Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 04/12/2017 Board of Health Meeting FINAL 1 of 3 April 12,2017 COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 TIME: 9:00 A.M. PLACE: Holly Hill Farms 236 Jerusalem Road, Cohasset MA 02025 Board Members Present: Robin Lawrence, Chairman Harvey, Dickstein, Vice Chair Lynn Doxey, Clerk Director of Public Health: Susan Sarni Public Health Nurse: Mary Goodwin Recording Secretary: Chrissie Dahlstrom 9:10 AM—Chairman Lawrence called the meeting to order. In attendance for this meeting: Holly Hill Staff and Board Members, Charlie White; Cindy Prentice; Mark DeGiacomo; Jean White Chairman Lawrence opened the meeting by stating the Board of Health (BoH) was there to observe, learn, ask questions and make suggestions. Any organization that sells prepared food needs to abide by the Massachusetts General Law. The only time Holly Hill Farm (HHF) makes food is for events and camps. Most of the time the camps make salads for a meal; there is no cooking. Ms. Prentice now realizes she cannot cook with the children and has stopped that part of the camp. She also acknowledges the fact that selling or giving away prepared and vendor foods requires a food permit for the safety of the public. HHF is dedicated to healthy food and wants to work within the guidelines. The Education Garden has fieldtrips from neighboring towns that start in the spring. The beds are planted after the risk of frost, around mid-May. Campers work hands-on in the garden; sowing and transplanting. In the summer campers learn about the plants that were sown in the spring. The campers bring the produce to the wash area in bins, which could be the three bay sink in the food truck. The campers do not collect the eggs from the chicken coops. They will walk by animals in their pens from the Education Garden to the hand washing station but will not set foot in the pens. However, they could touch them through the fence. The BoH showed concern of campers stepping into the pen and tracking through the food truck with soiled shoes. Ms. Prentice assured the BoH that the animal campers and farm campers are totally separate. HHF will purchase a hand washing station with hot water for all to use between the Educational Garden and the food truck. The collected grey water will be used to water the seedlings. The food truck that HHF purchased has been used for one season in another town. The kitchen in the Farm House cannot be made into a certified kitchen; there isn't room in the budget for that expense. Ms. Prentice thought the food truck was a good alternative. The vegetables picked from the Education Garden will be (if permitted) prepared in the food truck. The water supply for the food truck runs in a Board of Health Meeting FINAL 2 of 3 April 12,2017 hose from the Farm House to a tank above the three-bay sink in the front of the truck. When the water is turned on, it runs through the faucet and empties to a five gallon bucket. The grey water will be used to water the seedlings. The food truck will also be used for workshops. HHF realizes they cannot host another workshop until they are permitted. Ms. Prentice would like to install a grill without an open flame, and an oven in the food truck. The campers would only be able to prepare food, they will not be allowed in the truck when the grill or oven is on. A grease trap would collect the grease and be emptied manually. Currently there is stainless steel counter space and a cooling unit that could house chilled prepared food. There is also a handwashing sink at the back of the truck. Ms. Prentice would like to install a small refrigerator to store leftovers; the new refrigerated to be located in the Farm House. The electricity for the refrigerator in the food truck would run from the Tomato Barn. The BoH expressed concern over keeping insects out of the food truck. Ms. Prentice assured the BoH that HHF would use screens at every egress if the truck became too hot with the doors and windows shut. The farm would like to sell produce out of the truck. Ms. Prentice told the BoH there is a pest management company that comes monthly. The guests would use the Porta-Potty since there is no public bathroom, a hand sanitizer will be provided for the guests. HHF put a $5,000 deposit on the $17,500 truck. If they return the truck the $5,000 is lost. They cannot obtain insurance on the truck until they own it and they can't own it until they receive a permit from the BoH. The Fire Department looked at the truck and will give them a permit for the propane after they receive a permit from the BoH. There are three people that live at the Farm House and farm staff that use the Farm House every day. There is a private refrigerator in the Farm House not used to store Holly Hill produce. Ms. Prentice is looking into purchasing a dishwasher for sanitation that will be in the kitchen of the Farm House. The Mass General State Law states the code for cleaning is to wash, rinse then sanitize. The three bay sink in the food truck is too small to effectively clean. Ms. Sarni informed Ms. Prentice the dishwasher needs to reach 180 degrees or have a booster or chemical that would be equal to 180 degrees. She suggested Ms. Prentice consult with her before purchasing a dishwasher to be sure the dishwasher meets the requirements. Every food vendor that HHF uses needs to have a BoH permit. The vendors can directly contact the BoH for their permits. 9:50 AM: CONTINUE THE MEETING at 41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET MOTION: By Chairman Robin Lawrence to Continue the Meeting SECOND: Member Ms. Doxey VOTE: 3 —0 MOTION CARRIES 10:00 AM: Next Steps Board of Health Meeting FINAL 3 of 3 April 12,2017 HHF must acquire a food permit and a camp permit. According to State Food Code any permitted food truck needs to be associated with a brick and mortar building and currently, Holly Hill doesn't have a kitchen permit. If permitted, they can use their truck with conditions. The conditions will be listed on their permit. If they decide to take their food truck on the road they would have limitations. Cohasset permits three food trucks a year and the three have already been accounted for, so they wouldn't be able to sell their food items at Sandy Beach. However, they could use their food truck at the Farmer's Market. There will be restrictions on who is allowed in the truck and if the grill or oven can be on at that time. Restrictions on camps being allowed to have contact with an animal before preparing food would also be a condition of the permit. The Board of Health would like the refrigerator from the Tomato Barn to be placed into the Farm House, along with an approved dishwasher in the kitchen. The dogs that live in the Farm House must be separated from the kitchen. The BoH would also like the food truck to have screened doors installed. For best practice the camp needs to be in compliance with the State Camp Regulations. The BoH will advise HHF to send us a list of their vendors and to direct their vendors directly to the BoH for their temporary permits. 10:20 AM: MOTION: By Ms. Doxey to Lift the Pending Food Camps to Accept Applications Pending on a Food Establishment Permit and hear Holly Hills Permitting Application in May SECOND: Member Mr. Dickstein VOTE: 3 —0 MOTION CARRIES