The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutBOH Minutes 11/3/1994u BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES sir! I2 November 3, 1994 Members Present: Clerk Donald Steele, Carol Sosman, Gary Forget and Peter FontariiM I (Arrived at 8:00PM) Others Present Scott Leite, Health Agent 1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:46 PM by Clerk Steele in the Town Hall. At 7:46 the following motion was made: MOTION: To take "Visitors" portion of meeting out of order. Forget/Sosman. All in favor. VOTED See 4. Visitors for content 2. CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of Minutes of October 20, 1994 b. Approval of One -Day Food Service Permit: United Methodist Church (Request for waiver of fee) c. Approval of Disposal Works Installers Permit: Fort Builders, Mansfield MOTION: To approve Consent Agenda. Forget/Fontanini. All in favor. VOTED 3. COMMUNICATIONS a. Groundwater Technology, Oct. 26, 1994, Update 340 S. Main St. and Short Term Meaure System Status Report, Feb. through April 1994. b. Community Visiting Nurse Agency, Home Life Adovcate, Fall 1994 c. Copy letter to Judith Scott, Town Clerk, from Henry Austin, Nov. 2, 1994, re: His resignation effective immediately. d. Memo to all Board & Committee applicants from Chair Selectmen, Oct. 27, 1994, re: Schedule for interview with Board of Selectmen. e. Water Analysis Reports, Oct. 18, 1994 to Oct. 25, 1994. f. Request for Rabies Exam, Oct. 31, 1994, cat, negative. g. 38 peres and 148 plans I tli-LI Y ICIRR Present for discussion were: Bill Williams, Town Mgr., Bob Swanson, Town Engineer, Bob Button, Emergency Mgmt Director, Police Chief Arthur O`Neill, Fire Chief Ed Sliney and DPW Office Clerk, Betty Amicone. Board of Health ( Page 2, November 3, 1994 Acting Chair Steele prefaced the meeting by saying that the Board wants to encourage better communication, use of more volunteers by asking members of board to participate, more organized handouts for people manning phones or disseminating info for any emergency that we all have a stake in.. Town Manager replied that there is a Local Emergency Planning Council in place and that Bob Button is the local Director of the Emergency Management Team (formerly Civil Defense). Some examples of their involvment in town -wide emergencies were: Hurricane Bob, Conlon and Donnelly fire, Blizzard of 78, Compo Chemical fire, and the recent "water boil" emergency. Fire Chief, Director EMT and Town Mgr. have been trained for disasters. The "Team" communicates to the Department Head and the Dept. Head communicates with its Board. The Health Agent is a member of the Team, State Armory provided water buffalos. Volunteers manned the buffalos and delivered water to those who could not pick it up. Clerical office staff worked 14 hours /day. Information was given to hospitals, physicians, etc. Town Manager looks forward to easier and faster communication when town offices are under one roof. Without communication lines through I -net or E -mail, communication is sometimes more difficult during an emergency. Even though plans are in place, commented Mr. Button, we learn from each experience and tune up our plans. Your input tonight will be considered at the next local planning for emergencies meeting. Member Sosman said that board members are a valuable resource. Town Mgr's office is central control, Mgr. responded, and each department must gather their volunteers to disseminate their info that pertains to them; i.e., volunteers to disseminate info to food establishments for the Health Department. Member Sosman commented that getting the "word" out could improve. Mgr. responded that Sun Chronicle reported in Friday's paper. (State emergency declared 8:OOAM Friday). Was immediately on Cable 5 and 6, Cable programs with staff on Cable 8 occurred, during the weeks. Unfortunately some people expected door -to -door contact -- impossible to do. On Thursday, Bob Swanson, Town Engineer, contacted Health Agent to tell him of the bacteria in three wells, but State had not yet declared emergency. Agent immediately contacted each member and continued posting each member during the crisis. Everyone agreed that overall the "crisis" had been taken care of in a very professional manner. Again, one learns from each incident and there will surely be improvements if there is a next time. Board of Health Page 3, November 3,1444 Regarding different topics: Chief ONeil, who lives on Ware St., asked if any research on the cluster of pediatric cancer cases on Ware St. will be done. Agent responded that Mary Fisher, RN, who is doing a school project, will be undertaking this subject of concern and will submit her findings to the Board of Health. Board asked about cutting into a newly paved street for the purpose of hooking to sewer due to failed septic system or a transfer of ownership of property. If a road is paved with Ch. 90 funds from Mass. Highway, the guideline is no cut for five to seven years. If paving is done with taxpayers' money, policy is no cut for two years. Town Manager's personal opinion was that if the hook up to sewer is beneficial, then the road should be cut and each decision should be made on a case by case basis. Board will send a letter to Road Commissioners/Selectmen re: road cuts. Town Engineer Swanson explained the copper discharge from the sewer treatment plant and the EPA requirements. We can have copper in our drinking water, but we can only discharge a small amount into the Taunton River Basin. The KOH system that has been installed controls the ph levels in the drinking water, Foxboro and Mansfield do well with their industrial discharge into the sewer system, but Norton needs some assistance. Discussion ended at 9:10 PM. S. HEALTH AGENT'S REPORT a. 1264 East St., Housing Inspection: Heating system has been condemned. Have filed complaint in housing court. b. 21 Judy's Lane: Landlord, after being advised on proper procedure for renting her house, disregarded Health Agent's advice. She is running an apartment house is a residential zone. Will turn case over to Zoning Enforcement Officer. e. Smithfield Estates: Off Balcom St. History of area is a dump of asphalt, brick and concrete (ABC rubble) that should be considered a landfill. WiII comment during subdivision review. d. FY96 Expense Budget: Same expense budget as last year, except for professional development, which doubled, due to new Title V law and seminars related to it.. Also, a revenue budget has to be submitted, therefore, new fees for Title V will have to be determined. Board of Health Page 4, November 3, 1994 e. 68 Williams St.: Plan submitted will require lifting the system 1'. Perc was a five minute /inch, but soil was very fine. Therefore, the F raise will be more effective. f. Peres and Plans: 38 peres and 158 plans. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Cobbler's Corner: No word from Mr. Willis, the developer, re: sewerline. b. Tobacco Control Update: New year is starting up. Another part-time person has been hired for 12 hours /week. She is a respiratory therapist. Sheila Miller's job has been expanded to 25 hours /week. Regarding the signs (for advertising tobacco products) on sidewalks, if there is a concern with zoning, a letter should be sent to the zoning enforcement officer, advised Agent. Member Sosman read an article from Brookline re: their enforcement of their tobacco town bylaw. 7. NEW BUSINESS MOTION: To adjourn at 9:30 PM Fontanini/Forget. All in favor. VOTED Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle, Recording Secretary NEXT MEETING: NOV. 17, 1994, TOWN HALL Date: I