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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH 11/13/2025Town of Mansfield Board of Health November 13, 2025 Minutes Mission Statement: The mission of the Mansfield Board of Health is to protect, preserve anil'f improve the public health, environment, and wellbeing of our citizens through the enforcement of federal, state, and local statutes and regulations, education and promotion of sanitary living;abd working conditions, and protection of the environment from disease and pollution. Present: Kasia Frenette, Chair, Ryan Maxwell, Graham Wilson, Chris West, Emily Beura, Amy Donovan -Palmer. Absent: None Guests: Luther Grant, Carl and Valorie Richardson, Jennifer Healy, Lorine & Dean Boucher, Arlene and Dave Coccia, Doug and Noridge LaCamerg, Dan Merrikin. The meeting was called to order at 7:OOpm on November 13, 2025 by Mrs. Kasia Frenette. None. Motion to approve the consent agenda made by Ryan Maxwell, seconded by Graham Wilson. Passed unanimously 5-0. None. Ms. Donovan -Palmer shared with the board that we are here today to follow up with the discussion of the Gilbert Street proposed shared septic for 8 houses, a letter from Dan of possible conditions of approval, which was sent to Town Council. Town Council pointed out in response that within the Town Regulations variances can be granted when prohibiting a variance will create manifest injustice. Manifest Injustice means under Title 5 where a variance is requested for new construction, the applicant must show that the regulation would deprive the applicant of substantially all beneficial use of the property in order to be manifestly unjust. ''i On this land there is a spot to put 1 maybe 2 houses for a septic system. It's not manifestly unjust to not grant a variance. The way the Regulations are written, the property can still be beneficially used, if the Board does not grant a variance. There is an ability to use that land, it just may not be for the number that is proposed. According to the regulations, for granting a variance we need to meet certain standards, and if we were to grant shared septic systems, it wouldn't be at the variance level, the Board would need to change the regulations. Ms. Frenette informed the Board that we received 10 emails from residents in opposition of this variance request. Dan Merrikin approached the podium from Legacy Engineering. Mr. Merrikin shared that this site could be developed as a condominium style, and if it was done that way it's not a shared system with none of the provisions of title 5 relative to shared systems would apply. The Board has leeway to decide on modifying the regulations to allow a shared system with conditions, which provides protection to the Board of Health. Mrs. Frenette opened the floor to public comment. Mr. Luke Grant approached the podium a resident from 69 Creeden Street. Mr. Grant has been a licensed excavator in the town on Mansfield for 45 years, and has worked on numerous systems, Gilbert Street presents lots of clay, and a high-water table. The concept of the shared system concerns Mr. Grant. He would caution the Board to run with the current rules and regulations. Mr. Grant shares it's not a great spot for it, with a little pod of upland and a whole bunch of lowland. This land has been overlooked for a reason Mr. Grant concluded. Mr. Dean Bucher approached the podium stating he is opposed to the shared systems. He informed the Board that most of the land on the west side is underdeveloped, and has had many proposals to build on it, but was unsuccessful because of failed percolation. Mr. Bucher would do everything he could personally to avoid buying a home with a shared septic, even with all the legal protections being suggested. Mr. Bucher explained to the Board that there are so many factors to keeping a septic system in good condition, and he's concerned that when it's a shared system, the level of care might not be a priority to all parties involved. Mr. Bucher asked the Board how much money it is to install a shared septic. Mrs. Frenette responded that it is hard to determine the cost until the plans are designed. Mrs. Donovan -Palmer informed Mr. Bucher that if this request went through, part of the required condition, is there would need to be 130% in the HOA/Escrow fund to replace a shared system if it were to fail and be replaced. Mr. Doug LaCamerg approached the podium. He asked that when a septic system fails, is it not always guaranteed you can put it back where it was. Mr. Maxwell responded that when you design a new system, you have to design a fully compliant one, and then you leave space for a reserve. So, all design plans spatially incorporate two systems, in case the original fails. Mrs. Beura opened the discussion with sharing that the job of the Board of Health is to understand whether the shared systems pose a health threat or not, and how does it affect the community. Mrs. Donovan -Palmer responded that she is confident that if the shared septic systems were allowed, the system that is designed and built will be in Title 5 compliance. When you follow the local regulations, this doesn't meet the conditions to grant a variance. Mrs. Donovan -Palmer followed up by stating in this discussion, we should focus on two questions. Can this Board grant a variance? And then, separate from that, does this Board want to remove or modify the regulations? Mr. Maxwell feels shared systems are a little misunderstood. They are probably safer for the environment than conventional systems. This 28-acre property only has a small pocket of where a septic system could go, so the property really can't support 8 buildings. Mrs. Emily Beura made a motion to deny the variance for the assessor's parcel on Gilbert Street from the local regulations from Mansfield Board of Health. The request is not meeting the variance requirement for the manifest injustice. Passed unanimously 5-0. We had a couple businesses required to come to the meeting to discuss their FOG violations. Ms. Donovan -Palmer explained to the Board that our FOG regulations state that each business to pump their internal grease trap monthly, and external grease trap, if they have one quarterly. Each business who is unable to supply pumping records to the health department for the year prior for renewing their 2026 permit will be required to show up at the next BOH meeting to explain to the Board Why they have not been following the regulations and what plan is in place to correct it moving forward. The first business to approach the podium is owner of Arman's Pizza, who explained to the Board that he did pump the internal trap himself, and wasn't aware that it needed to be done by a pumping company. He did use a pumping company for 5 months, and then began pumping it himself. Moving forward Arman's will only use a pumping company and will send documentation to confirm the service. The next business to approach the podium was Hometown Bakery. Mrs. Coccia, owner of Hometown Bakers, explained to the Board that her attempts to get a pumping company to come out was not an easy task. The manager of Station Square has agreed to financially pay to have the external trap pumped 4 times a year. Mrs. Coccia shares the external grease trap with the cafe next door, and feels it's unreasonable to have it pumped quarterly. The Board did suggest applying for a variance, but since the management at Station Square has agreed to take care of the external trap, it seems unnecessary. Mrs. Donovan -Palmer made sure that Mrs. Coccia was aware that she is responsible for having the management company reach out to the pumping company, and that they are coming to do the pumping 4 times a year. Mrs. Emily Beura shared an educational talk focused around Kratom. Mrs. Frenette stated that the presentation is for educational and informational purposes only, and will not be taking any public comments at this time. Mrs. Frenette shared that the flu is ramping up a little bit, and Flu and Covid vaccines are still available. None. Free Health Screenings including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, Hands only CPR and associated prevention information • 2nd Tuesday at the COA, 255 Hope Street, 9am-12pm • 3rd Wednesday at Town Hall, 6 Park Row, 9am-12pm Our Regional Public Health Nurse offers a public health educational talk the first Wednesday of every month. • December's topic is Winter storm Preparation and Safety. • Permitting — 2026 Permit Renewals • Bristol -Norfolk Public Health Partners Coalition Grants Update • PFAS • Website/ Social Media Update • Housing Inspections • FOG • Grants o FDA Retail Standards Grant None. None. Motion to adjourn at 8:27pm made by Mr. Ryan Maxwell, seconded by Mr. Graham Wilson Approved 5-0. CG �l 2 Clerk Date 0