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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-05-09BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MAY 9, 1983 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Monday, May 9, 1963 at 7:15 p.m. in Room G-1 (Recreation Office) of the Town Office Building. Members present were: Mr. James W. Lambie, Chairman; Dr. Michael S. Erdos, Linda Roemer, Ph.D. and George A. Smith, Director of Public Health. NO SMOKING Mr. Lambie, Chairman, said he thought we were going to get the no -smoking BY-LAW by-law started quicker than was recorded in the April 1983 minutes. As stated in the April 1983 minutes, it does not become a by-law until after town meeting finishes, the Town Clerk has 30 days to file it with the attorney general and he, in turn, has up to 90 days to return it to the town clerk. In the mean- time, the Board and the Director have agreed to draw up a draft of this by-law, complete it, two weeks before the public hearing. In the process of drawing up the by-law the penalties or fines will have to be discussed with the Town Counsel. Mr. Smith said he thought after it was completed that he would have it published two weeks before the public hearing and he will notify all restau- rant owners. Mr. Smith feels that we could have the public hearing at the July Board Meeting. Mr. Smith told the Board that they would not have to worry about problems with 47 RIDGE RD. the house at 47 Ridge Road anymore because it had burned to the ground on last Saturday night. Mr. Smith reported to the Board that he had received a letter from the W. R. Grace Company in regard to the chemicals that they have stored there at 55 Hayden Avenue. They have invited the Board of Health and the Director to make a visit to the facilities so that they can be aware of the chemicals they store there. The bulk of the hazardous waste stored is about 90% flammable solvents, and the remaining 10% consists of corrosives (acids and bases) and halogenated solvents. They said there were two situations that could occur in the hazardous waste storage area, one being a fire or explosion and the other would be a spill resulting from a leaking drum. They have a contingency plan that would handle emergencies to deal with both of these events. The Board will make plans to visit the company of Friday, May 20th, 1983. on Wednesday, the 18th of May Mr. Smith had received a copy of a letter that the Versaille Restaurant had written to the Town Manager requesting permission to put a sidewalk cafe out- VERSAILLE side the restaurant (on the sidewalk) in front of the premises. The Town Manager RESTAURANT wanted "comments" from the Health Director. Mr. Smith told the Board that he is not crazy about that idea at all. It would be right in line with the foot traffic. RAILROAD SPRAYING It was decided that the Board cannot object to this as long as the food is served properly but they would like it known that they are not keen on having food served at an outside cafe. Mr. Smith told the Board that the Town has reveived its yearly letter from the railroad stating that they will be spraying along the railroad tracks with herbicides. He said that the railroad will not be spraying in Lexington be- cause they currently do not use the railroad tracks in this town. The Board really does not have control over this. The annual Health Fair will be held on Saturday, May 14th, 1983 up at the fire station. There will be a hearing van all day Friday, May 13th in front of Cary Hall as part of the Health Fair. David Henley, Superintendent of E.M.M.C.P. will be there at the Fair on Saturday and will bring a variety of different breeds of mosquitoes and will answer any questions the residents have. The Worcester Health Department contacted Mr. Smith in regard to having the Lexington Health Office as a drop-off for mother's milk. The Worcester Health Department works in conjunction with the Hanneman Hospital in Worcester. Mr. Smith said that the mother would bring in the milk and we would store it in the freezer. Someone would be around periodically to pick it up and take it to Worcester. The Visiting Nurses have been juggling the elderly blood pressure clinics around. They want to cut one hour out of the Greeley Clinic and also cut the East Lexington Clinic down to go there only when there is five weeks in the month. The nurses want to take the time away from these clinics so that they can set one up at the new Countryside Village. The nurses have been finding resistance and hostility from the people that go to East Lexington clinic because of these changes. Dr. Roemer said the next time that the clinic in East Lexington will be held she will personally go there and see just