SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Board of Health is having an issue with a number of food establishments in town. According to Board of Health Director Tom FitzGerald, about seven vendors haven’t paid their annual permit fee and are operating without a license.
Board of Health Director Tom FitzGerald. (WNG File Photo)
The deadline for those vendors to pay their fee is Monday, May 21. FitzGerald said that the department has already handed out fines to all of these vendors in the past few months. These vendors will be fined again if they don’t pay their permit by Monday. The original deadline to pay the fee was on January 31.
FitzGerald added that the deadline this year was January 31 whereas the normal deadline is January 1 but adjusted due to a change in the schedule for fees this year.
Historically, FitzGerald has sent out letters to remind food establishments to pay their permit fee, however, he is preparing to take this process a step further if needed since he’s never seen this many vendors not make deadline to pay their permit.
“This is fairly unusual, we never thought we’d see this,” said FitzGerald. “Now it’s gone on way too long, we need legal help.”
The Board of Health is currently working on soliciting the Select Board and asking for their assistance if the fines haven’t been paid by Monday. The board will be asking the Select Board for permission to ask for help from town counsel.
