HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950-04-21BOARD OF HEALTH h4EETING
April 21, 1950
A regular meeting of the Board of Health was held in
the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Friday,
April 21, 1950 at 3;98 P.M. Chairman Cosgrove, Messrs.
McQuillan, Russell and Jackson were present. The Agent
was also present.
Mr. John Mancuso, 136 Arlington Street, Watertown, met
with the Board relative to his applicationfor a permit
to keep 2,000 poultry at 87 Cary Avenue. At the last
meeting of the Board this application was denied and Mr.
Biancuso submitted another application for a permit to
keep 10 cows, 5 goats, 14 swine and 500 poultry.
Mr. Mancuso's attorney, Norman S. Weinberg, 27 School
Street, Boston, had previously made an appointment to
meet with the Board, but Mr. Mancuso informed the Board
that he had told his attorney that it would not be neces-
sary for him to meet with the Board.
The Chairman said that there has been considerable oppo-
sition to granting his application from the residents in
the area and asked if the property had been purchased as
a farm.
Mr. Mancuso replied that he had purchased the property
from Charles Ryder and had done business with both Charles
and Robert Ryder. He said that when he first thought of
buying the property he had tried to obtain it through Mr.
Mr. Lyon, the real estate dealer, but could not do busi-
ness with him because he wanted too much money. He said
that he then saw Mr. Ryder and bought the property from
him.
The Chairman asked if Mr. Ryder mentioned anything about
the possibility that a business could not be conducted in
this area.
Mr. Mancuso replied that he was told by Mr. Ryder to go
right ahed and start raising chickens. He said that he
had intended to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on the place.
Mr. McQuillan stated that this property is located in
the center of a residential area and it has not been
the Board's policy to re-establish farms in residential
areas.
Mr. Mancuso said that he did not want to put the birds
in and then be told that he could not have a permit and
that is why he applied for a permit.
The Chairman explained that it has been the policy of the
Board for some time not to grant permits in residential
areas, and further stated that there are not many parts
of Lexington that are not residential areas at the present
time.
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Mancuso
appl. for
poultry
permit
78
Lima
Poultry
Permit
Slaughter
L�
The Chairman said that Mr. Mancuso had asked for a
change and reduced the number of poultry from the re-
quested on his original application. He said that he
did not think the permit would be granted, and that he
wanted to be perfectly honest about it. However, the
Board would consider it further but he did not want to
give Mr. Mancuso any false hopes. He asked if Mr.
Mancuso intended to go into a business to the extent
that it would be a paying proposition and Mr. Mancuso
replied in the affirmative.
The Chairman explained that raising animals in any
such number is contrary to the policy of the Board of
Health and further he would be conducting a business
in a residential area and he did not think the Board
having jurisdiction over it would allow it. He said
that if Mr. Mancuso moved in as a family and wanted
to raise a few chickens for his own use, a permit
might be granted.
Mr. Mancuso inquired about raising mushrooms and the
Chairman advised him that such a project would not
come within the jurisdiction of the Board of Health
and suggested that he discuss it with the Board of
Appeals.
Mr. McQuillan asked how much land is involved and Mr.
Mancuso replied that he has purchased seven acres,
more or less.
Mr. Mancuso retired at 3:h5 P.M.
The Board considered the application further and upon
motion of Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. McQuillan, it
was unanimously voted to deny Mr. Mancuso►s application
as submitted.
Mr. Frances Lima, 877 Waltham Street, Lexington, met
with the Board relative to his application for a per-
mit to keep 200 poultry, and a poultry slaughter li-
cense. He said that he had two fellows using his
place one day a week and he would like to continue
himself.
The Chairman asked if he intended to raise poultry
and sell them off and then obtain others.
Mr. Lima replied that he intends to sell retail, and
would not keep more than 200 at any one time. He
said that he owns land on both sides of the 'pike,
totalling about ten acres.
Mr. Russell stated that there are certain regulations
adopted by the State for poultry slaughtering.
Mr. Lima admitted that he was familiar with the regu-
lations and said that once he is given a permit he
would comply with all rules and regulations.
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He informed the Board that his family have owned the pro-
perty for over forty years and his father has operated
the stand on the land for about thirty our years.
Mr. Russell asked if he had any idea of enlarging or
branching out in the future and he replied that he had
no intention of keeping more than 200 poultry.
