From: Wayne Brown <[email address]>
Date: February 1, 2020 at 5:58:41 PM EST
To: Kristine Morieko <[email address]>
Cc: Lenora Benjamin <[email address]>, Jackie Scalia <[Glen Rock Borough request email]>, Mary Villareal <[email address]>
Subject: Pest Control Ordinance Adoption



Dear Mayor,

 

I hope you are well and your transition is going smoothly.  As president of the Glen Rock Board of Health (BOH), I write to encourage  Council adoption of an addendum to the ordinance the BOH ratified last  November that will ensure that Glen Rock food establishments have, at minimum, a monthly preventative pest control program administered by a licensed professional as well as an increased fine structure (see attached).   This amendment addresses Glen Rock’s alarming number of pest infestation violations by food establishments that not only did not have a preventative program in place but, upon re-inspection, had not taken corrective action.  Without the Town Council enacting the addendum, Bergen County Board of Health officers cannot effectively address pest infestation violations in Glen Rock and enforce remediation.

 

To date, all Glen Rock food establishments have been notified of this impending addendum by the Bergen County Board of Health officer.  However, as of January 2, 2020, I understand from our Board liaison, Arati Kreibach, that the addendum has still not been ratified by the Council because of confusion as to which code - Borough or a non-existent Glen Rock health code - to modify.  Upon speaking with Anthony Suarez - town attorney -  this week, he confirmed that the addendum should modify the existing Borough Code.  Under New Jersey state law, towns need not adopt health codes —  as Glen Rock’s BOH has no intention of doing.

 

I implore the Council to promptly adopt this addendum at the next Council meeting.  This addendum is standard across most town and city codes and a requirement for all franchise and company restaurant chains.  In fact, some of its language was formatted directly from the New York City health code which is considered a public gold standard.  Further, I believe the citizens of Glen Rock would not want our elected officials to further delay adoption of this addendum that protects the health and safety of all.

 

I look forward to moving this addendum forward at the next public Council meeting and answering any remaining questions the Council may have at that time.

Kind Regards, 

Wayne Brown

President, Glen Rock Board of Health