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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 01/07/2014 Board of Health Meeting January 7, 2014 PG. 1 APPROVED MINUTES COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES DATE: THURSDAY,JANUARY 7, 2014 TIME: 7:00 PM PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—2ND FLOOR BREAK ROOM 41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET, MA 02025 Board Members Present: Margaret S. Chapman, Chair Elizabeth L. Kirkpatrick Robin Lawrence Staff Present: Felix Zemel (FZ), Health Administrator Angela Geso, Clerk/Admin Meeting called to order at 7.02 pm. After due discussion, the next BOH meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 2014. There were two hearings that didn't send out notices: 151 Sohier and 9 Cedar Acres Lane so they are continued. However,their spots were filled by two emergencies: 132 Chief Justice Cushing Highway (Old Colony Square) and 234 King Street. HEA LT H AGENT'S REPORT : Felix will be working on updating the national certification test regarding Healthy Housing and will be attending a conference in Colorado from Feb. 3 to 7. He performed an inspection at a house on the corner of Cedar and Hull St. where he had been called to check on a leaching field and rodents. When he entered the home he found numerous violations which he documented. He did not find evidence of rodents or a problem with the leaching field.The home is owned by Willmarc Charles and is in the process of being foreclosed on by the bank. Felix is working with the owner and the mortgage company to get the issues resolved. The Title 5 updates adopted by the DEP in December are effective as of January 3, 2014. The biggest change is that shared systems will no longer be reviewed the DEP and are now the sole jurisdiction of the towns. Variances will also be handled by the town with no DEP review. Eventually the local Boards will approve tight tanks. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE DATABASE UPDATE: Elizabeth Kirkpatrick received a response from Rev. Gary Ritz of 2nd Congregational Church that he refers people to get counseling when warranted. They are going to extend the deadline for response. PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE REPORT: Mary Goodwin has been giving vaccines in the office and has been seeing residents for other issues as well on a regular basis. She has used 600 doses of the vaccine. Mary attended the meetings for the Town Manager candidates in Felix's place. 7:30 PM: DSCP HEARING— 302 NORTH MAIN STREET, LOT#1, REPRESENTED BY MORSE ENGINEERING IN ATTENDANCE:JIM MAGNER/BUYER; PHIL AND JOANN LEHR/ABUTTERS;JEFF MORSE This hearing regards a septic update.The former cesspool has been abandoned and a new gravity-flow septic system is being installed. Adjustments were made to the plans to provide a 10-ft. separation to septic components and the water line. Soil tests were consistent and the perc rate is 2 min per inch.The grading is wrapped to create a swale to avoid the neighbor's property. Mr. Lehr expressed concern with Board of Health Meeting January 7, 2014 PG. 1 the water line on their property so Jeff Morse suggested they could come in the other way and utilize the tee off Bowser Lane. MOTION: By Chair Chapman to approve the request for repairs with no variance needed and with the proviso that perc tests be done when trench is dug out and that Felix will sign off on revised plans on behalf of the Board. SECOND: Member Lawrence VOTE: 3—0 Motion Carries 7:45 PM: DSCP HEARING; 302 NORTH MAIN STREET, LOT 2/REPRESENTED BY MORSE ENGINEERING IN ATTENDANCE:JIM MAGNER/BUYER; PHIL AND JOANN LEHR/ABUTTERS;JEFF MORSE This is a request to upgrade the septic system in a 4-bedroom house to a 1,500 gallon gravity flow septic system with distribution box and leaching field. No upgrades are requested. There are plans to remove the front grade at 302 North Main Street and fill it in to even it out.There are 4 test pits, 3 of which were perc'd. The area of work has been moved forward 12'to obtain Conservation approval; that is the only change from the last public hearing. They will utilize the tee at front of driveway. Felix expressed concern that the test pit in the middle off the property could not perc due to excessive ledge and would like an alternate area if needed. Jeff Morse said he can shift the test pit area if needed. MOTION: By Member Kirkpatrick to approve the septic system with update for alternative SAS if needed and allow Felix Zemel to administer approval without a hearing. SECOND: By Member Lawrence VOTE: 3—0 Motion Carries 8:00 PM:TITLE 5 VARIANCE HEARING: 132 CHIEF JUSTICE CUSHING HIGHWAY/REPRESENTED BY DROHAN,TOCCHIO& MORGAN PC. IN ATTENDANCE:ATTY.ADAM BRODSKY This is concerning the septic system installed at Old Colony Square. Originally it was approved for 6000 gal/day. In 2011 Connell Corp (owner/landlord) applied to increase the flow to 9900 which was approved. According to Title 5 the second tank before pumping should be 10,000. Felix has discussed with Connell that unless the system is in failure you can't really go back and make adjustments so the solution is to condition that the owners have a Title 5 inspection performed every 2 years for