HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 07/17/2018 APPROVED
COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES
DATE: TUESDAY,JULY 17, 2018
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—Board of Health Conference Room
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET, MA 02025
Board Members Present: Public Health Agent:
Robin Lawrence, DDS, MPH, Chairman Pam Fahey, MPH
Lynn Doxey, MPH, Vice Chair Field Engineer:
Michael Pollastri, PhD, Clerk (Conference Call) Jason Federico
Recording Secretary: Public Health Nurse:
Amy Davis Mary Goodwin, RN
7:03 P.M. Meeting called to order
7:04 P.M. Revise Title 5 Regulations
Pamela Fahey, Board of Health Agent, The Cohasset Board of Health has supplemental Title 5 regulations in
addition to the Massachusetts State Title 5 Regulations. One supplemental regulation requires a resident
installing or upgrading a septic system to file a Deed Restriction prohibiting a garbage grinder with the Norfolk
County of Registry of Deeds before receiving a Certificate of Compliance (COC). Ms. Fahey started as the
Board of Health Agent in April 2018 and noticed that there is a backlog of septic systems that have been
installed, but have not received their COC because the Board of Health has not received the deed restriction
for the garbage grinder. Ms. Fahey did some research and found that neighboring towns (Hingham, Norwell,
Scituate and Hanover) do not require a deed restriction for garbage grinders. Ms. Fahey feels that most
residents understand that a garbage grinder will reduce the life a septic system and,furthermore,the engineer
makes a notation on the septic plans that the system is not designed for a garbage grinder. Ms. Fahey and
Jason Federico, Field Engineer, do not think it is necessary and are recommending that the Board change the
regulations to remove the garbage grinder deed restriction from the Town of Cohasset Supplemental
Regulations. Dr. Lawrence stated that the regulations are dated May 1995 and last revised on September 17,
2012 with a few revisions in-between. Dr. Lawrence would like an engineer to be invited to the next meeting
to state an opinion regarding removing the garbage grinder deed restriction regulation. Ms. Fahey mentioned
that, according to the attorney who works as Cohasset Town counsel, the Board is allowed to make changes
to the regulations, homeowners that required deed restrictions in the past and are selling their house can
eliminate the restriction, and homeowners that the Board of Health is awaiting a Deed Restrictions would not
have to get a deed restriction if the changes are made. A vote was not taken at this time.
7:14 P.M. Vote:Jeff Summers Associate Agent
Ms. Fahey stated that for Mr. Summers, Cohasset Conservation Agent, to take the soil evaluator course he
needs to be voted in as an Associate Agent of the Board of Health as discussed at the May 29, 2018 meeting.
Dr. Lawrence had not seen the letter that Mr. Summers composed and would like to review the letter before
the Board takes a vote to make sure it fits with what the Board wants. Discussion suspended until Ms. Davis
can locate the letter for the Board to review.
APPROVED
7:22 P.M. Continued Discussion Jeff Summers Associate Agent
Chris Senior, Town Manager, joined the meeting Dr. Lawrence informed Mr. Senior that the Board is
continuing its discussion regarding Jeff Summers being voted as an Associate Health Agent. Dr. Lawrence
reviewed the letter that Mr.Summers composed. Dr. Lawrence would like Mr.Summers to present himself to
the board reviewing what his qualifications are and why he wants to take the test before signing the letter.
Dr. Lawrence does not feel comfortable signing the letter appointing Mr. Summers as an Associate Health
Agent when he is already a Conservation Agent and has no connection to the Board of Health. Mr. Senior
provided a summary of Jeff Summers credentials to the Board. Mr. Senior felt it would be beneficial to the
Town to have more than one Soil Evaluator to assist with coverage when the Health Agent is out and likes
employees to be cross-trained. Mr. Senior said there are certain qualifications that would allow Mr. Summers
to take the class one being affiliated with the Board of Health. Ms. Doxey believes Mr. Summers already
presented himself to the board at the May 29,2018 meeting. Dr. Pollastri also feels that Mr.Summers already
made his case to the Board. Dr. Pollastri stated as long as giving Mr. Summers this title does not affect Ms.
Fahey's position he would support Mr. Summers taking the Soil Evaluator class. Dr. Lawrence indicated he
would sign the letter for Mr. Summers. Ms. Fahey said the Board would actually have to vote to approve Mr.
Summers as an Associate Health Agent.Vote was taken.
MOTIONED BY: Lynn Doxey made a motion that the Board votes to designate Jeffery Summers as an
Associate Board of Health Agent with the Town of Cohasset.
SECONDED BY: Michael Pollastri
VOTE: 3-0 MOTION CARRIED
7:22 P.M. Gerd Ordelheide Properties
Mr. Senior reviewed some of the information about the properties owned by Gerd Ordelheide. By the end of
summer Catered Affair may take over and operate all of the properties. There is second company, Harbinger
that is only interested in potentially buying the waterfront properties.This second company is not a food group,
rather a development company to develop areas and move on.
