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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 2/3/1994C? BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES �� n February 3, 1994 =' - y� (P MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Henry Austin, Clerk Donald Ste ,e, 6� ry_l Forget and Carol Sosman U� c{ � 0 ALSO PRESENT: Health Agent Scott Leite 1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:40 PM by Chair Austin in the Town Hall. CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of Minutes, January 20, 1994 b. Approval of Hauler's Permit: Browning - Ferris Industries C. Approval of Disposal Works Installer's Permit: Overall Construction Co., Mansfield MOTION: To approve Consent Agenda with the addition of The Gardens of Adam Snack Food Permit. Sosman /Forget. All in favor. VOTED. 3. COMMUNICATIONS a. Letter Community Visiting Nurse Agency, Jan. 7, 1994, re: Summary of services provided in 1993. b. Copy letter Donald W. Steele, Jan. 12, 1994, to State Ethics Commission, asking, "Are there any actual or potential conflicts of interest that I need to be aware of, as a partner of one member, or as a member of a partnership that has a lease with another member of the Board ?" c. Memo to all Boards, etc., Jan. 20, 1994, re: Chairman's Workshop on Feb. 10th. d. Memo of congratuations from Chair of Selectmen to Henry Austin and Donald Steele as Chair and Clerk. e. Memo Town Mgr, to All Dept. Heads, Jan. 24th, re: Budget and Revenue Estimates, FY94, and Agent's response, Jan. 26th. f. Copy memo to Board Selectmen from Health Agent, Building Inspector, Environmental Planner, Jan. 24th, Paine School Hours g. Memo Town Mgr. to Carol Sosman, Chair Tobacco Control Grant, Jan. 25th, re: Computer equipment. h. Copy letter GEI Consultants to Town Mgr., Jan. 26th, re: Compo report to Board Selectmen on Feb. 23rd. i. Memo to CIP from Health Agent, Jan. 26th, re: Fluoridation j. Fax letter Robert Nugent, Jr. Atty. to Atty. Joe Hannon, Jan. 27th, re: Brugliera. k. Report, Jan. 27th, EPA, re: Hatheway- Patterson. Member Steele requested a copy. 1. Groundwater Technology, Jan. 28th, re: S. Main /Textron. Board of Health Page 2, Feb. 3, 1994 4. VISITORS Gail Farrugia, COA Director met with Board to discuss her role in human services. (Acting Police Chief O'Neil was also invited, but was unable to attend). Member Steele gave a history of the $5,400 donation first made to Attleboro Area Mental Health Association, later to become Human Services of Southeastern Mass., and now, VersaCare. Board would like to see this money earmarked for mental health services for Mansfield residents. Board has always been unclear as to where the $5,400 was being spent with VersaCare; even though they asked for a breakdown, a clearly defined one was never received. Member Steele cited some areas where the money could be spent. For example, suicide prevention (both short and long- term), family therapy sessions, substance abuse, crisis intervention for all ages. How do we get it to the people who need it? Mrs. Farrugia quoted that her newly hired part -time licensed social worker has 71 families with 102 children. 25 -35 are AFDC (single mothers, exhausted unemployment benefits and now have no where to turn). There are additions everyday with a host of problems: mental health, 60 yrs. under with no insurance, no medicare, no disability, and no transportation to go to counseling. There is crisis intervention with the good samaritan telephone line. Social worker has developed a five page application for every family so that documentation can be maintained as to what services they are receiving (food, medication, electric /fuel assistance). She is also working on programs for parenting, nutrition, homemaking, etc. Senior citizens are taken care of through a grant for elders with mental health. She continued to say that she will be working with the Police Dept. when cases such as serious as suicide arise. MOTION: To direct the $5,400 to the Council on Aging, to begin July 1, 1994, and receive report as to where and how the money was spent. Forget /Steele. All in favor. VOTED Member Steele asked that the money be targeted for mental health, and Member Sosman asked that the $5,400 be kept in the BOH budget, but that the COA use the account number for mental health. Mrs. Farrugia will contact human service and mental health agencies to see what they offer. Letter will be sent to VersaCare to confirm the June 30, 1994 final payment. Discussion ended at 8:40PM. Board of Health Page 3, Feb 3, 1994 5. HEALTH AGENT'S REPORT a. Fluoride: There appears to be some confusion as to how much the implementation of fluoridation will cost. The design may not fit in one of the well houses. Agent will ask Fred Barker for the plans, since the State designs the systems for communities. Board will review and make a decision as to whether the Town funds the project or wait for State funding. b. Hatheway & Patterson: EPA and DEP will attend meeting on Feb 17th, 7:30PM, to discuss and update Board on H -P. This is the opportunity for the Board to ask any questions they wish. C. Brugliera: Judge allowed a Summary Judgment. Pressure is on. Brugliera's attorney sent a counter proposal to Atty. Hannon. d. 340 S. Main St.: The probing in the streets around Textron site has not yet begun due to freezing temperatures. Letters will be sent letting residents know when it will begin. Waiting for a thaw. e. Budget Meeting: Went well with Finance Committee. They asked us (as well as everyone else) if we could review fee structure. Agent feels that fees should be rationally based on Mansfield's needs, not on what area towns charge. Member Sosman asked if it was appropriate to make back half of the department's expenses through fees? Chair wondered if the Fincom should be telling departments how much to bring in for revenue. Agent reported that the Fincom asked the Board to revisit the $10,000 request. Would $5,000 do? If there was a serious emergency, money could always be transferred from Reserve Account. f. Household Hazardous Waste Collection: Will be either April 23rd or the 30th. RFPs have been sent out. g. Zone II: Planning Board will be presenting zoning amendments at annual town meeting. This zoning is to protect groundwater in areas around public water supply well. Agent reviewed and gave his comments to each member for their review. h. Peres and Plans: 1 perc and 2 plans. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Tobacco Grant: The part -time Health Educator, Sheila Miller, will start her new position this week. The Coordinator's position received eleven resumes, and three finalists were chosen $2,300. The grant Board of Health Page 4, Feb. 3, 1994 to be interviewed next week. Police Dept. offered an old computer for $2,800 whereas a state -of- the -art rental can be had for allows for only $500 to be spent on computer equipment. Agent suggested that the BOH computer system, incl. printer, be rented to the grant office for $500 and that the BOH purchase a new system and apply the $500 towards it. A 486 with a laser color printer could run $1500 and $2000. Concensus was to go for it as long as the mechanics of funding and account numbers can be worked out. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Water Quality: Member Sosman's neighbors asked about the town's drinking water quality. She asked Agent to supply her with reports from the Water Dept. so that she can read them and learn more the water quality. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: To adjourn at 10:00 pm. Steele /Sosman. All in favor. VOTED Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle Recording Secretary NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 17, 1994 Date