Burlington Board of Health Approves Five Food Variances in Single Meeting

BURLINGTON — March 24, 2026 — Burlington's Board of Health approved five food establishment variances and heard a recommendation to spend $17,579.60 on influenza vaccines at its March 24 meeting. The board, voting 4-0 on all business before it, granted Sebastians at 1 Van de Graaff Drive a variance to operate as an unattended micro-market and gave four other establishments — Game Show Battle Rooms, Waffles and Bagels, Happy Life Adult Day Health, and Project Lean Nation — relief from external grease interceptor requirements, each subject to log-keeping mandates and a $50 fine for non-compliance. Supervisory Nurse Sandra Troiani recommended purchasing 240 standard-dose flu vaccines at $17.84 each and 200 high-dose vaccines at $66.49 each, increasing the high-dose order from 150 to 200 units to meet steady demand among residents over 65. Director of Public Health Susan Lumenello told the board that synthetic kratom — a substance that can produce opioid-like effects — is being sold at one or more Burlington retailers and that she will bring a full regulatory presentation and potential subcommittee proposal to the April meeting.