[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6246136,"mediaKeyId","3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356","parentId",3219806,"title","Board told 2 Brothers Smoke Shop will appeal $2,000 fine; kratom enforcement under way","audioSeconds",39,"startMs",37000,"endMs",76000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356&start=37&end=76","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356/thumbnail_37000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6246136/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Board-told-2-Brothers-Smoke-Shop-will-appeal-2000-fine-kratom-enforcement-under-way","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246136-d5b4f195a4e0246d01f97f05123245b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166385&Signature=Q2qJ27PfzIW~yUYDKvtgRJcJJzAywztIvxMVcSYYbJhUbKoyYZveDsYbwSve5qNlq9U8VtMfvAT7RolF5MGitq13UrAb9usenYUuKFaasM8U86xKGfjXszhcGe3EyzdtBkpiC87DLDW3dB~sCzbEHkvv1j9GrvCfIloL2zzRrgU08zyIwLR9Nobz7l24rG7YzKemIyB5d8-S6CqdsvKSw~EW1PXlMLDVAKp5hk16h~IcelOyeDNKqT9vnBdLJLdRvAhwnuEaQMyMeI7~2ED4LrjqaILvU9RzEIrWx--EIFPl3F3~7yKgWdmdytdhBoVaV7Z~IJW1FbqF1NzRWDxwZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-05-07T23:30:41Z","article","The Board received the tobacco-control monthly report and was advised that the owner of 2 Brothers Smoke Shop has requested a hearing to appeal a $2,000 fine related to a minor entering the store.

A Board member summarized the situation: the $2,000 fine was issued in connection with a minor under 21 entering the store and that the owner had asked for a hearing; the owner is expected to appear at the next meeting for the appeal process. The board also discussed recent enforcement steps related to kratom sales and noted that this was a new enforcement area for which staff had already issued at least one initial action.

There were no formal votes recorded on tobacco enforcement at this meeting; staff indicated the appeal hearing will be scheduled for the next meeting and that enforcement details would be presented then.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell Board of Health - May 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The tobacco-control monthly report showed a pending appeal from 2 Brothers Smoke Shop over a $2,000 fine for a minor under 21 entering the store; the board also discussed recent kratom enforcement actions.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246141,"Board hears public-health updates: ICC closing, measles outreach and school vaccine van",323,903000,1226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356&start=903&end=1226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356/thumbnail_903000.jpg","/articles/6246141/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Board-hears-public-health-updates-ICC-closing-measles-outreach-and-school-vaccine-van","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246141-f449642fcda63d9072657bb80206f83f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166385&Signature=SCk-lxuEua3uxcMdfmE~mI2BoMjTcVUznhi6X7Lo55fZKHb2acyTGgmd6ZH~wnNM2JVrR6~S7C22NPPd68am1a6QdPoWfBaab5w-Ig~K-nZR8V-gZeFOJcqlYnYst2aZM1OoIhrZAbmxB5rpdQe9G~lJqQJwuC0v5G2pCOTQnpwsEz2bopmvD6IlHTkZAwPKwwRw-bMvLrXosL8OOE-JP-RichOssUlvm2Ooyt3hhWxATUz8AAxEVIRe7HnVldWDKRv6nWHwV~Vumt5dmbzdUCueFYuLONX0g9Xhz2EgJ~dEdJa~o01OuG7u1skluwI8GnkN8CO-x6A4dcMsOy4IOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell Board of Health received multiple public-health updates covering a planned shelter closure, vaccination outreach, tuberculosis case-data questions and syringe-service reporting.

Director Golden (title in transcript: Director) told the board the ICC shelter would close June 30 and said city staff had been told that the roughly 200 residents there would either be found housing or moved to other hotel placements so no one would be left without temporary housing. \"They will leave June 30,\" a board speaker said during the public-health report.

Board members also discussed measles: one board member noted there were 884 reported U.S. measles cases so far this year and urged continued school-nurse vaccination work. The board heard that the city is deploying a mobile school-health van run by UMass Lowell nursing students in partnership with Lowell Community Health; the van will visit six schools and operate through the summer to provide physicals, vaccines and catch-up services. Board members described the van as an alternative to expanding in-school clinics and said it will improve access to pre-school-year vaccinations and sports physicals.

