stains. That's how you sort of get around it. But it's kind of outside the window open. Yeah. That will do it. Yep. Yeah. This kind of stuff. Fish tank leak cuz somebody doesn't clean their bathroom. Overflow the tub. Yeah, that happens a lot. It's not that it might not be a problem. I don't know what they're, you know, makes you wonder. I mean, who put the sign up? Who took the picture? Who posted all or are they trying to steer tenants and get them?

For some reason, I think it said the managing it. Didn't it have I think it had the company on the the actual sign for some reason. I didn't see it. So, I should Let me see if I can find it. You guys finish. Okay. And uh I'll see if I can locate it. How is the uh dental clinic going? We're actually getting quite a few people. We've had uh after it was posted going on, I thought I was like, I think this is a great thing. That's awesome. My I think my nurses the next day were like why are we getting such an influx of calls? And I was like they put it on social media. But yeah, we actually have been getting an increase. That's awesome. Do you always have that or is that new this year? No, we've had that. Oh, I I guess that's the first time I

We're seeing an increase though. Since I work though, we've had a dental clinic. And right before co um one of the dentists in town donated a lot of money and we redid the whole thing. So it's it's brand new. It was right before CO it opened back up. So, it's all brand new equipment. Wow. And Yeah. Where is it? Right in our health department. Wow. That's great. Yeah. If you've ever come for a flu shot, it's like right off to the side of the nurses station when you first walk in. It's a full dental office. Who's qualified to go there?

Um, pretty much anybody who's I believe he'll do 3 years of age and older. Um, no. We really prefer no insurance or if you have very little insurance, but this on record, but we won't ask a whole lot of questions because if some people can't make ends meet, we're not going to try. Yeah. Especially with seniors or there's a lot going on. People are having a hard time. We don't we don't we don't ask too many questions. I have to be honest.

And if we can squeeze somebody in, we've had people that are like in dire need, have an emergency, and our dentist will take them. And even if it's a service, we won't. It's $10 inclusive. But if there's something extra that they need like dentures, the dentist will work with them on a on a much lower scale than what you would get marketplace. That's great. How often is the dentist there? Usually every Tuesday. Okay. Yeah. We kind of um rotate a little bit now that we're in a flu clinic season cuz our nurses do some of that work too with the dentist, but we've been fitting a lot of people in whenever we can squeeze them in. And is that in Pton Lakes or is that county or is that

it's Wayne in any of the towns we cover? So it's Wayne uh Pmpton Lakes and Toto. Okay, here's the letter. It says, "Lakeside residents, attention residents and guests. It has come to our attention that there is black mold present." Oops. In the units by entering this building, you're you are accepting the health risks and it's from the Sapphire Group. So I don't know if that's the management company. Probably. Good question, too. But I could have black mold in my bathtub. And what does that mean? It means I don't clean. Exactly.

I mean, I used to get tenants that would say that all the time where I was previously and it was they were trying to get out of their lease. So, they would try to say I have mold. They wouldn't clean their bathroom on purpose. So I'm not saying that this is the case, but again, what's the threshold and what are we really talking about here? Should it be looked into? It's not something we have control over. It's something that again DCA is the agency that would regulate that. So who gets in touch with them to either the town can call the resident or which I gave the number to Gabby. Okay. Maybe if they get flooded and inundated with calls, maybe they'll decide that they're going to respond. State's interesting sometimes.

Okay. Yeah, it's a management company. Sapphires. Sapphires. Okay. Like I said, I did leave a message for DCA, but I've yet to receive a call back and I've actually tried several times. Keep trying. Thank you. I I even they gave me the director's office gave me an email. I'm using the email on it. Second request, third request. Yeah. I mean, cuz that's the kind of stuff. Well, it's out in the public, you know. So, obviously the social media everybody they should call back. They're another agency. You're paying taxes. They should call back. I don't Okay. I don't understand it at all. I don't like it either. I'm a taxpayer, too.

No, not criticizing them all. Nope. Oh, criticize them. Okay. Do your job. If I have to get up and do my job, so do you. And there are some decent people down there, but I don't understand. Nelly's call back. Mhm. Okay. Any other Okay. Motion to adjurnn. Motion. Second. Second. Okay. Motion adjourned. Our next board of health meeting is on Monday, December 1st, 6:30m. Wow. Scary. I know.