the entire system and still have the field inspection done annually. MOTION: By Member Lawrence to approve variance as requested in a letter dated 1/7/14 by the attorneys to reduce the size of 2nd separator to 6000 gallons and to have a Title 5 inspection performed every 2 years and field inspection done annually. SECOND: By Chair Chapman VOTE: 3—0 Motion Carries 8:15 PM: DSCP HEARING— 20 WESTGATE LANE/REPRESENTED BY GRADY CONSULTING IN ATTENDANCE: RICK GRADY; ABUTTERS SARAH LEGETT AND WISNER MURRAY This is a request for a septic repair. This is a 2-bedroom home with a 1500-gal. gravity flow system and leaching field designed for 3 bedrooms.The homeowner is limited to the existing design flow because the test pit area does not allow for a reserve area; it is a sloped site.There is a local variance in place that lets the system use pumping to the distribution box instead of using gravity flow. Felix noted that changes to current Title 5 requires that any system with a pump facilitating pressure distribution now has to be tested every year. The variance would remove the requirement for pressure distribution and Board of Health Meeting January 7, 2014 PG. 1 allow use of the distribution box. Abutter Legett asked what would happen in the event of a power outage but was assured by Rick Grady and Felix that there is more than enough room in the tank to accommodate an emergency without creating overflow. MOTION: By Member Lawrence to approve septic repair plan dated 1/6/14 with a local variance request to remove the requirement for a pressure distribution and allow use of a pump. SECOND: By Chair Chapman VOTE: 3—0 Motion Carries 8:30 PM: DSCP PLAN APPROVAL UPDATE— 234 KING STREET/REPRESENTED BY GRADY CONSULTING OWNER FAWN STEVENSON (NOT PRESENT) The system on this property was previously approved for a 4-bedroom house with 2792 s/f of retail space. The owner is now looking for approval to use the property as a veterinary clinic.There would be no boarding; pets would not be kept overnight. Felix confirmed that they can use the office space with a flow of 75-gal/day per 1000 s/f. Medical waste must not be allowed to discharge into system and must be handled properly. Felix pointed out that medical waste disposal differs from hazardous waste disposal. Member Lawrence asked if a tight tank would be needed for medical waste. Felix asked Grady Consulting if the plan can be updated to allow for greater flow needs as we approved 500 but need to go to 620.The upper level with 4-bedrooms would be used as a reception area,treatment and waiting rooms and office space and not as a residence. Rick Grady confirmed the new usage would be acceptable and that 425 gal/day would be well under 500. MOTION: By Chair Chapman to approve an altered plan to reflect change of use from a 4-bedroom residence with retail space to office space and that Felix will have final approval of the flow based on final design plans. SECOND: By Member Lawrence VOTE: 3—0 Motion Carries 8:45 PM: PERMIT RENEWAL UPDATE Felix presented the Board with a list of outstanding permits and explained that there would now be late fees assessed to the original applications.The only exemption is installers.All others have to renew no later than January 30 or their license will be revoked on January 31. In the meantime,they will accrue late fees but will not have their license revoked. Felix is also notifying three waste haulers that are not permitted for Cohasset to file and/or renew if they want to continue working in Cohasset. Work Division for Clerical A discussion involving work time spent by Angela Geso between Building Dept. and the Board of Health is being reviewed to ensure it is equitable. Even when Angela isn't physically in the BOH office she does do BOH work at her desk in the Building Dept. and will also be available during the week to do filing and other duties that need to be done in the BOH office. 9:00 PM: PERMIT SUSPENSION HEARING: R.W. ROSANO INC. NO ONE REPRESENTING R.W. ROSANO WAS PRESENT. Felix is concerned that R.W. Rosano does not provide the office with pumping records and hasn't for some time.After due discussion among Felix and the Board, it was decided that where Ross Rosano is currently involved with a new company, Septic Pro,the Board will hold off until they see how the new company handles their operations. While Mr. Rosano is not the owner of the new company he is listed as Treasurer. Board of Health Meeting January 7, 2014 PG. 1 Tobacco Issues:The board is pushing to have tobacco sales banned from pharmacies.They also suggested raising the legal smoking age but at this time will focus on pharmacies. Felix discussed the need to update regulations if the Board does take action on these concerns. He also feels the following (which is currently not in the regulations) should be added: a pharmacy ban; an educational institution ban; and self-service displays to be fully defined. Felix is having a proposal drawn up for consideration. Robin Lawrence wants to see established buffer zones for businesses so employees who smoke outside do not interfere with customers and other businesses. With no further business to discuss, a motion was made to by Chair Chapman to adjourn at 10:10 pm. Motion was passed unanimously.