Calabria Pizza Now in 'Good Standing' With Board of Health

During the August Cranford Board of Health meeting, it was brought up that Calabria Pizza had received only a “Conditionally Satisfactory” rating four times since May, but recently the establishment was re-inspected and rated satisfactory.

“It is now in good standing,” Monika Koscova-Jencik, Registered Environmental Health Specialist of the Cranford Board of Health said.

A “Conditionally Satisfactory” rating is given to an establishment when they have one or more violations that need to be rectified. The issues at Calabria Pizza, which the Board of Heath noted as being related to hand washing/sanitation, have now been rectified allowing it to receive a Satisfactory rating.

The revisits to Calabria and other Cranford establishments sparked the suggestion by the Board of Health to instate fines for re-visits after the second failed inspection.

At the Cranford Committee meeting on Sept. 10, the committee introduced an ordinance that would include these fees.

Commissioner Andis Kalnins explained that the ordinance aims to protect the reputation of Cranford restaurants, rather than hurt them.

The original suggestion by the Board of Health was to fine an establishment $100 if they did not pass inspection after the second visit. Following that, it would be a $200 fine plus $150 inspector charge and the fourth failed inspection would be a $400 fine plus $150 inspector charge.

According to Megan Avallone of the Westfield Regional Board of Health, Cranford uses a part-time health inspector so each additional time he has to visit an establishment, it is costing Cranford the hourly rate of his services, which is why she suggested the additional inspector fee.