Seven years of business on Ferry Street have run into the city’s reconstruction of the road, and the owner of Sky Hookah Lounge told the Everett Board of Health on Monday, June 15 that the work and the loss of parking spaces “has caused business to decline rapidly.” The owner’s answer is a second location with ample parking, tentatively at 13 Chelsea Street, to recoup the losses while the Ferry Street lounge stays open on the seven years left on its lease.
According to the minutes, the building inspector has inspected and approved the Chelsea Street location and an engineer is finishing the plans. Once the building inspector and the fire department sign off, the owner will return to the board to complete the permitting. Chair Sean Connolly and members Deanne Mullett and Joan LaVecchio took no vote.
Encampments under Sweetser Circle
At its May 11 meeting the board was told there are three encampments under the Sweetser Circle bridge, the state-owned span where Route 16 and Route 99 meet. “We are working with DOT to clean up the area and offer resources as this is a fire hazard as well as a public health and safety issue,” the minutes say, and the department planned to ask the city’s state legislators for help.
Chickens, tattoos and a retirement
- A resident of 54 Francis Street applied to keep chickens. The inspector visited the property, letters went to abutters, and neighbors had until June to comment.
- The board again discussed updating its body art regulations to cover areola tattooing, the restorative tattoos used after breast surgery, to reflect current standards and practices. The item has been on the agenda since April.
- Health and Human Services Director Sabrina Firicano LoBono reported that the state tobacco control officer assigned to Everett was retiring June 30. The city solicitor was still reviewing the FDA letter on unauthorized vape products that drew about 20 retailers to the April meeting; the department said it would keep retailers informed. School nurses had picked their summer hours for Crimson Kids and summer programs.
The June meeting ran from 5:57 to 6:21 p.m. The board took July and August off and set its next meeting for Monday, September 14 at 6 p.m. in Room 20 at City Hall.
