The New Jersey Department of Health has issued a notice that it will be revoking Hamilton Health Inspector Jeff Plunkett’s health license for “grossly failing to discharge duties as a health officer”.
Plunkett now facing the fate of losing his Health Inspector license is also awaiting trial on charges of Animal Cruelty and Official Misconduct from the Mercer County Prosecutors Office.
The state claims that Plunkett failed to comply with mandatory inspections of the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter and Adoption Center as well as retail food establishments over numerous years.
After an extensive set of investigations, the Department informed Plunkett “that for an indeterminate period of time that likely includes several decades, you did not ensure annual inspections of retail food establishments prior to issuing the establishments their yearly licenses, thereby violating public health laws.”
The Department of Health opened an investigation into Plunkett after receiving a complaint in September 2018 about his handling of the township animal shelter.
Public Health Director, Shereen Semple Semple claims that Plunkett delayed the investigation for weeks, dodging requests to be interviewed by DOH staff from Oct. 17 until Nov. 5, 2018.
Upon responding, Plunkett said he could not provide documentation requested by the state because it did not exist. Later, Office of Local Public Health investigators discovered that Plunkett admitted the shelter had never been inspected by the township health division.
The letter also claimed that Plunkett failed to inspect food establishments yearly to issue licenses.
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:52 Appendix Section I(a), the local board of health is required to ”conduct a retail food establishment program based upon State laws and regulations, including Chapter 12 of the State Sanitary Code and local ordinances, if applicable,” and “inspect retail food establishments…at least once a year.” N.J.A.C. 8:24-8.2(a) further provides that a local board of health is required to inspect a retail food establishment more frequently than once a year if deemed necessary.
Here, you failed to discharge your health officer duties pertaining to retail food establishments by failing to conduct annual inspections of the retail food establishments within your jurisdiction before issuing each establishment a license to operate. In fact, you admitted that all the restaurants in Hamilton Township were not inspected, but you issued licenses to the restaurants anyway. As such, you issued licenses to retail food 5 establishments without ensuring that the restaurants were sanitary and safe for the public to patronize. Accordingly, OLPH finds that for an indeterminate period of time that likely includes several decades, you did not ensure annual inspections of retail food establishments prior to issuing the establishments their yearly licenses, thereby violating public health laws by not fulfilling the requirements stated Public Health Director, Shereen Semple Semple.
The letter cites the now-infamous press conference when a case of Hepatitis A was discovered at Rosa’s Restaurant in which Plunket stated that all restaurants are inspected twice a year for safety.
Additionally, OLPH confirmed that Hamilton Township Division of Health only conducted an inspection of Rosa’s Restaurant after the Hepatitis A-infected food handler from that restaurant was reported, despite statements made by you during a press conference on December 2, 2014. At this press conference, you advised the public that your health inspectors inspect every restaurant within Hamilton Township twice a year, to ensure that food establishments are sanitary and that workers are using gloves and practice good hygiene. However, this statement proved to be false as your online records, as well as your own admission, demonstrate that the restaurants in your jurisdiction are not inspected yearly, let alone twice a year.
Plunkett has until Aug. 9 to appeal the decision. Without an appeal, Plunkett will lose his license, and would no longer be able to do his job as township health officer.
Yaede Blames Murphy Administration – Says Politics at Play!
Multiple calls to the Township were not returned for comment, but Yaede posted on the Hamilton Township Website her Go-To response of blaming Governor Phil Murphy and claiming politics was at play.
We, and all citizens of New Jersey, should be gravely concerned by these falsehoods, and conclude that this is a continuation by the Murphy Administration, on behalf of its chosen Mayoral candidate – Jeff Martin, to spread false claims about Hamilton Township and its career employees for political gain. The Murphy Administration’s Department of Health continues to destroy its credibility and trustworthiness.
Councilman Jeff Martin issues a statement on DOH Letter – says “Kelly Yaede created this crisis, supports local eateries!”
“Hamiltonians should have confidence in having a Mayor who prioritizes public health and safety, who does not lie, and who puts the public first; unfortunately, Hamilton has a Mayor with none of the qualities. If Mayor Yaede’s administration lied about the problems at the animal shelter and lied about conducting basic health inspections, what else is she and her administration lying about?”
“While Kelly Yaede created this crisis, I will work diligently with my fellow Council members to make sure Hamilton taxpayers get the services they pay for and ensure they regain confidence in our local government.”
“Hamilton’s many restaurants are fantastic and their owners, many of them Hamilton residents themselves, are fully committed to providing great food and a safe and clean environment for their customers. I think it speaks to their commitment to excellence that we have not had more health issues in town. I have no hesitation whatsoever in continuing to eat at Hamilton’s restaurants.”
Republican Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer issued the following statement-Says Mayor and Plunkett put public at risk!
What the mayor and Mr. Plunkett have done is place the health and safety of our residents at risk and in turn have created a negative impact for our local restaurants.
The state’s report clearly outlined facts regarding Mr. Plunkett’s performance or shall we say, lack of. This report stated, “grossly failed to discharge your duties as health officer.”
I believe the mayor was fully aware of what Mr. Plunkett was and was not doing but she simply did not care and did not want to be bothered as long as it was hidden from the council and the public. This situation highlights the fact that the mayor and her administration functioned with no accountability and above the law attitude. I wonder if she fully understands the gravity of what this revocation means. She must address the council and the public and take immediate action to correct this.
