Health Department, Restaurant Owners & Plumbers

Contractors reported to the Foundation that some restaurant owners were using unqualified and unlicensed companies to perform service work and to correct Department of Health (DOH) violations. The Foundation commenced a series of meetings with Allan Goldberg, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Health.

We are happy to report that the Department agreed with our concerns and is implementing the following initiatives:

1. whenever a Department of Health violation involves plumbing the issuing inspector will give the restaurant owner a Department handout advising him/her that the law requires the use of a licensed plumber.

2. all administrative law judges adjudicating Department of Health violations are being advised that, before a violation involving plumbing work is dismissed, the owner should present evidence that the work was performed by a licensed plumber.

3. the next issue of the Department of Health restaurant newsletter, which is distributed to all restaurant owners, will include an article advising them that only licensed plumbers may perform plumbing work and that Department violations concerning plumbing will not be dismissed unless they use a licensed plumber

The Foundation wishes to express its appreciation to the Department of Health, in particular, Allan Goldberg, on cooperatively working to address an issue concerning the health and safety of restaurant patrons.

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