how many people attend it. Mr. Smith told the Board that he had received a letter from a Mr. Ericson requesting a perc test and a deep -hole test (one day after the cutoff date for doing this) because he wants to build a house on this pice of land on Piper Road. Mr. Smith said that it is up quite a way and that there really would be no problem putting in a septic system there. The ground is still wet enough to test properly. Mr. Ericson is requesting a variance to put this system in because there is no sewer available at this time. Mr. Smith said everything is O.K. The Board agreed to grant a variance to go ahead with this septic system on Piper Road. The Board has agreed that a letter should be sent to Linda Behar thanking her for all the hard work and running around she has done for the Board in regard to mosquito control. Linda represents the Parents Concerned About EEE and has dedicated many hours and expertise to this project. The Board of Health and the Director all agreed that they are in favor of holding another Hazardous Waste Day. The article in the warrant is #51. Mr. Smith said he has drafted a statement for the Board in this respect. Mr. Smith also said that he had not heard from the League of Women Voters as yet in regard to this. The Town needs the backing and support of the League of Women Voters and some residents. Mr. Smith said that new bids have gone out for the rubbish collection con- tract and perhaps they could tie this into hazardous waste day. Mr. Smith told the Board that he is going to write to the Department of Public Health (State) requesting that they include Lexington and surrounding areas in their mosquito surveillance program. They will send the letter to .3I HEALTH FAIR V.N.A. CLINICS PIPER RD. PERE TEST LINDA BEHAR Apprecia- tion Ltr. HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY the new commissioner of Public Health after he takes office and also will send a copy to the E.M.M.C.P. The Board discussed the article on mosquito control that the town meeting had considered at their last Town Meeting. Mr. Smith said if they have to re -consider - the whole article will have to be taken up again. Dr. Erdos said he would like to mention that the Health Director from Winchester had just resigned his job over there. He said in the past they have had several different Health Directors and he feels fortunate that Lexington has someone like George Smith with his expertise and devotion and his length of service to the Town. He said with the number of projects that George has to deal with (how he juggles them all, he does not know). Dr. Erdos would like this to stand as a testimonial of his abilities to do all of this and keep everything together. Dr. Erdos said he would move that we do all we can to support George's activities here and be sure that he is being compensated at least as high, if not higher as surrounding communities. We should see to it that George gets all the help and support he needs to do his job. The Board was in complete agreement with everything, Dr. Erdos said. Mr. Smith said that he would like to express his appreciation and thanks for the support he has received from the Board of Health through the years that he has been with Lexington and feels that he is fortunate of Health to work with and for. Mr. Smith said it to have such an excellent Board is an interesting place to work. Mr. Lambie said that the Board of Health and the Town as the Director and Dr. Erdos and Dr. Roemer agreed. Mext meeting will be on June 13th, 1983. was lucky to have Mr. Smith 1 May 9, 1983 Meeting The following permits were signed by the Board: Animal Permits Robert & Marie Rollins Doran's Greenhouses, Inc. 205 Grove St. 150 East St. James Cosgrove Frank Scolaro, Jr. 307 Wood Street 5 Bruce Rd. Gerald R. Minna 83 Pleasant St. John D. Chiesa, Jr. 44 Adams St. 3t� Vending Machine Facility Temporary Food Establishment Permits Woburn Vending at Hewlett-Packard Robert Renna - Honeywell Road Race 32 Hartwell Ave. Road Race Route Canteen Corp. at Raytheon Corp. 45 Hartwell Ave. Pewter Pot - Discovery Day 1710 Mass. Ave. Retail Food Establishments Retail Food Establishments - Continued Raytheon Lab. Wild Acre Inn 131 Spring St. 50 Percy Road Lex. Racquet & Swim Club 475 Bedford St. Retail Food Permits Mother Earth 10 Muzzey St. Swimming Pool Permits Drummer Boy Homes Association 13 Drummer Boy Way Howard Johnson's Restaurant Route 128 North Lexington Racquet & Swim Club (swimming & wading pools) and Jacuzzi Whirlpool Permit) 475 Bedford St. Lexington, Mass. 02173 Sun Valley Association, Inc. 14 Fairlawn Lane Pleasant Brook Pool (Swimming & Wading Pools) 21A Mason St. Peacock Farms Association (swimming & wading pools) Peacock Farm Rd.