Two convenience stores have been fined for selling tobacco products to minors.

During the recent Chautauqua County Board of Health meeting, board members approved the agreements to settle and recommendations made by the hearing officer.

It was announced at the meeting that on Jan. 3, a hearing was held before Hon. Betsy Steger, the designated County Board of Health Hearing Officer for Dunkirk Express, located at 81 E. Fifth St., Dunkirk.

On Aug. 29, a clerk working at Dunkirk Express sold a tobacco product to an individual under the age of 21, a violation of the state’s Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act.

Dunkirk Express had also sold tobacco to a person under 21 in January, 2023 and was fined for that incident as well.

For the August violation, Dunkirk Express was fined $1,000 and a $250 surcharge. Also, two points were added to Dunkirk Express’ record, retained by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance.

Because of the number of points, the business was suspended from selling tobacco for one year.

In a separate matter, Reliance Enterprises, doing business as The General Store, located at 2501 S. Work St., Falconer was fined $300 and a $250 surcharge for violating the state’s under age tobacco law as well for a first violation.

County health officials say they send underage individuals to county businesses that sell tobacco and have them try to make a purchase. The individual is given cash but no identification.

If the business sells the tobacco product to the underage individual, the business is then cited for violating the state’ underage tobacco law.

County officials say they are required by the state to visit every business that sells tobacco to see if they will sell tobacco to underage individuals. The state provides the county with a list of businesses that have a license to sell the product.

The county also checks businesses to see if they have the required signage necessary to sell tobacco and to ensure the tobacco can’t be accessed by those under 21.

Along with the two underage tobacco violations, there were 40 violations of respondents failing to submit monthly operations records for public water supplies, failing to submit bacteriological monitoring, failing to collect disinfection byproduct samples, failing to collect PFOA or PFOS monitoring, or failure to exercise due care and diligence in the operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant. Two of the respondents had three violations, three of the respondents had two violations, and the remaining 28 had a single violation.

Water violations are $100 each. All those cited paid their fines.