Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Rockland lawmaker requests county’s oversight of existing New Square slaughterhouse
Rockland County Legislator Joseph Meyers has introduced a discussion item to review the history of the County Health Department’s oversight, inspection and enforcement of the existing 5,000 square foot New Square poultry processing facility in light of recent federal action against the operation of the existing New Square facility.
Late last month, federal authorities, through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, filed a complaint against the existing poultry plant alleging that New Square Meats had violated the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act. Federal Judge Stephen Robinson in White Plains agreed and ordered the slaughterhouse that supplies all the poultry to the Hasidic village of New Square padlocked. Federal authorities said New Square Meats has been selling uninspected poultry since 2002.
“Since there was obviously a breakdown in the inspection process at the New York State and federal level dating back to 2002, I believe the County Legislature should be briefed by our Commissioner of Health, Dr. Facelle, and other appropriate personnel to gain a complete understanding of what, if any, inspection responsibility the County of Rockland has with respect to this facility and whether the county properly fulfilled its role in safeguarding the health and safety of the public with respect to the chickens processed at this facility during the period in question.”
According to court papers filed by federal authorities which led to the ordered closure of the plant, federal investigators said they found poultry residue on walls and light fixtures and in the manager's office. Employee restrooms had no soap or hand sanitizer. There was mold on walls and overhead areas, and rubbish and foul-smelling pools of water were found outside the plant. A chiller tank lacked running water, even though it was full of processed birds. A plant official told inspectors in 2005 that an unrefrigerated van was used to transport product.
In October of last year, Meyers introduced legislation now pending before the Legislature, objecting to the new 25,000 square foot poultry processing facility that is proposed to replace the existing facility and be built on Route 45 in the Village of New Square.
His resolution also requests that New York State withdraw the $1.6 million grant awarded to the project under the Empire State Development program “Restore New York”.
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/January/06/NewSqSltrhse_Meyers-06Jan10.htm
Late last month, federal authorities, through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, filed a complaint against the existing poultry plant alleging that New Square Meats had violated the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act. Federal Judge Stephen Robinson in White Plains agreed and ordered the slaughterhouse that supplies all the poultry to the Hasidic village of New Square padlocked. Federal authorities said New Square Meats has been selling uninspected poultry since 2002.
“Since there was obviously a breakdown in the inspection process at the New York State and federal level dating back to 2002, I believe the County Legislature should be briefed by our Commissioner of Health, Dr. Facelle, and other appropriate personnel to gain a complete understanding of what, if any, inspection responsibility the County of Rockland has with respect to this facility and whether the county properly fulfilled its role in safeguarding the health and safety of the public with respect to the chickens processed at this facility during the period in question.”
According to court papers filed by federal authorities which led to the ordered closure of the plant, federal investigators said they found poultry residue on walls and light fixtures and in the manager's office. Employee restrooms had no soap or hand sanitizer. There was mold on walls and overhead areas, and rubbish and foul-smelling pools of water were found outside the plant. A chiller tank lacked running water, even though it was full of processed birds. A plant official told inspectors in 2005 that an unrefrigerated van was used to transport product.
In October of last year, Meyers introduced legislation now pending before the Legislature, objecting to the new 25,000 square foot poultry processing facility that is proposed to replace the existing facility and be built on Route 45 in the Village of New Square.
His resolution also requests that New York State withdraw the $1.6 million grant awarded to the project under the Empire State Development program “Restore New York”.
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/January/06/NewSqSltrhse_Meyers-06Jan10.htm
Comments:
The only thing that Meyers is interested in is to make trouble for our community. As a longtime Monsey resident, I pcan promise you that he cares nothing about the satfety/cleanliness of the slaughterhouse, only in the sense that it can cause trouble for the new project.Let's all unite behind new Square and help our frum brethren, and ignore this Sonei Ysroel.
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: January 06, 2010 7:42 PM
: January 06, 2010 7:42 PM
