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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 3/18/1993rf BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES - March 18, 1993 13 AM 3 M 2: 03 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Michael VanSplinter, Henry Austin.and- Carol Sosman f�'C'',';1, 1 J- - - -, ALSO PRESENT Health Agent Scott Leite 1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:35 PM by Chair VanSplinter in the Mansfield Town Hall 2. CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of Minutes of February 18, 1993 MOTION: To approve Consent Agenda. Austin / Sosman. All in favor. VOTED. 3. COMMUNICATIONS a. Copy of letters from GEI Consultants, Inc., to DEP and Town Manager, Feb. 16 and 18, 1993, respectively, re: Compo Chemical, Branch St. b. Copy of letter to Textron, Inc., from DEP, March 3, 1993, re: Former Gorham Silver Co. c. Letters to Henry Austin from Jeanne Albertini, 1 Villa St., March 1 and 10, 1993, respectively, re: Health problems at 1 Villa St. d. Copy of letter to Jeanne Albertini, March 11, 1993, re: Conditions at 1 Villa St. e. Copy of letter from DEP to HPC Realty Trust, 15 County St., March 10, 1993, re: Hatheway & Patterson. f. Letter from Michel & Mary LaCasse, 32 Cooper Lane, Larchmont, NY to Board of Health, March 12, 1993, re: Request for exemption from Article 1, Section 4 (Transfer of Ownership). Members suggested that Mr. Lacasse respond in writing as to why he is requesting the exemption (financial or technical) or he may appear before the Board to explain why. A letter will be sent to him addressing his options. 4. VISITORS At 7:40 approximately ten residents at 1 Villa St. addressed the Board as to why is took so long to remedy the situation at 1 Villa St.? The issues of alledged health violations and child neglect were discussed. The residents said that the issue erupted in October 1992 and finally settled in March 1993. They voiced loudly that they had rights as well as the tenant, and that they were living with an offensive odor and fruit flies in their apartments thatere was coming from her apartment. They questioned whose jurisdiction it was to remedy the situation -Board of Health or Dept. of Social Services? Health Agent and Board members attempted to answer their questions; however, the residents were not satisfied with the responses. Agent stated that this situation is confidential in nature and that he will not violate that confidence. He had made several attempts to inspect the apartment, was allowed in once and he also made approx. eight appointments to meet with the Board of Health Page 2 March 18, 1993 tenant, but they were cancelled. He helped take out her trash, asked what she needed, put West Side Benevolent Society in touch with her and even attempted to gain entrance recently with a Police Officer. He contacted DSS and reported the situation and they will be monitoring the baby's welfare for six months. Some residents were not satisfied with the Agent's attempts. Health members assured the residents that they were satisfied with Agent's attempts and had received progress reports at each BOH meeting. It is the Agent's job to enforce the sanitary code and he attempted to do so. The residents could have come to meetings or telephoned the Health Office with their concerns. Agent communicated with the landlord, who had been kept informed as to Agent's attempts. Residents wanted to know what they could have done and what they should do if something like this happens again. Gary Forget, a landlord of many units in Mansfield, interjected and told the residents that they should have con- tacted their landlord, who is ultimately responsible to ensure a pleasant quality of life for the other tenants. He, as a landlord, would never have allowed the situation to last six months. Residents appeared to be satisfied and by 8:15 discussion had ended. At 8:15 PM, Gary Forget addressed the Board with his concerns for the high fee ($75.00) for housing inspections that are required by the State for Section 8 and 707 housing. Mr. Forget said that the cost of inspections and the new State regulations for payment to landlords for welfare tenants will make renting to welfare tenants prohibitive for him. He asked if the Board could waive the fee or reduce it so that it is economically feasible for landlords to pay. He was also under the impression that landlords, who ask for housing inspections in general must pay a fee. Agent assured him that the fee is only for inspections required by the State. Discussion ended at 8:50 PM. Board will contemplate an adjustment to the fee at a later date. 5. HEALTH AGENT'S REPORT a. Bid for Household Hazardous Waste Day: Agent reported that two other companies that submitted bids were less expensive than Triumvirate based on types of waste collected. However, Triumvirate's setup cost was cheaper. Based on a dependable past working relationship with Triumvirate and the unknowns of what kind of waste will be collected, Agent recommended that the Board accept the bid from the Trivumvirate Co. MOTION: To accept the bid from Triumvirate, meeting bid specifications and not to exceed a total of $10,000, Austin /Sosman. All in favor. VOTED. b. Composting Area /DPW Garage: Agent met with Bob Swanson, DPW Director. Agent gave him the phone number of the tire removal company and Board of Health Page 3 March 18, 1993 told Mr. Swanson to review 310 CMR 16.00, Citing of Solid Waste Facilities State reg, and to return to Agent with a remedy. Agent gave an extension of time due to the recent snowstorms. c. Brugliera, Goward Dr.: There is an agreement to set wells and monitor groundwater. Mr. Brugliera has consistently cancelled appointments; therefore, the Board is back to square one. The original court date still stands. The charges against the Building Inspector, his secretary and Health Agent will be appealed by Mr. Brugliera; the Summary Judgment was awarded in favor of the Town of Mansfield. d. Noise Workshop: A selectmen asked Agent if he would be interested in attending a noise workshop as it pertains to Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts. Agent responded that former Board member Ed Rosenberg and Chair Michael VanSplinter were to the two BOH members involved in the noise survey. Chair VanSplinter offered to attend the workshop. A letter will be sent. e. Sewer Hookups: Village I and the first Edgewood Condo building will be hooking up to sewer. f. Edgewood Condos: FDIC took over. Last condo unit will hook up to town sewer. g. Villa St: Was addressed under "Visitors ". h. Ro- Jacks: Plan has been submitted (taking over former Superplace). Agent reviewed and plan looks okay. Now Ro -Jacks must apply for food service permit. i. DeGirolamo's ABC Operation, East St.: They have sent application to DEP for a permit for a permitted site. j. Compo, Branch St.: Seventy wells will be installed for monitoring purposes. k. Peres and Plans: 20 peres and 54 plans. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Sewer Reg: Attorney Joe Hannon's version of Article 2 was re- viewed. This is to replace the section on formulas originally considered by the Board. The burden is on the applicant to demonstrate that the required connection is not feasible and /or exempt from the reg. MOTION: To accept Article 2 as written and amend the Sewer Connection Reg to include Article 2. Austin /Sosman. All in favor. VOTED. Board of Health Page 4 March 18, 1993 b. Regulation for BOH Penalties: Members reviewed the reg submitted by the Agent. MOTION: To approve as presented and sign the Regulation for Board of Health Penalties as presented. Austin /Sosman. All in favor. VOTED. c. Non - Smoking Reg: Members discussed including in this reg the photo I.D. provision for the purchase of tobacco products. They also decided not to approve the reg until Member Steele returns since he spearheaded this topic. MOTION: To add a section to the non - smoking reg to require a phote I.D. for the purchase of tobacco products. Sosman /Austin. All in favor. VOTED. 7. NEW BUSINESS Member Sosman will not be present at next meeting, April 1st. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: To adjourn at 9:50 PM. Austin /Sosman. All in favor. VOTED. Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle Recording Secretary NEXT REGULAR MEETINGS: APRIL 1 AND 15, 1993 J .3