The Town of Hubbardston Board of Health circulated and signed multiple permits at its Feb. 25 meeting including installer and food-establishment permits for local businesses and residential kitchens. Several permits were held pending submission of required allergen-awareness documentation and ServSafe or CPR/AED certification.

The permits presented for signature included food establishment permits for Stars and Stripes Diner, Hubbardston Market (which listed multiple categories including frozen dessert and retail tobacco), Studio Macarons (residential kitchen), Ladybug Farm (residential kitchen), Harveston Market and other local vendors, as well as installer permits for JE Simpson Excavating and Allward Corporation and a temporary food permit for the Council on Aging.

Board members explained their practice of signing permits in the meeting as an administrative approval mechanism: signatures on the circulated permit forms serve as the board’s authorization absent a separate vote on each permit. Members identified specific missing documents for several applicants. For example, the Rod and Gun Club and other applicants were missing the state-required allergen-awareness certificate; the board agreed those permits would be withheld until the $10 online allergen-awareness course certificate or equivalent documentation was provided. The board also flagged the need for documented CPR/AED coverage in some cases.

Kathy Hansgate (who serves as food inspector) said she would hold permits until the required certificates are submitted. The board asked staff to ensure files include allergen and ServSafe documentation and to follow their established procedure to withhold issuing permits until certificates are on file.

The board also clarified routine items such as residential kitchen labeling (macarons vs. macaroons) and asked inspectors to perform in-person inspections when needed before signatures are released.

No contested permit denials or fines were issued at the meeting; the board’s actions were administrative approvals subject to completion of required documentation where noted.