HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-08-BOH-min
Lexington Board of Health – August 8, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
Town Office Building, Selectman’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420
Attendees: Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Chair; Judith B. Feldman; Deborah Thompson;
Sharon MacKenzie
Comm Dev. Attendee: Kathy Fox, Ann Belliveu, Karen Mullins
Heiger-Bernays called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
The Board reviewed the minutes of June 15, 2007. Feldman motioned to accept the
minutes as written. MacKenzie seconded. All approved.
The Board reviewed the June and July data reports and Public Health Nurse Reports.
Fox informed the Board of the recent complaint by an adjacent neighbor concerning
power sanding of a home at 33 Adams Street. Because Fullerton and Fox were attending
a seminar, Karen Mullins went to 33 Adams Street to issue a stop work order. The power
sanding was being done by a subcontractor. The Board asked that a letter be sent to the
homeowner recommending they should have the children tested for lead exposure. The
Board would like to review the letter before it is sent.
The Board would like to review the nuisance regulations at the next meeting.
Heiger-Bernays stated she has received many complaints about the overflowing
dumpsters behind Via Lago and Yangtze and perhaps they should be enclosed to prevent
others from leaving trash or fined.
Fox and Joe Tabbi are working with caterers to establish guidelines for transporting food
safely as a result of a recent inspection at Via Lago.
There have traditionally been unacceptable conditions at two (of the Lexington public
school kitchens. The BOH has stated concerns about maintenance and upgrade of these
kitchens for years. Fox recommended having a representative of the Schools attend a
BOH meeting to discuss these concerns.
144 Marrett Road – Approval of Septic System Plan and request for variance for a system
located less than 150 feet from a domestic well – Stan Sosnicki, the septic system
designer, presented the proposed plan. Sosnicki stated the depth of the drinking well is
160’ but did not know the direction of groundwater flow when asked by Heiger-Bernays.
Because the Lexington BOH conditions were not met, Heiger-Bernays motioned to grant
the variance with the following conditions:
??A state-certified laboratory must test the domestic drinking water yearly with the
cost borne by the owner. The results of all analyses taken from the well must be
submitted to the Health Department. At a minimum, water must be tested for the
following chemical and bacteriological standards: total coliform, nitrate-nitrogen,
pH, sodium and iron.
??The septic system must be pumped every three years in accordance with the
Massachusetts State Environmental Code Title 5 and the Lexington Health
Regulations Article XII sec. 155-91 System Maintenance. The pumping records
must be submitted to the Health Department.
MacKenzie seconded. All approved.
EDS Update – Sarah White, a Boston University MPH student presented an EDS update
to the Board. MacKenzie recommended using the municipal employees flu clinic for the
EDS in November utilizing the Bowman School as the dispensing site. The BOH
strongly encouraged the plan to proceed with review by the Influenza Planning
Committee (right name?) with the objective of running the drill in November. Mullins
will discuss with Carl Valente, Town Manager and Bill Middlemiss, Fire Chief.
Fox informed the Board of a housing inspection at 50 Cliffe Avenue. It appears the
owner will be going to a long-term skilled facility and will probably require a legal
guardian. Fox will write a narrative and send a copy to Social Services with a copy to the
guardian. What happens to the house? Did it “pass” inspection or was it just messy and
not in violation of health code?
Old Res Water Quality Survey – Board of Health is concerned about the testing
requirements and the rationale for selection by the company awarded the contract to
conduct the survey. Heiger-Bernays was given a copy of the final proposal after it had
been awarded, leaving no opportunity for discussion. MacKenzie stated for the record
that the Board had recommended last year that additional routine water samples at the
Old Res closer to the beach area in order to better understand the conditions at the beach.
Feldman motioned to adjourn. MacKenzie seconded. All approved.