HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 07/11/2017 July 11,2017 1301-1 Meeting APPROVED
COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES
DATE: TUESDAY,JULY 11, 2017
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—Board of Health Office
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET, MA 02025
Board Members Present: Robin Lawrence, Chairman
Harvey, Dickstein,Vice Chair
Lynn Doxey,Clerk
Director of Public Health:
Interim Director of Public Health: Jennifer Sullivan
Public Health Nurse: Mary Goodwin
Recording Secretary: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
7:00 PM Dr. Dickstein opened the meeting (Dr. Lawrence was attending a portion of the BOS meeting)
7:00 PM - NO NEW PIPELINES DISCUSSION & LETTER TO GOVERNOR BAKER INFORMATION
Materials used for this agenda item:
• Michele Brooks' (Sierra Club) 06/28/17 email to Jennifer Sullivan re: No New Pipelines Letter to
Governor Baker Information Please—Print out info and put on agenda with attachments:
• "Boston Public Health Commission Calls on Governor Baker to Undertake Comprehensive health
Impact Study of Natural Gas Pipelines", Sierra Club Publication, May 23, 2017
• Marcia Benes, Executive Director, MAHB 04/05/17 letter to BOH members with Sign On Letter
to Governor Baker attached.
• Sierra Club Publication "The Health Impacts of Fracking and Natural Gas Production", undated.
• Publication "Health Risks of Gas Pipeline Intrastructure" Prepared by Brita Lundberg, MD for
Mass Health Care Providers Against Fracked Gas, undated
• Publication "Too Dirty, Too Dangerous: Why Health Professionals Reject Natural Gas" A
Report from Physicians for Social Responsibility, February, 2017
Dr. Dickstein had mixed feelings — while there are leaks in pipelines, there are benefits and risks with
anything and it would be a mistake to turn one's back on this tremendous natural resource. Ms. Doxey
interpreted the sample letter to say that the BOH would be against going forward without more
research and study and that more focus should be on renewable energy resources Ms. Doxey feels that
the risks outweigh the benefits right now and she would be in support of signing the letter. Ms. Sullivan
agreed with Ms. Doxey's comments and added that there are health repercussions with any fracking
that might occur but that it is up to the Board to take an action to join the consortium of other Boards of
Health in protest or not take any action. She added that while this is just a letter, it would show the
BOH's interest in everyone's overall health and a willingness to work with other Boards of Health for
the greater good. Last, it shows- on the record - noticing a precedent and taking some action.
MOTION BY: Ms. Doxey to add Cohasset BOH's name to and sign the Sierra Club's letter to
Governor Baker about interstate gas lines.
SECONDED BY: Dr. Dickstein
VOTE: 2-0 MOTION CARRIED
7: 13 P.M. SET THE NEXT MEETING DATE - August 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM
7: 15 P.M. RED LION INN POOL
July 11,2017 BOH Meeting APPROVED
In attendance to represent this agenda item: Mr.Joseph L'Espada, Manager, Red Lion Inn
Materials used for this agenda item: J. Sullivan 07/11/17 letter to Mr. Ordelheide re: Order to Close
Pool
Ms. Sullivan explained that the former Health Agent did not know about the pool at the Red Lion Inn —
there is some reference to a pool in some zoning decisions but there are not any plans or permits on file
in either the BOH files or the Building Dept. Office. Mr. L'Espada has been and will continue to be very
cooperative regarding this matter and other matters. Mr. L'Espada will look for plans in Mr.
Ordelheide's files. Ms. Sullivan noted that without plans, many tedious calculations will have to be
performed to determine gallonage etc. Ms. Sullivan's inspection of the pool uncovered so many serious
deficiencies that she had no alternative other than to order closure of the pool. She highlighted some
of the deficiencies and noted that going forward, staff training will also be required. Mr. L'Espada has
contacted a pool company to get an estimated cost of correcting the deficiencies and will consult with
Mr. Ordelheide to determine how he wants to proceed. He will keep the BOH informed. Ms. Sullivan
noted that it is a small pool that does not allow laps and does not seem to get much use. She pointed
out that some equipment might also need to be replaced at this point in time and wonders if it might be
more cost effective to simply remove the pool and use the otherwise pleasant area for other purposes.
7: 25 P.M. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 1,2017 MEETING
MOTION BY: DR. DICKSTEIN TO APPROVE THE JUNE 1, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
SECONDED BY: MS. DOXEY
VOTE: 2-0 MOTION CARRIED
7:30 P.M. PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE REPORT
Materials used for this agenda item: Public Health Nurse May and June, 2017 Reports (See attached)
Public Health Nurse reviewed reports for the Board.
7:40 P.M. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT—Dr. Lawrence did not give a Chairperson's report at this meeting
7:40 P.M. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT
Ms. Sullivan gave an oral report to the Board. Sandy Beach Celebration Food Permit is all set to be
issued. Ms. Sullivan briefly outlined her activities: the pipeline issue already discussed; the Red Lion Inn
Pool already discussed; Sandy Beach Celebration Meeting; MHOA Mtg. which is a health officers'
meeting because she wanted to put word of Cohasset's Health Agent position out there. (Ms. Sullivan
added that there was an excellent presentation at this meeting about ticks and the Zika virus. Some
very good posters were available which are now posted in the Public Health Nurse office and the Rec.
Dept.); and, discussion with the Town Manager and Human Resources about trying to get someone
more qualified for the Health agent position.
(7:45 P.M. Dr. Lawrence arrived at meeting)
7:55 P.M. APPROVE THE WARRANT - Members signed the Warrant
MOTION: BY MS. DOXEY TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:00 P.M.
SECONDED: BY DR. DICKSTEIN
VOTE: 3-0 MOTION CARRIED