HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 2/3/1994C?
BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES �� n
February 3, 1994 =' -
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Henry Austin, Clerk Donald Ste ,e, 6� ry_l
Forget and Carol Sosman U�
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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