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Neighbor alleges home tattoo shop dumped needles; Bourne Board of Health finds violation
Summary
A neighbor told the Bourne Board of Health that a resident operating an apparent tattoo business disposed of needles and other biohazard materials in a shared dumpster; the board voted to find the occupant in violation and to pursue legal referrals and penalties while town counsel pursues enforcement options.
A neighbor told the Bourne Board of Health that an adjacent unit at 23 Canal has operated a tattoo business out of a residence for about three years and was disposing of biohazardous materials in a shared dumpster.
"He threw all of his biohazard waste into our dumpster," resident Nicole Lantree said, listing "needles, razors, inks, paper towels" and saying she fears for her young daughter. Lantree said she has been raising the issue with the board for more than two years and presented photographic evidence and Ring video she said documents clients and discarded waste.
Board members described the situation as a public-health and public-safety concern. Health staff and others said the office has photographs, Ring-video footage and a police report that corroborate neighbors' accounts. The board's staff explained that, as a residential unit, the department cannot enter without permission and that enforcement may require legal action; the board was told town counsel could pursue court-authorized entry or referral to the district attorney if necessary.
A board member moved that the board find the occupant, identified in the meeting as Mr. Gorman, to be operating a prohibited business and to have violated the board's regulations, and that the board ask the town council to confirm any civil penalty amount and advise whether referral to the district attorney is appropriate. The motion was seconded and the board approved the motion.
Chair Bob Collette told the complainant the strongest next step is legal action by town counsel to enable police involvement when appropriate, and advised residents to continue gathering and submitting visual evidence to the police and health office.
The board's action directs staff to pursue enforcement avenues; the transcript shows the board voted in favor and instructed town counsel to take legal steps. The board did not record a detailed roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the minutes should reflect the formal motion language and any future referral or penalty determination.
