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.