HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-07-19300
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
July 19, 1957
A regular monthly meeting of the Board of Health was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Offices, on Friday, July 19,
1957, at 3 P.M. Chairman McQuillan, Dr. Cosgrove, Mr. Cole,
and Mr. Lurvey were present.
Mrs. Harry Haroutunian of 35-37 Spring Street met with the
Board to discuss the nuisance of an overflowing cesspool on
her property which has not been corrected as ordered by the
Board. The Haroutunians feel they can not pay for connection
0FCP to the public sewer at this time. The Board explained that
35-37 it had no alternative but to ask them to connect for the
Spring health of the neighbors and for their own safety. It was es -
St. timated that it would cost about 4150 to have the cesspool
repaired and corrected, on top of which they would eventually
have to connect to the public sewer with that expense. It
was suggested that the bank that holds the mortgage would
probably extend or increase the payments to cover the expense
of connection to the sewer as this would be in the way of
improving their investment. Mrs. Haroutunian will ask her
husband to arrange matters with the bank.
Mr. Kelly at the Town Dump reports that the M & M Disposal
Service is still bringing in about three loads of rubbish per
day from outside the limits of Lexington. Mr. Lurvey consulted
with town counsel Stevens, who suggested a hearing be held with
Mr. Mahoney when he would be asked why he does not comply with
Town the rule that only rubbish collected within the town limits of
Dump Lexington be brought to the Lexington dump. Chairman McQuillan
dictated a letter to the clerk notifying the M & M Disposal
Service that if in the future any rubbish collected outside the
town limits of Lexington is deposited in the Lexington town dump
the law will be enforced, and the Permit will be revoked. The
procedure for the Board of Health would be to bring this in-
fraction to the attention of the Board of Selectmen, who in
turn would ask the Board of Health to revoke the permit. A
copy of the letter will be sent to Mr. Gayer, Superintendent
of Public Works.
Mr. Lurvey brought to the attention of the Board the re -
Premature quest of the Robert W. Hardings of 2 Vine Street for financial
Baby help in the case of a premature twin baby girl born June 30,
Harding 1957. As the couple are planning to build a new home on a lot
they own in Burlington, own a 1956 car, have no outstanding
debts, P1,000 in the bank, and Mr. Harding earns a good salary,
the Board decided they were not in need of help from the Town,
and disapproved the application.
A letter was presented to the Board from the Department
Food of Public Health regarding a test of canned soup thought by
Poisoning Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson of Hill Street to have caused food
poisoning. •The test by the Division of Food and Drugs showed
no contamination.
The Board of Selectmen have notified the Board of Health
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of Dr. William L. Cosgrove's re -appointment for three years
to the Board of Health.
An application for an Animal Permit by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth
Fox, 3 Bennington Road, was approved by the Board but is not to
be issued until Mr. Lurvey makes further investigation of the
housing for the animal.
Mr. Peter Canessa, 905 Massachusetts Avenue, has completed
the correction of the overflowing cesspool bn his property.
Mr. Canessa has been notified that if there is any trouble with
his system in the future, he must make connection to the public
sewer.
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Animal
Permit
Canesse
An order to correct the nuisance of an overflowing cesspool
has been sent to Gordon E. and Nancy W. Phillips, 312 Waltham OFCP
Street, as a re -inspection showed the nuisance still exists.
Four milk licenses were approved by the Board for the year
1957-58: Howard Johnson's, Route 128; Manhattan Restaurant, Milk
45 Waltham Street; Ye Towne Diner, 1722A Massachusetts :venue; Licenseti
Pine Meadow Golf Club, 232 Cedar Street.
Mark Moore's new subdivision, the Burnham Farm on East
Street, was approved by the Board based on Whitman & Howard's Sub -
report, and providing that all recommendations made by Whitman Diviaioni
& Howard shall be followed by the builder.
The Health Officer's Report was discussed. All food estab-
lishments
stab-lishments were checked during the month, and with a few excep-
tions, were in A or B Grade condition. There were a great many
complaints of overflowing cesspools, lots being used as dumps,
etc.
On June 24, 1957, there was a fire at the Countryside
Pharmacy, 315 Woburn Street. Mr. Lurvey made a report on the
fire damage.
Tests on the Center Swimming Pools have been run regularly
by the Health Officer with excellent bacterial results. The veimming
Board members spoke of the large number of private pools now Pools
in Lexington, and wondered about the Board's responsibility in
the testing of them. Mr. Lurvey reported that he had anticipated
this question, and had talked with Dr. McCarthy at the Lawrence
Experimental Station about it. Dr. McCarthy believes it is the
responsibility of the owners to see that the pools are safe.
Fourteen sewage permits were issued by the Health Officer
during the month.
Three Commendation Certificates were awarded this month
for excellent standards of cleanliness: Geoffroy's Pharmacy,
316 Marrett Road, Manhattan Restaurant, 45 Waltham Street,
and Town Line Pharmacy, 20 Massachusetts Avenue.
A letter from the Department of Public Health at the
State House was read notifying the Board of the water emergency
status of Lexington.
Com -
me nda-
tion
Certifi
catea
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Engineering It has been established by Whitman & Howard that engineers
Fees should be paid $4.80 per hour for work done for the Board of
Health for subdivisions, etc.
The Health Department budget was discussed. Mr. McQuillan
Budget suggested the Department might use surplus money at the end of
the year for equipment for the new office if needed. Permission
from the Selectmen would probably be necessary. It is expected
to be September before the new Town Office Building will be
ready.
The next meeting of the Board will be on September 20, 1957,
no meeting in August.
The Board adjourned at 4.30 P.M.
Clerk
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