One of Seneca County’s largest locally owned grocery stores has a public health administrative hearing scheduled over COVID-19 violations.
In a notice sent from the County Attorney’s Office, an administrative hearing was scheduled for Sauder’s Store Inc. on December 9th at 10 a.m.
Sauder’s Store Inc., located at 2146 River Road in Seneca Falls is alleged to have failed to abide by the applicable New York State Law and Regulations pertaining to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
County Attorney David Ettman said in an email that the Health Department has actively been involved with compliance issues at the store since early in the pandemic. “This includes letters, personal meetings, coordination with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, and other efforts,” he explained. “Their business operations have generated far and away the most complaints from the community than from any other business or activity.”
Three primary violations are listed in the documents:
1) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH EMPLOYEE FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS
“That on October 13, 2020, at approximately 10:00 a.m., 10 employees were observed not in compliance with the required face covering as set forth by regulation.”
2) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH EMPLOYEE FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS
“That on October 17, 2020, at approximately 2:00 p.m., multiple employees were observed not in compliance with the required face covering as set forth by regulation.”
3) FAILURE TO PROVIDE FOR ADEQUATE SPACE FOR CUSTOMER SOCIAL DISTANCING
“That on October 17, 2020, at approximately 2:00 p.m., store conditions were over-crowded, in particularly at check-out registers, such that it became impossible for customers to maintain appropriate spacing when check-out lines interfered with shopping aisles. Store was previously advised that restricted entry or modification of customer traffic flow was necessary to address large numbers of customers.”
According to the documents, each violation carries a maximum fine of up to $1,000.
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