The board queried the public-health director about an apparent anomaly in the tuberculosis report: the April report listed four active TB cases but \"0 contacts identified.\" Board members asked staff to clarify whether contacts had not yet been entered into Maven (the case-management system) or whether the report used a narrower definition. \"We just need to know the definition,\" a board member said; staff agreed to get clarification on how \"contacts identified\" was being counted.

The substance-abuse report noted 4,827 syringes collected year to date; staff said they expect the total to approach 100,000 eventually and described a 311-reporting pathway for residents to report needles in public spaces. Board members asked whether needle-related injuries to first responders or the public have declined since the syringe program began; staff said they would check data sources such as EMT or emergency-room records to see if that is measurable.

The board received a short EMSL analytic report on testing at Pawtucket Memorial School and a cash-ins packet noting correspondence with contractors (Suffolk and Skanska) about indoor-air-quality reporting timelines; the board did not take any policy votes on those items at this meeting.

Board members requested clarification on TB contact definitions and asked staff to follow up on measurable impacts of syringe-service operations and on the planned ICC closure process and housing placements.","The Board of Health was briefed on several public-health items including an announced June 30 closure of the ICC shelter, a rise in measles cases nationally and local vaccination outreach via a new UMass Lowell/Lowell Community Health mobile van, and questions about tuberculosis contact counts and syringe program reporting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246146,"Development services flags unpermitted food vendors, reports Northwood Rehab cleared after violations",98,122000,220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356&start=122&end=220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356/thumbnail_122000.jpg","/articles/6246146/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Development-services-flags-unpermitted-food-vendors-reports-Northwood-Rehab-cleared-after-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246146-89c3bd2a7734f5b3ce9e9827c0e1a3d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166385&Signature=KTudciFoqZMdNYhzZatI6~QcXQ8EEB30Aowt36h2uvWHzQE2P1Ig4Ww5N5ciBUuYTbyRHKTQUBQPIrrUK-cEfVA-HCE3RifjvVjHUL1kWqeHhS~YoSGOXdCkZdju6-T5mCQ1hklqY72UX8eo2EMHGfQrT61Ixm1~7wLr0-Ehh7812Wq1TfQ0FJ100u2r5xzWkBpNTJdLg9SOWovJ~CBSHGH-iWU4vE9xmslarI-FT1DS7eDSaNwB9ScMsyznd6dOYhfBZ57qEqXADaghmlrg8t58~yU4cHKfylDt-UIOb46EEV-LJ-FT7dWohkZM9JrCcqDFZLaYNnC7rNUeH8slSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development Services report to the Lowell Board of Health detailed five new restaurants or changes of use, an unpermitted food truck operating without permits and ongoing follow-up at Northwood Rehab, which has since passed required food inspections.

Matthew Sheehan, Development Services staff, told the board the team found one food truck operating without proper permits and flagged several code violations that he said were serious enough that he would bring those cases to the Board of Health before granting any food permits. \"I will write up all my findings. I will print out all the pictures that I did see,\" Sheehan said.

Sheehan also updated the board on Northwood Rehab on Vondheim Avenue: staff reported that the facility had completed requested corrections and \"passed food inspection on our end,\" including placing a pest-control plan and addressing earlier deficiencies. He said staff will continue to inspect the facility every few months to ensure compliance.

Sheehan reported enforcement at one Wendy's location involving an ANSUL system activation and warned that failure to update required safety systems could carry escalating fines. In response to board questions, staff said the total fines for one set of violations amounted to about $1,000 and that some corrective items had strict timelines for compliance.

A board member asked how long it took facilities to correct violations; staff replied that he had recently been out to several sites and some issues remained under remediation. The board did not take additional enforcement action at the meeting but was informed that several cases would be presented for further review when complete.

The Development Services update also noted several school inspections with mixed results; separate motions arising from those results addressed the School Department's contract and maintenance scheduling.

