Health board suspends Saugus shop for 3 days

SAUGUS – The Saugus Board of Health voted unanimously Monday to suspend Nick?s Place in Saugus Center for three days after additional health violations were found during an inspection.According to the inspection report, Nick?s had two “critical violations,” which included grilled chicken being held at 110 degrees instead of the required 140 degrees and a refrigerated storage unit next to the pizza ovens storing food at 44 degrees.?This is basic stuff they?re not even doing,” said board member Stephen Rappa. “We?ve had a consultant in there ? to me this shows they still don?t have anything in place.”Public Health Director Frank Giacalone had previously cited the pizza and sub shop for critical violations in July when he found food being prepared in a back storage room with fly strips hanging on the ceiling above.Nick?s was also found without hot water during Memorial Day weekend.On a scale of one to five, with five being the best, Giacalone estimated that Nick?s was at a “one” at its last inspection and now at a “three-and-a-half” after inspecting them on Monday.Rappa said he didn?t think that was enough of an improvement and made the motion to suspend Nick?s.?That?s mediocrity,” said Rappa. “We?re tolerating mediocrity. Maybe they?re not getting it.”Board member Pamela Harris said she felt “terrible” suspending Nick?s during a bad economy, but noted there are “significant issues and problems they don?t seem to be able to rectify.”?We should not be putting the public at risk,” said Harris.The board also discussed the possibility of using a lettered grading system, similar to Lynn?s, to rate restaurants in Saugus.In other business, representatives from Wheelabrator appeared before the board for a regular update on the trash-burning plant?s ongoing environmental audit.Plant manager Jairaj Gosine addressed an odor issue that neighbors in the area had during the summer. Gosine said the Department of Environmental Protection recently approved an application for fast-closing garage doors for the tipping area.Gosine said he thinks the doors can be installed by the end of the year and will supplement an indoor misting system to combat odor problems.At the end of the meeting, Harris announced she will not apply for re-appointment to the board at the end of the year.?It has been a pleasure to work with everybody and I thank everybody for the opportunity,” said Harris.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].