Burlington Board of Health Approves Grease Interceptor Variance for New Coffee Shop

BURLINGTON — March 25, 2025 — Burlington Board of Health grants grease interceptor variance to new Cambridge Street coffee shop, Brood in Burlington. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to allow Raquel Vasconcelos, operator of the new coffee, beverage, and sweets business at 271 Cambridge Street, to forgo an external outdoor grease interceptor under conditions including mandatory maintenance logs and risk of revocation for sewer-line impacts. Director of Public Health Susan Lumenello recused herself from a separate discussion on the 2025-2026 flu vaccine purchase from Sanofi, disclosing a family conflict of interest, while staff reported a net loss of $442.42 on this season's 500-dose order after returns. Staff recommended reducing the next purchase to 400 doses — 250 regular, 150 high-dose — citing a multi-year decline in regular-dose demand that board members attributed to competition from retail pharmacies. The department's budget cleared Ways and Means with unanimous support and heads to Town Meeting in May, with the community health fair set for April 26.