Board members asked staff to continue documenting violations with photographs and to bring severe code-violation cases to the board before issuing new permits. Sheehan said he will prepare detailed write-ups and photo documentation for board review when he brings those cases forward.","Development Services reported five new restaurant or change-of-use incidents, an unpermitted food truck found operating, and that Northwood Rehab has corrected previous violations; staff said significant code issues will be brought before the Board of Health before issuing any new food permits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246151,"Board asks school department to explain expired fire extinguishers, requests contractor attendance",242,340000,582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356&start=340&end=582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3219806-21d89baa8266d17f9dc9100eb6944356/thumbnail_340000.jpg","/articles/6246151/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Board-asks-school-department-to-explain-expired-fire-extinguishers-requests-contractor-attendance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246151-97b9292c4c903e8cb1ac475a059827a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166385&Signature=ABmu-Qa9W-UWzarbOJBYfE3SDh2QVsK3prA9pvf~k6sMtRODfcnPvVUjQ2Z98AxTpZd4HA0Ug3crkjM6yGebHCqA8DEN2wOovBdcDOMGi5yqTxkM0lLqkiBjy49nNNNynJe0B15WUmSa0IxvTDkacId23JkquL4Olie5uUAHvmGzT~hsmCflEMu~uUzT1AhyN8QapR8pQTUmcWBkePnbs2zp9I7eDgU5ICrfb3esWpxxRwDKTosO3g2BZbg-B6uvZNFluDBzdDKTGVDVz1kyxrVNjEuSeNsSARIP4VC7WSX5W~xngVAUyb3OrecFvJ6TIDDITQEyDThjc4HhdWZezA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell Board of Health asked the School Department to send a representative and the department’s contracted fire-safety company to its next meeting after multiple local schools were found to have expired fire extinguishers and at least one failed hood system.

Board members said the issue matters because expired extinguishers and failed kitchen hoods are routine safety items that should be maintained through the School Department’s contract. A motion asking that School Department representative Mr. Underwood attend the next Board meeting carried after a second; board members also discussed inviting the contractor and reviewing the contract language.

Matthew Sheehan, Development Services staff, reported that several schools — including Pawtucket, Shaughnessy and Moody — were in a failed status for expired extinguishers or hood-system problems as of his report. \"They passed on 04/28, so they're all set\" in one case, he said, and noted that some sites had since been brought into compliance. He told the board he had photographed expired equipment and sent the images to the appropriate city contacts.

A board member said the schools had known about some expired extinguishers since October and questioned why replacements were not completed earlier. \"They've known that these were expired since October,\" the member said, urging the board to press the School Department for clearer scheduling and accountability. Another board member suggested the School Department and its contractor could set two yearly service dates (for example, October and April) to avoid midyear expirations.

Board members discussed whether the School Department could simply replace extinguishers itself and then bill the contractor if the company failed to perform. Several members asked the board clerk to request a copy of the contractor agreement and to invite both the School Department representative and the contractor to the next meeting so the board could review how the work is assigned and inspected.

The motion to request that Mr. Underwood attend the next meeting, with a contractor representative invited if appropriate, was moved by Miss Turner and seconded; the board voted in favor. The board did not adopt further enforcement actions at the meeting; members said they expected the meeting with the School Department to clarify next steps and possible remedies.

The Board of Health also discussed logistics and inspection cadence: staff noted that many extinguishers have a one-year cycle while ANSUL/hood-system checks vary by equipment and can range from 30 days up to a year. The board asked staff to provide the contract language and to confirm which schools remain in failed status at the time of the next report.

The board’s questions and the motion originated during the Development Services monthly update and were recorded as part of the meeting’s old-business discussion. The board expects a follow-up presentation and contract review at the next scheduled meeting.","The Lowell Board of Health voted to invite School Department representatives and their fire-safety contractor to the next meeting after multiple school inspections found expired fire extinguishers and a failed hood system at several schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board told 2 Brothers Smoke Shop will appeal $2,000 fine; kratom enforcement under way

Board hears public-health updates: ICC closing, measles outreach and school vaccine van

Development services flags unpermitted food vendors, reports Northwood Rehab cleared after violations

Board asks school department to explain expired fire extinguishers, requests contractor attendance