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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-11-18BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING November 18, 1955 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Offices, on Friday, November 18, 1955 at 3 P.M. Chairman McQuillan, Dr. Cosgrove, and Mr. Lurvey, Health Sanitarian, were present. Mr. Lurvey had word from Mr. Stettens, Town Counsel, advising the Board that in his opinion there is no pro- vision in the law for licensing or bonding builders of cesspools and septic tanks. The Board of Health, therefor, will not press the matter further. Mr. Venter of the Theatre Pharmacy requested the Board' approval as depot and distributor for State Biologics. Mr. Martin, who formerly held this, has sold his drug store and retired. As the Theatre Pharmacy is now the oldest drug store in ownership the Board feels it is fitting that Mr. Venier be approved as the present distributor. Letters are to be sent from the Board to Mr. Venier, Mr. Martin, the new owner, and notice to the State. 259 License for CP&ST men s Biologic Distri- bution istribution The regular bills of the Health Department, amounting Bills to $301.06, for the period October 22 to date were approved. The report of the Visiting Nurse Association for the LVNA month of October was noted and approved. Mr. Lurvey asked for approval of a change in the Scarlet Fever regulations. Hereafter scarlet fever cases must Scarlet: remain out of school for one week from the appearance of Fever rash regardless of specific therapy. The nonbimmune contact Rules must remain out of school one week from last exposure to the rash, regardless of specific prophylactic therapy. The immune contact may continue to attend school. This regu- lation also applies to Streptococcal Sore Throat cases and contacts. This new regulation was approved by the Board and is to be added to Chapter I as Paragraph 14. This amendment will be duly published as is required. Mr. Burns, the Superintendent of Public Works, asked Town Mr. Lurvey to check with Dr. Howard Smith, Veterinarian, Dump about the use of the town dump for burial of dogs. Dr. Smith asked if the Board of Health would pay a fee of '" for each dog brought to him by the Police Department. The Police are paid 1 for each animal burial - it does not seem logical for the Board to pay double that fee. At 4 P.M. Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Lexington Visiting Nurse Association, met with the Board to discuss the possi- LVNA bility of an increase in the budge for next year. Miss Morrison accompanied him, and brought figures to show the increase in the number of cases, and the deficit because of the increase cost of making these calls, without an equiva- lent rise in the appropriation. 260 The Board agreed that a nurse hired by the Town would cost far more than the increased fees asked by the L.V.N.A. For the service the Board receives in protecting the health of the Town, it seems reasonable that, with the growth of the town, the L.V.N.A. is right in asking the Board to keep pace with an increase in the appropriation for the L.V.N.A. Taking the years 1952, 1953, and 1954, with a total of 937 calls for the Health Department by the L.V.N.A. as an average three year period at the established fee of $2.25 per call ($2108.25) the figure $2100 was arrived at as a fair amount to ask for in next year's budget. The Board will. recommen4 to the Board of Selectment and the Appropri- ation Committee that this amount be allotted for 1956. Mr. Newton said the L.V.N.A. would like very much to keep the business of the Board of Health. as it represents so much of their work. The time will come, probably, when the Health Department will have to have its own nurse, but for the present this arrangement of the L.V.N.A. using its nurses for our calls and the resulting part of its revenue from us, which it depends on, seems to be proper. It might be that the L.V.N.A. would have to add another nurse to its present staff of three to handle the increased calls of the Health Department sometime in the future. Mr. Newton said he would be glad to help if he is needed for information or help in presenting problem to the Appropri- ation Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Letters will be sent to the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee rec- ommending a $2100 budget. Animal Dr. Benton, the Animal Inspector, met with the Board Inspector to present his estimate for the Dog -Clinic and Animal In- spection budget for 1956. The Rard discussed the estimate and agreed to pass it along to the Appropriation Committee recommending an increase which seemed to the Board to be justifiable. Dr. Benton recommended $1275. for Animal Inspector and $573.25 for the Dog Clinic. The application of William J. Dailey for a permit to Wm.Dailey Remove, Transport and Dispose of Garbage, etc., was approved and the permit will be sent to Mr. Dailey. Mr. Lurvey said Mr. Stevens had received complaints of smells, etc., from pigs at Mr. Dailey's, but upon investigation there were no pigs on the premises. Mr. Lurvey informed Mr. Dailey that if he wanted to continue hauling garbage he would have to get a permit. Animal Richard Harding, 35 Shirley Street, applied for permission Permit to keep forty poultry.; Lurvey investigated, approved the application, and the Board approved the permit. A permit will be sent to Mr. Harding. A resident of Preston Road, who chose to remain anonymous, complained that few of the owners of homes on Preston Road had connected to the town sewer. Mr. Lurvey, in checking, found that of 20 homes listed, only 4 had not connected. Manor Sewer 1 1 1 261 Mr. McQuillan suggested a letter be sent quoting the chapter in the Regulations of the Board of Health on Cesspools, Septic Tanks and Sewers. It is the desire of the Board to have all houses connected to the town sewer as soon es possible. As we shall be running into bad weather shortly, the Board will Sewer tell the owners on Preston Road they will have until May 1, 195, to make this installation. After that date the matter will be turned over to the Town Counsel. 72 Cary Avenue. Mr. Kunan, Mr. Sweeney's lawyer, suggested to Mr. Lurvey that another sanitary engineer be called in, and that the Board, Mr. Lurvey, and Mr. Sweeney agree to abide by his decision. Mr. McQuillan said the Board is open to consider any solutions Mr. Sweeney may obtain, but we certainly will not go over our own engineer's decision. The Board would be very happy to see a workable plan. It must be suitable to Whitman & Howard as well as to the Board. 72 Cary Ave. 'V Ir. Lurvey met with the school nurses to discuss a Diphtheria Clinic. It is planned to hold a clinic sometime Diph- after the Christmas vacation. We have not had a diphtheria Theria clinic for two rare. Clinic The meeting adjourned at 4.45 P.M. C23,7-z1J9ta-e Z34"°17"/ Clerk