PRESENT: Chair: Ryan. Members: Kaplowitz, Mosiello, and Wishnie. Staff: Hoch.

ALSO PRESENT: Richard Linkowski, Deputy Director, Department of Consumer Protection and the County Sealer.

Mr. Ryan called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

The outstanding minutes will be held over until the next meeting for review.

Mr. Ryan asked the Members to consider amending the point of sale notification legislation that deals with the posting of certain notices for spray paints, box cutters, and laser pointers. In November, the Committee reported a proposed law to the full Board. It was laid over and then recommitted by Mr. Ryan for further Committee consideration of its provisions.

Mr. Ryan said he had been contacted by the Food Industry Alliance which represents food stores in the County. The Alliance asked for an opportunity to recommend changes to the proposed law including notice specifications and the effective date of the legislation. Mr. Ryan said the concern was reasonable and the Committee would want to cooperate with business.

Program Specialist Robert Hoch explained that representatives of the Food Industry Alliance had problems with the large size of the required notices and the "immediate" effective date of the legislation. Mr. Hoch said that New York City’s posting requirements for tobacco sales – a point of sale notice smaller, but similar in form to what is proposed here - could be used in our proposed law. Also, the effective date for posting notices could be set at 30 days after enactment of the law. This would give retailers time to obtain the necessary notices and post them in their stores. The County Attorney did not find either of the changes substantial to warrant another public hearing.

Mr. Ryan asked Mr. Linkowski to comment on the proposed law and the changes being recommended. Mr. Linkowski said the new sign would be better received by the business community and if it could be placed at point of display rather than at the point of sale where space is at a premium. The sign would also mirror the requirements of the Household Hazardous waste.

Mr. Linkowski said that the $150.00 maximum penalty for a violation is low. It doesn’t even cover the cost of an inspection. The penalty should at least be set at a maximum of $500.00 as in the consumer code.

For uniformity of size and message, the signs should be printed by the County. It would be relatively inexpensive to print a large quantity of signs with the County Seal.

Mr. Wishnie suggested that the sign read "WARNING", instead of "NOTICE", so that it will catch the consumer’s attention. He also suggests that the words "spray paints, box cutters and laser pointers be underlined

for emphasis.

Mr. Mosiello suggested the signs be printed in a color other than white with black lettering… we need something brighter to catch the eye.

The Members agreed to consider an amended version of the legislation that includes changes discussed at this meeting. Mr. Ryan will ask the County Attorney to prepare the new legislation for Committee review.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.

*For more detailed information, a tape is on file.