7:32 P.M. Follow up with Atlantica Food Violations
A follow up with Altantica was triggered because at the last meeting on June 20, 2018 Atlantica was given two
weeks to hire a ServSafe Consultant who would train staff from all of Gerd Ordelheide owned properties in
regards to refrigeration, labeling, and storage of food. Ms. Fahey reached out to Atlantica to see what progress
has been made and at this time nothing has been done. In the meantime Catered Affair has come forward to
potentially take over Mr. Ordelheide's properties. Dr. Lawrence questioned whether Catered Affair would be
buying the property or managing the food service. Ms. Fahey was not exactly sure about ownership, but thinks
Catered Affair would buy it and be the majority owner with Mr. Ordelheide remaining as a minority owner.
Catered Affair, however, would have full managerial control and would bring in their own people to run all of
the food properties owned by Mr. Ordelheide. There is a second company interested in buying all of the
waterfront properties and turning the hotel into condos, but that could take years because of necessary zoning
changes. Joanne Nardo, Finance Director/ General Manager of Mr. Ordelheide owned properties, came into
the office tonight before the meeting and said ServSafe is coming on July 19, 2018 to work with all of the staff.
Dr. Lawrence would like certified letters stating who took the class and what type of certification the staff
received. Dr. Pollastri agreed.
APPROVED
7:35 P.M. Red Lion Inn Pool Violations
Ms. Fahey stated that Jennifer Sullivan, Interim Health Director,closed the Red Lion Inn Pool last year.The Red
Lion Inn fixed some of the violations and some new violations were added. The Pool is closed as of now until
the violations are corrected. Ms. Fahey was told that a fence company was coming this week to put a fence
around the pool, a serious violation. Once the fence is complete the pool company that services the pool
(Certified Pool Operator)will correct all other violations so the pool can be re-inspected and opened. Brisa was
closed last week for violations. Dr. Pollastri wanted to know if this information is public knowledge. Ms. Doxey
said it is public knowledge the violations are just not advertised.
7:40 P.M. Chris Senior wanted to discuss the closing of Sandy Beach. Brian Joyce, Public Works Director,
thinks the bacterial levels could be high due to dog owners not picking up the waste and would like to keep
dogs off the beach to see if the bacteria levels improve.Jason Federico, Field Engineer, is wondering if it could
be a sewer line that might be cracked that could be causing high bacterial counts. Dr. Lawrence thinks dogs
should be ruled out since dog behavior has not changed. Fahey stated that three samples from Sandy Beach
were high and this was without any rain. Bassing Beach and Black Rock Beach were fine.The 4tn water sample
from Sandy Beach came down but still a little high. Ms.Goodwin stated that the Beach house is not being used
as much with the beach closed and wondered if that's why the results have come down if there was a sewer
leak. Dr. Pollastri believes it might be something else creating high bacterial levels, four times over the limit.
Residents have been receiving calls of a sewer like smell coming from the side of the beach where the Beach
House is located.The field engineers are going to bring a camera out tomorrow to check the sewer lines from
the Beach House and out to the street. G & L Laboratory, the lab the town uses for beach testing, is not open
on weekends. Ms. Fahey& Ms. Goodwin found an alternative lab (Morrell)that will test on weekends and are
planning on taking more samples.
7:50 P.M. Approve Meeting Minutes from May 29,2018&June 19, 2018 Meeting
7:55 P.M. Approve two Warrants—Members signed a warrant for 6/20/18 to 6/29/18 for Fiscal Year
2018 and a warrant for 7/2/18 to 7/17/18 for Fiscal year 2019.
8:00 P.M. Set Next Meeting Date Tuesday August 21, 2018 at 7:OOP.M.
8:05 P.M. Public Health Agent Report
Ms. Fahey closed Brisa last week for violations with refrigeration temperatures being too high and will
hopefully reopen Brisa on Friday after a re-inspection. Feng Shui still has some violations and the owners are
working on fixing the ongoing problem. Ms. Fahey Inspected Avalon pool no violations were found. Ms. Fahey
has been keeping everyone up to date with the beach testing. Someone came into the Board of Health
interested in purchasing Perch 143.
8:10 P.M. Public Health Nurse Report for June
Ms. Goodwin has been busy with camp inspections at Holly Hill Farm, soccer camps at Cohasset Sports
Complex,and Cohasset Sailing Club which requires all campers be swim tested, Cohasset Sports Complex also
has the Galway Rovers that run camps that needed to be inspected, and Ms. Goodwin trained all the summer
staff at the Cohasset Recreation Department on the use of EpiPens. Ms.Goodwin and Ms. Fahey set up a table
at the Farmers Market distributing information about tick borne illnesses.
8: 15 P.M. Chairpersons Report- None
MOTION BY: Dr. Lawrence to adjourn meeting at 8:15 PM
SECONDED BY: Michael Pollastri
VOTE: 3-0 MOTION CARRIED