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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEALTH02072013_201309160906Board of Health Minutes February 7, 2013 Present: Michael Healey, Chairman; Catherine Memory, Clerk; Nancy Wall; Michael McClean; Josdph'.debro}� rri) T �C� Scott Leite, Health Agent. 1. Call to Order @ 7:00 PM in Meeting Room 3 A/B 2. Consent Agenda a. Approval of January 3, 2013 minutes b. Approval of a Septage Pumping and Transporting Permit J. Hockman, Inc. Miles of Excavating Wind River Environmental c. Approval of a Disposal Works Installer Permit T &M Realty Corp. MOTION: To approve the Consent Agenda. DeGirolamo /McClean. Passed 4-0 -0 3. Correspondence: Nursing Reports for August, September, October, November, December 2012 and January 2013. lul3 i'PH q g: 03 MHOA letter: A tobacco retail inspection /compliance check was done in Mansfield on October 6, 2012. There was one violation. The retailer received a warning letter from the FDA. Mr. Leite said because the inspection was done at the federal level with federal contractors, no action is necessary at the local level. Mr. McClean asked if the board would want to consider following the same protocol they would follow if there were a violation on Marilyn Edge's process. He said there is no difference; it is still a minor buying tobacco products. Mr. Leite said the board can ask the retailer to attend the next meeting to discuss the violation and what steps have been taken to prevent a violation again. Mr. DeGirolamo asked about penalties enforced by the FDA for a second and third offense. Mr. Leite said he would contact Cheryl Sbarra, Senior Staff Attorney for Massachusetts Association of Health Boards about the levels of penalties. Mr. Leite said he will check to see if the ownership of the establishment has changed and if there are any prior violations. 4. Health Agent's Report 1. Flu: thirty-seven pediatric vaccines and thirty -five adult vaccines were given at a flu clinic held in January. Vaccinations were done by appointment because of the limited supply of vaccine. Mr. Leite said the response was low. Mr. Leite said approximately 500 residents received flu shots at the flu clinics held in November, December and January. Depending on the availability of the vaccine and public interest, at this time there are no plans for additional clinics. 2. Fluoride: Received a letter from a resident concerning the fluoridation of public drinking water in Mansfield. The resident is asking that the practice of adding fluoride to the drinking water be discontinued. The letter referenced several articles about fluoride. Mr. Leite said these articles are not for fluoride techniques in this country. The articles referenced were from studies done a number of years ago, with much higher concentrations of fluoride. The board was given a draft statement written by Mr. Leite. He said the board should adopt a statement that is uniform, to let people know where the information regarding fluoride comes from. The statement would then be put on the Board of Health web site. Ms. Memory reviewed the statement. The first paragraph refers to the Massachusetts Public Health and the United States Center for Disease Control as sources of information and recommendations. The second paragraph would give information on the rate the Town of Mansfield Fluoridates its drinking water. The third paragraph will refer to studies regarding fluoride, telling people they should be aware of the concentrations of fluoride in the drinking water being discussed, how recent the study was and whether it has been through a process of review. The fourth paragraph would inform people that once the fluoride has been added to the drinking water, the Board of Health cannot order fluoridation to be discontinued. It also gives information for residents who would like to see fluoridation discontinued. Mr. McClean asked why the Board of Health cannot discontinue the fluoride. Mr. Leite explained that the state statute only gives the Board of Health the authority to order fluoridation but not to remove it. Ms. Memory asked, if a resident wanted to pursue discontinuing the fluoridation, what steps would have to be taken. Mr. Leite said they should contact the Department of Public Works to ask that the funding be stop and contact the Town Clerk to submit a warrant article for Town Meeting. Ms. Memory asked that paragraph four of the statement define more clearly what steps need to be taken to discontinue fluoridation. A copy of the statement will be sent to the resident. 3. Fees: A spreadsheet of all Board of Health fees with the cost and the level of time needed to process each permit was given to the board. Mr. Leite said a comparison was done of Mansfield's fees versus the fee schedules from other towns. Mr. Leite asked that the fees for residential kitchens, private well permits, and recreational camps not be raised. He explained the residential kitchens are for baked goods only, nothing that would require hot or cold holding, requiring the product be kept above 160 degrees or below 41 degrees to prohibit the growth of bacteria. By keeping the permit fee low, it encourages small businesses. He said he wants to encourage homeowners to inform the town when a private well has been put in and, with the cost of installing a well, does not want to burden the homeowner with a high permit fee. The cost for recreational camps is set at $50.00 but Mr. Leite told the board it is a very involve process to permit the camps, with an extensive plan submitted for approval. He said the camp facility must be physically inspected before the camp can open. Ms. Memory said this is a consistent approach based on the actual time and work involved for the permitting process. Mr. McClean said the fee schedule makes it easier to adjust the fees in the future if procedures change. Mr. Leite explained there is a separate regulation for fees so the board can amend the fee schedule without having to amend all the Board of Health regulations. He said because this is a fee increase, the board can vote to adopt the new fees now or an advertisement can be placed and a public hearing held. The board asked that the new fee schedule be advertised and a public hearing be posted for the next meeting. Mr. Leite asked that two BOH regulations be eliminated: Regulation on the Disposition of Infectious Waste — it is no longer practical and there is an extensive state law in place — and Disposition of Used Motor Oil — the state law is more stringent. Mr. Healey made a motion to discontinue the BOH policies for the disposition of used motor oil and infectious waste that are no longer needed because of state regulations. Ms. Wall seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 -0 -0. 5. New Business: 6. Old Business: Mr. Leite told the board he has not heard from Town Counsel regarding the draft regulation prohibiting private wells in the area of the Hercules landfill site. Reorganization: Motion to reorganize. Wall /Memory. Motion passed 5 -0 -0. Motion to nominate Ms. Memory as Chair. Healey /McClean. Motion passed 4 -0 -1. Motion to nominate Mr. McClean as Clerk. DeGirolamo/Wall. Motion passed 4 -0 -1. 7. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn: DeGirolamo/Wall. Passed Next eeting ill be arc , 013 at 7:00 pm Clerk Date All matters listed under Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the Board of Health and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately. A TRUE COPY ATTEST: PfARI E E. STAPLES TOWN CL OF AfANSFIELD