Wayne council approved massage parlor regulation changes

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WAYNE - The township council voted 6-0 Wednesday night on an ordinance that would tighten up massage parlor regulations per changes made on the state level. Three council members were absent for the vote.
The revisions to the original ordinance already on the books come on the foot tails of the state's reconfiguring of its own law derived from the Division of Consumer Affair's Board of Nursing, which oversees massage, bodywork and somatic therapists.
The biggest change is that the township will only handle licensing checks on shop owners/operators referred to as "applicants." The businesses will be asked to update these lists when new employees are hired. And inspections will still be conducted by health department officials.
All bodywork and somatic therapists working at an establishment must show proof they are certified by the state per the Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapist Certification Act.
According to the town's revamped ordinance employees would be prohibited from "placing their hand or any part of their body on or fondle in any manner or massage a person's genital area." In addition, it also requires that "a patron's genital area must be covered by towels, cloths, or undergarments when in the presence of an employee, massage, bodywork or somatic therapist."
The town's health department also requires sterilization plans from establishments for non-disposable instruments and materials, which would need to be disinfected following each usage and kept in a sanitary location.
Another sector of the newly adopted ordinance calls for facilities to have a sink in each room and all facilities to contain a shower area, despite other neighboring towns such as Totowa whose requirements are more lenient.
Establishments that exist prior to this ordinance are grandfathered, but must abide by the state's rules for licensing. However if a business makes any substantial changes to their facilities, then they would have to adhere to the town's new laws regarding the sinks and showers.
"We're going to send more inspectors out to make sure everyone is adhering to the rules," said Mayor Chris Vergano.
These conditions do not apply to licensed physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, or establishments that contain these persons. However licensed barbers or cosmetologist/hairstylists, manicurists/pedicurist whose work is contained to the upper portion of the body are also not included. However nail salons that have massage chairs must abide by the new laws.