HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 07/15/2014 Board of Health Meeting
July 15,2014
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APPROVED MINUTES
COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES
DATE: TUESDAY,JULY 15, 2014
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—SELECTMEN'S CHAMBERS
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET, MA 02025
Board Members Present: Margaret S. Chapman, Chair(MC); Robin Lawrence (RL); Elizabeth Kirkpatrick(EK)
Staff Present: Felix Zemel (FZ), Health Administrator;Angela Geso(AG), Inspections Clerk
Public/Guests Present: Jeff Hassett(JH), Morse Engineering
Phil Spath (PS)
Jim Magner(JM)
Harvey&Judy Dickstein,Abutters
Bill Ducharme(BD), Manager—Tedeschi's
Meeting called to order at 7:10 pm.The next meeting is Tuesday,August 5.The board also set up meetings for
September 9 and October 14.
7:15 PM—PERC TESTING FEES/PHIL SPATH
Current perc testing fees are$75 per hour.Customers are billed following the test and PS isn't paid until the
department receives payment. It was decided to charge flat rates of$300/day for repairs and$600/day for new
construction paid up front by the applicant/owner. Once the check is received, PS will be notified to do the job.
MOTION: By Member Kirkpatrick to change the fee structure as recommended.
SECOND: By Chair Margaret Chapman
APPROVED: Unanimous
7:25 PM DSCP HEARING: 151 SOHIER STREET/REPRESENTED BY JEFF HASSETT OF MORSE ENGINEERING
This was continued from June 10 because Morse had not given a 10-day notification to abutters.JH stated that
there have been renovations and a bedroom was added.The current system was approved for 3 bedrooms.A new
plan done by Morse shows the leaching field has been increased and moved slightly. FZ stated the septic system
can accommodate the additional bedroom and no variance is needed.
MOTION: By MC to approved the new septic field design and shown on plans dated 6/14/14 as
presented by Morse Engineering.
SECOND: By EK
APPROVED: Unanimous
7:30 PM DSCP HEARING&POSSIBLE LOCAL UPGRADE APPROVAL:62 CHURCH STREET/REPRESENTED BY JEFF
HASSETT OF MORSE ENGINEERING
The existing home has been demo'd and is being completely rebuilt on the same footprint with same use. It is a
1500 gal.tank with 1000 gal. pump chamber and leaching field. Morse is requesting a reduction in the mound
height by 1-ft.due to low perc test results. FZ says it qualifies as a repair because the system is not new.The size,
use and flow are the same.
MOTION: By EK to approve the local upgrade and repair to allow a reduction in mound height as shown
on plans dated 6/25/14.
SECOND: By MC
APPROVED: Unanimous
Board of Health Meeting
July 15,2014
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7:40 PM: REPORTS AND UPDATES
Public Health Nurse Mary Goodwin has made 78 visits, held 10 clinics and provided outreach to residents since the
last meeting.She was appointed to the MA Association of Public Health Nurses' Board of Directors to fill a vacancy.
FZ presented an article about tobacco use in the military as it has been discussed at prior meetings. He also
informed the board of funds available through the FDA for town to update to 2013 food codes.
7:50 PM: DRINKING WATER WELL PERMIT:300 NORTH MAIN STREET/REPRESENTED BY MORSE ENGINEERING
In attendance:JIM MAGNER/DEVELOPER
The new well will be down-gradient of property;any higher would place it in wetlands or within 100-ft.of the
septic system.JM assured the board that the well will be of necessary depth.
MOTION: By RL to approve the request to put in a well as shown on plans dated 6/20/14 for Lot 2 at 300
North Main Street.
SECOND: By MC
APPROVED: Unanimous
8:00 PM:PLEASANT STREET—HOUSE IN NEGLECT
There is a house that is abandoned and in severe disrepair that meets nuisance requirements.So far the owner has
made no attempt at any upgrades and repairs but at this time they may have plans to sell the property. FZ
suggested the town take the house as open space and make it into a community garden. MC agrees that the house
is a blight and should be dealt with but if the owner is going to sell,there may be no need for us to condemn it.
SERVICE ANIMALS&SHELTERING PETS:Service animals are allowed in restaurants and other public places.
Restaurant employees have to be educated on proper ways to deal with service animals by asking appropriate
questions.As for sheltering pets, in emergency situations(hurricanes, blizzards,etc) it has been found that people
won't leave their homes if they can't take their pets. Deer Hill School is being considered as a possible location for
people to bring pets in emergencies.There would be a caged area and supplies available.
8:15 PM: FDA TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS&FUTURE BOH PLANS:Tedeschi's and a Taste for Wine&Spirits
have been cited in the latest sting operations. Manager Bill Ducharme has been in compliance so far with
regulation updates and puts his employees through training and the WE ID Program. He was very concerned that
this happened and has spoken to the employee. He is also making advances to keep his business viable while
enforcing these regulations.
8:30 PM: DSCP HEARING AND POSSIBLE LOCAL UPGRADE APPROVAL/395 BEECHWOOD STREET: REPRESENTED
BY MORSE ENGINEERING/ABUTTERS HARVEY&JUDY DICKSTEIN (JD) PRESENT.
This is a 3-bedroom single dwelling in proximity to wetlands.The leaching field is within the 100-ft.setback of a
BVM.They would like to install a Hoot treatment tank in place of a septic tank that allows for pressure distribution
and also provides a better quality of waste water to the leaching field.The Dicksteins share a common drive and
have a cesspool with an overflow pipe.While surface water is not a big problem the groundwater will run into the
surrounding wetlands.JH states there is a good drop on the property and a rubber barrier running from top of the
system to the downgrade area will prevent run-off.JD asked if the effluence drop will allow for water table
fluctuation but JH said the leaching field will leach until it finds the water table.
MOTION: By MC to approve the repairs at 395 Beechwood Street with local upgrades allowing for
reduction of the setback to 73.5 ft. because it is the only location that will work for the
upgrade based on plans from 6/23/14 updated on 7/15/14.
SECOND: By RL
APPROVED: Unanimous
8:45 PM: FOOD CODE VARIANCE AT 5 SOUTH MAIN/REPRESENTED BY JENNIFER WARSHAW(NOT PRESENT)
FZ discussed this issue with Jennifer Warshaw prior to the meeting.They currently keep butter on the grill to
facilitate food prep. FZ is good with this as long as safeguards are in place and that the butter is thrown out and/or
replaced at timely intervals to avoid bacteria and other problems.
Board of Health Meeting
July 15,2014
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OTHER BUSINESS:
FZ has been subpoenaed and will be in court Monday to discuss 183 Jerusalem Road/Dr. Maltz.
Complaints from residents state repairs are not being done. FZ has visited the sight on more than once occasion
and has provided Dr. Maltz with updates and safety issues that he seems to be addressing.
FZ also investigated a complaint on Doane Street regarding water discharge but found no evidence of any problem.
The Board was updated on Scott the intern that FZ is mentoring.They are conducting interviews with
representatives at Hingham, Hull and Cohasset to put together information on fluoride in the drinking water.
FZ reported the beach testing has been excellent this summer.
With no further business, motion was made by RL and meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.