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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 12/3/1992BOARD OF HEALTH December 3, 1992 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Henry Austin, Michael and Ed Rosenberg ALSO PRESENT : Health Agent Scott Leite Q0mil) `Q, VanSplinter, Donald eeje, 1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:30 PM by Chair Austin in the Mansfield Town Hall. 2. CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of Minutes of November 19, 1992. b. Approval of Food Service Permit: Family Food Mart (new owners) MOTION: To approve Consent Agenda. Rosenberg /VanSplinter. All in favor. VOTED. 3. COMMUNICATIONS a. Letter from Community Visiting Nurse Agency, Nov. 12, 1992, thanking Health Agent and Secretary for their assistance with the flu clinics. b. Memo to Dept. Heads, etc. from Town Mgr., Nov. 30, 1992, re: Compo 1992 Annual Report. c. Memo from BOH to all Town Employees, Dec. 3, 1992, re: Health Clinic. d. Copy of letter from DEP to Hub Folding Box, Nov. 24, 1992, re: Deficiency in Comprehensive Plan Application. e. Copy of letter from DEP to Tri -State Fire Protection Co., Nov. 25, 1992, re: Mansfield Health Center. f. Mass. Assoc, Health Boards, Inc., Fall 1992 Newsletter. g. Letter from Sturdy Hospital, Nov. 25, 1992, re: International Traveler's Clinic. h. Tobacco Access Newsletter 4. VISITORS No one scheduled tonight. 5. HEALTH AGENT'S REPORT a. Rabies Conference: Agent attended the rabies conference on Dec. 1, 1992, and found it to be very interesting. Rabies has come up very quickly, in high numbers, in New York and Connecticut. Program was geared towards prevention and protection. Rabies is not really common in New England, as it is in other parts of the country. Regarding education: send flyers through the schools warning children not to pet strange animals or to get too close to wild animals. Wild animals that are lethargic may be ill with rabies. If adults notice animals acting strange, call the police, fire or animal inspector (who is the health agent). Also, adults should store trash to discourage raccoons, fox, etc., from getting into it. ( Board of Health Page 4 December 3, 1992 I 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: To adjourn at 9:50 PM. Rosenberg /Steele. All in favor. VOTED. Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle Recording Secretary NEXT REGULAR MEETING: DECEMBER 17, 1992 SEWER CONNECTION REG HEARING: DEC. 10TH, MHS AUDITORIUM, 7:30PM WILL BE TAPED BY CABLE. aierK uace Board of Health Page 2 December 3, 1992 Animals should not be shot in the head, because the head is used for testing. The Governor has recently signed into law that all cats are to be immunized against rabies, since they are the most susceptible. A tagged license does not have to be worn, but proof must be held with the owner of the cat. The innoculation is good for two years. A human vaccine is also available for those people who are at risk, i.e., animal control officer, police, fire, etc. If a person is bitten by an animal, wash immediately in warm soapy water, call animal officer, police, or fire to try to capture animal. If captured, then the animal can be quarantined and /or tested. Agent will contact Dr. Stanley Sohn, veternarian, to ask about a rabies clinic. These warnings will be distributed through the newpaper, schools and direct communication with employees at risk. b. Mansfield DPW: They are operating a small stump dump in back of their property (highway garage), near Canoe River. There's brush, asphalt, stumps, wood. They should have a permit to do so or transport it off site. c. DEP and Compo Chemical: The DEP manager of this project visited Health Agent's office and told him that this project was coming along just fine. Compo and GEI Consultants are not dragging their heels. This gentlemen is willing to speak with the Board and discuss their concerns. Agent will contact him to set something up. Members would like to talk with him about Compo and other areas in Town that they are concerned about. d. Peres: 88 Peres and 199 plans as of today. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Nonny Boys: Chair asked if Agent has been in their lately. He has not. b. Fluoridation: Member Rosenberg asked that Agent inquire if the cost of fluoridation is in the Capital Improvements Budget, and if it isn't then it should be included. Also, Secretary will contact Martha Wood, DPH, and ask if State funding looks promising. c. Draft Sewer Connection Reg: Chair informed everyone that Randall Moore, Essex St., has written a version of the sewer connection reg. Even though it was given to members that evening, ten minutes were set aside to read his reg and maybe incorporate some of sections into the BOH draft. Mr. Moore is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth. He commented that some communities protect groundwater by increasing setbacks, lawn sizes, and tightening other zoning requirements, not just by sewering. Those in the audience commented that then Chair of the Sewer Commissioners, Willie Sarro, told Town Meeting on October 7, 1992, that hook -up to sewer would be voluntary. They felt that the BOH should honor Board of Health Page 3 December 3, 1992 this statement. Chair said that Mr. Sarro's comment cannot not be reflected in this reg. This reg falls under the jurisdiction of the BOH and not the sewer commissioners. Various comparisons were made with the two drafts; Mr. Moore's seemed simpler in some areas, eliminated transfer of ownership section, and had no mandatory requirements. Agent and Mr. Moore will meet to discuss the formula section and come up with the best process. Member Steele commented that the next meeting with the public should be called a "public information" evening, since the Board has already received public input. Chair asked how many buildings in the downtown area have not yet been hooked up to sewer? Agent responded that the Town does not have the computer capabilities to keep track of that information. Member Steele's suggestion was 12 months mandatory hookup for commercial and 36 months for residential, from the date of the completion and operatability of the sewerline. His major concern was the 500 units off Stearns Ave. He offered to compromise on the timeframe for hookup for single family as long as the apartments hooked up ASAP. Member VanSplinter reminded the Board that in terms of density, the apartments are most problem area. Member VanSplinter suggested 36 months for commercial and 60 months for residential, keeping in mind the purposes of the reg and sewerline and today's economic climate. Agent commented that the more reasonable the BOH is, the easier it will be for people to hook up. Member Rosenberg replied that the purpose of the reg is to protect public water supply of the Town, and it needs to be reasonable; however, I don't know what the right numbers are - -maybe 60 months commercial, 84 months residential. Member Steele rebutted that he would be willing to go to 24 -60. Member Vansplinter came back with a middle compromise of 36 -60. Chair threw in 12 commercial and to go as far right as possible. MOTION: 36 months for commercial, 60 residential. VanSplinter /Steele. 2 -2, Steele, Austin opposed. FAILED MOTION: 12 months. commercial, 60 residential. Steele /Rosenberg. 3 -1. Austin opposed. VOTED Board agreed to get counsel's opinion of the timeframes. Member Rosenberg commented that it is a sad state when you have to refer to an attorney to see if what we are doing is okay. Agent responded that an attorney's opinion offers a sense of protection, rather than a false sense of security. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. State Reg for Heimlich Maneuver: there were State regs. Agent replied not look further.