Mr. Russell stated that the Board has a general policy
about keeping poultry or livestock and the members
would not like to see anyone entertain the idea that
in the future an application for 500 or 1,000 would be
approved.
The Chairman explained that any permit for keeping
poultry would have to be renewed every year.
Mr. Lima said that chances are his permit might be re-
newed providing there were no objections and stated
that some of his neighbors have offered to sign a state-
ment to the effect that they have no objections.
Mr. Lima retired at 4:00 P.M.
Mr. Jackson. reported that he had made an investigation
and no one voiced any objection.
Upon motion of Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. McQuillan,
it was unanimously voted to grant Mr. Lima's application,
for a permit to keep 200 poultry at 877 Waltham Street
and to grant a poultry slaughterhouse license at the
same address.
Mr. Jackson C. Thyng, 676 Marrett Road, met with the
Board relative to his application for a permit to keep
1400 poultry.
He explained that he wanted to increase his present
permit from 800 to 1600 and further stated that he
operates a poultry plant at 676 Marrett Road. He
stated that he has 500 hens and 900 chickens. He said
that he has been keeping 600 hens and supposed it was
for the number he housed. When he buys the chicks,
he has to purchase 800 to actually raise 600. He
selects the best ones and sells the rest. He said
that he Was informed by Mr. Jackson that his applica-
tion should be for the entire number and not just for
those that are housed. He stated that he has been in
the business at this location for thirteen years.
The Chairman asked if he intended to continue the same
program that he has always had and he replied in the
affirmative.
Mr. Thyng said that he would like to raise all the
chickens inside for the reason that it looks as
though the profits in the hen business will be less
than they have been in years past. He would like to
keep 800 in the winter instead of 600. He also said
that he would like to add another house because rais-
ing all his chickens in the house will save a lot of
work.
79
Thyng appl.'
for poultry'
permit
80
Brucchi
The Chairman inquired as to the outlay necessary for
Mr. Thyng to get the house to the size he wants and
he replied that it would cost between 62,000 and $3,000.
Mr. McQuillan asked if this were his only occupation
and he replied in the affirmative. He said that he has
a crippled son who helps him and who will some day oper-
ate the business himself. He stated that from August to
February he would have only 800 chickens. The house is
74' x 26' now and he wants to add 461 which cannot be
seen from Marrett Road.
Mr. Russell asked if he intended to keep any roosters
and he replied in the negative.
Mr. Thyng retired at 4:15 P.M.
The Chairman and Mr. Russell were in favor of grant-
ing the permit, but Mr. McQuillan was opposed.
Mr. Russell suggested that Mr. Thyng be requested to
submit a letter advising the Board as to exactly what
he intends to do and explain the conditions under which
he made the application.
Mr. McQuillan said that he would be in favor of grant-
ing the permit providing such a letter is received and
further providing that Mr. Thyng be given to understand
that in granting the increase, the Board is not approv-
ing any change in the policy of the past.
Mr. John Brucchi, 63 Paul Revere Road, met with the
Board.
Mr. McQuillan asked if he had brought any animals into
his place before he had a permit and Mr. Brucchi re-
plied that he has had chickens at this address ever since
he moved in. He said that he has been working on a
cross breed and had a permit to keep hens at Ward Street
and when he moved he brought the hens to the new loca-
tion. For the past two or three days he has let them
out in the grass.
The Chairman said that Mr. Adams had inquired as to
whether or not any permits had been issued and com-
plained about the noise.
Mr. Brucchi informed the Board that he also has four
or five guinea hens.
Mr. Russell reminded Mr. Brucchi that he has no per-
mit for guinea hens and also that he has no permit to
keep hens of any type at this address.
Mr. Brucchi said that he wanted to keep animals if it
took the "last cent" he has. He said that he "could get by"
with 15 sheep, 100 chickens, 2 goats, 3 cows, 3 horses and
that he would not want any more.
The Chairman asked if he intended to keep work horses
and he replied in the negative stating that they would
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be pleasure horses. He said that some time he might
buy a work horse to sell and make some money, but 90%
of the time the horses will be pleasure horses.
The Chairman asked how many chickens he has at present
and he replied that he has twenty-five (25) chickens
and six (6) guinea hens.
