Board approves 2025 food permits and requires handwash sink at senior center after inspection

The Town of Blackstone Board of Health approved the 2025 food-permit renewals for a list of establishments and required the senior center to install a handwash sink after an inspection found no handwashing sink in the facility’s kitchen area.

A health inspector reported an annual inspection at the senior center on Dec. 30 that found the facility preparing food there for the first time without a dedicated handwash sink. The inspector told the board the senior center must install a handwashing sink; the inspector said, "They have to put 1 in. That's the bottom line." The inspection also identified expired food items in refrigeration and dented cans in dry storage; staff removed those items. The inspector said Joe (town maintenance) addressed a slow drain in a women's bathroom sink during the inspection.

The board approved renewals for many establishments listed during the meeting, including Cumberland Farms; CVS Pharmacy; Dunkin' Donuts; Blackstone Market; Blackstone Millville Regional High School; Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club; and several others. Casa Burrito’s permit approval was held contingent on receiving required paperwork. Staff also noted that one establishment would be visited if its application was not submitted promptly.

Staff told the board that Maggie has ServSafe certification, that Kim had not yet taken the food-manager test and that both managers have 30 days to comply with training requirements. The inspector said monthly pest-monitoring and proper thermometers for freezers should be maintained.

Why this matters: Food-permit enforcement and required handwashing facilities are public-health safeguards intended to reduce foodborne illness risk in community meal programs and food establishments.

Provenance: discussion started under annual permit renewals and ended with the board’s motion to approve the permit list.