Mr. McQuillan said that guinea hens are very noisy and
he did not think Mr. Brucchi had helped himself by
bringing in six guinea hens and letting them run around
without first discussing it with the Board.
Mr. Russell informed him that he is keeping poultry
without a permit and doing things which he has no right
to do.
Mr. McQuillan said that today Mr. Brucchi had proved
that he intends to keep anything he wants to without a
permit.
Mr. Brucchi said that he had asked the Chairman if he
could keep them.
The Chairman explained that Mr. Brucchi asked if he
could keep them and he told him that he had no permit.
He also said that Mr. Brucchi asked him if he could
keep a cow. The Chairman stated that he told Mr.
Brucchi that he, the Chairman, was only one member of
the Board and could not speak for the other members,
but that he had no permit and if he put any poultry or
other animals at this location he would be doing so
without a permit and at his own discretion.
Mr. Brucchi admitted that he had been so advised.by
the Chairman.
The Chairman .said that he gave Mr. Brucchi no permit
for anything and told him that anything he did he
would be doing of his own volition and own free will
without the approval of the Board of Health.
Mr. Brucchi said that he would dispose of the guine
hens.
The Chairman explained that Mr. Brucchi is not tell-
ing the Board of Health what is to be done.
Mr. Brucchi asked if it would be all right to keep the
guinea hens until Sunday and said that he would like
to keep the other 25 hens that he now has.
The Chairman asked him to retire for a few minutes
which he agreed to do.
Mr. Jackson said that he told Mr. Brucchi he could
keep one horse and a heifer temporarily until the
Board of Health had an opportunity to act upon his
application.
The application was considered and discussed very
caref ].ly.
Mr. Brucchi returned to the meeting and the Chairman
informed him that it was the decision of the Board
that he would have to dispose of all the guinea hens
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not later than Sunday, April 23, 1950; the 25 hens must
be kept cooped up at all times and the temporary permit
to keep one cow and one horse will become void as of
May 1, 1950.
Mr. Brucchi retired at 14:55 P.M.
The Chairman stated that he would be in favor of grant-
ing Mr. Brucchi a permit to keep 25 hens, without any
roosters, providing they are cooped in at all times. He
further stated that he is opposed to granting a permit
for keeping cows or horses.
Upon motion of Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. McQuillan,
it was voted to grant Mr. Brucchi a permit to keep 25
hens with the provision that they must be kept in a
coop at all times.
Application was received from Mrs. Dorothy A. Parks for
permission to keep 75 poultry at 10 Fletcher Avenue.
Parks appl. Mrs. Parks at present has a permit to keep 25.
to keep Mr. Jackson reported that opposition has been registered
poultry by the neighbors to the proposed increase.
Upon motion of Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. McQuillan,
it was voted to deny the application for a permit to
keep 75 poultry at this location.
Mr. Jackson presented the Board with an application
signed by Donald D. Wilson, 6 Pleasant Street, for
permission to keep 350 poultry. He reported that he
checked with the neighbors and apparently no one ob-
jected, but Mr. Wilson has already built the houses
Wilson and has the hens without obtaining a permit.
poultry Mr. Jackson also informed the Board that Mr. Wilson
permit does not intend to keep the poultry after November.
The Clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Wilson that in
keeping poultry without a permit from the Board of
Health he has violated the Rules and Regulations of
the Board, and that the permit, approved today, will
not be renewed at the time of expiration, December 1/50.
Petition
re : Ice
(Cream Stand
i
Petition was received, signed by five individuals,
relative to the proposed ice cream stand on Lot #19
at Five Forks.
The members of the Board felt t]aat, inasmuch as a health
hazard and nuisance does not at the present time exist,
the Board of Health has no other jurisdiction over the
erection of the proposed stand. The Clerk was instructed
to so advise the petitioners.
Upon motion of Mr. McQuillan, seconded by Mr. Russell,
it was voted to advise all persons keeping animals or
rorc
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poultry of any kind that a permit is required and that
by keeping same without a permit the Rules and Regula-
tions of the Board of Health are being violated.
It was further agreed to insert a notice covering this
subject in the local newspaper.
The Health Sanitarian's report for the period March 17,
to April 20 was received, noted and placed on file.
The meeting adjourned at 5:35 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
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