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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-01-19-4- 355 will be granted until the bottling is done sanitarily. Mr. Cole said he would like it recorded that he disapproves of Mr. Sellars' methods at the dairy. The Board as a whole disapproves, and a permit will only be issued to him when he conforms to all the rules and regulations. Board adjourned at 5.55 P.M. BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING January 19, 1959 The Board of Health met'in the Selectmen's Room at 3 p.M. on Friday, January 19, 1959, with Chairman McQuillan, Dr. Cos- grove, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Lurvey present. A report from Whitman & Howard concerning Colonial Acres, Inc., was discussed. Because Mr. Cole did not agree with some of the elevations given, it was decided a meeting with Mr. Kray - nick, the engineer for Whitman & Howard, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Lurvey, would be arranged to go over this matter before approval is sent to the Planning Board. Lots 148, 149 and 150 Tarbell Avenue were turned down by the Whitman & Howard engineer, Mr. Kraynick. Mr. Cole and Mr. Lurvey checked, and decided the bed should be re -located, and another test made. The Board agreed that further investigation must be made by the Board before approval. Mr. Joseph Carroll met with the Board as requested by the Health Officer to discuss the appalling condition of the piggery at 31 Allen Street. Mr. McQuillan informed Mr. Carroll that he made a visit to the farm with the Health Officer, as did Mr. Cole, and they think it is the dirtiestplace in Lexington. It must conform with the rules and regulations of the Board of Health or the license will be revoked. Mr. Lurvey was asked to state the violations he found, which included whitewashing all buildings at least twice a year, keeping all swill in covered receptacles, feeding swine from platforms, cleaning up generally. If all these things are done, Mr. Lurvey says he can recommend a license. Mr. Carroll agreed to do all these things between now and the April meeting of the Board. Mr. Carroll stated he had no objections to the letter sent to him by Mr. Lurvey on December 2, 1958, calling his attention to these violations. Mr. Lurvey will report once a month to the Board on Mr. Carroll's progress. Mr. Lurvey reported that notification by letter has been sent to the Superintendent of Schools of the Diphtheria and Tetanus Clinic to start.on Saturday, January 31, 1959, 9.30 to 10.3 0 A.M., Cary Memorial Hall, for all school children. The second olinic will be on March 7, and the third, on April 11. 356 -2- Mr. Lurvey reported that during a visit at the Junior High school Dr. Howard Asarkof, School Dentist, had asked the Health Officer if he could help in any way thru the Board of Health to get better ventilation and conditions at the dental clinic room in the Junior High Building. The Board decided that as Dr. Asarkof had written to the School Dental Committee, it would be better policy to see what action the Committee would take. Mr. McQuillan reported to the Board that he had written to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen asking for more office space for the Health Department, perhaps part of the adjacent Inspectors Room. Mr. Lurvey reported that he had sent a letter to the Watts Realty Trust concerning 3 deep trenches left on Lots 2, 25, and 26 Turning Mill Road that are a menace to the small children in the neighborhood due to water collecting in these holes. Mr. Lurvey had a letter from the State Department of Sani- tary Engineering in anawer to his request last fall as to the extent of pollution in Vine Brook. Mrs. Morey, Selectwoman, had asked Mr. Lurvey about this. T#.e State Department made checks at various points along Vine Brook, and it is its opinion that there is no bacterial contamination. They stated the -water in this brook was fit for irrigation purposes. The Board asked that Mr. Lurvey notify Mrs. Morey. Also a letter is to be sent to Mr. Angelo Buse, owner of Oak Park Farm, notifying him that the water is suitable for irrigation purposes. The Board approved the commendation certificate recommended by Mr. Lurvey for Countryside Pharmacy, 317 Woburn Street, for high standards of cleanliness. Mr. Lurvey recommended that an application for hoirses by Mrs. John Baskin, 45 Adams Street, be approved. She is to stable the horses in a barn on East Street on land that she owns. With the permit is to go the condition that under no circumstances should children ride animals on school property. Mr. Lurvey reported that the Anna Phillips Restaurant, 29 Depot Square, has been cleaned up, and is a very nice job. A letter was noted from Hutchins & Wheeler, lawyers, that under the will of Albert Douglass, funeral director, the busi- ness is left to the sons, and will be under the direction of the executors and Mr. John Lane, funeral director, for the present. Mr. Lurvey reported that the permit for a private dump at Walnut Farm Trust, 32 Walnut Street, for Mr. William Potter has been sent. Mr. Lurvey stated that he is quite concerned about the conditions in the kitchen and surrounding area at Lexington Inn. The Board asked that a letter be sent to the treasurer, Mr. Bell, saying that "a letter has been sent from the Health Officer outlining certain conditions that must be corrected before the next Board meeting in February, or the Board will have to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the common 1 1 1 1 _3_ victuallers license for a restaurant be revoked. The Board approved Burnham Farm, Section 3, Moore Realty Trust, and a letter will be sent to the Planning Board to that effect. Mr. Lurvey presented a letter from Eugene L. Tougas, Lowell Estates subdivision, with a definitive plan. Mr. Lurvey has been held up on this pending the receipt of a topo map of this area. Mr. Lurvey reported that overflowing sewage at 155 Pleasant Street has been corrected, and a new cesspool installed. The letter to Mr. John Sellars was sent as requested by the Board at the last meeting. No new license will be issued to the Dairy until Mr. Sellars conforms with the conditions made at the hearing with the Board on December 19, 1958. Mr. Herbert Bourne, 183 Bedford Street, had the overflowing cesspool pumped out, and a tight cover installed. He also had a load of loam dumped on the old overflow. He will tie this cesspool into an overflow leaching line when weather permits in the spring. There is no nuisance there now. Mr. Lurvey reports all inside plumbing is now finished at 20 Meriam Street, and the house is properly connected to the public sewer. ■ In connection with Mr. Antonio Busals lots on Lowell Street, he has failed to submit all necessary information. Mr. Lurvey just has a lot plan submitted to him by Mr. Buss. No action was taken by board awaiting topographical maps, eta. Mr. Lurvey asked the Board to approve a letter to to sent to the Beaver Brooke Academy, 114 Concord Turnpike, stating that no license to conduct a Child Care Center will be issued until proper lighting, sanitizing of utensils, and sewage disposal is obtained. The Board so voted. Mr. Lurvey checked -6 Red Coat Lane for Mrs. Edward Coyne, who is applying for a Child Care Center license. He suggested to Mrs. Coyne that she have a suitably trained assistant as she is not trained herself to teach. At 94 Middle Street Mr. Lurvey found the owner must clean the cesspool out, and that, according to the owner of 94 Middle Street, many others are having trouble in the area. He suggested that Mr. Kraynick go over there and check the 10 or 12 houses with him. The Board agreed. The Board of Health members have been notified of a meeting Saturday at 11 A.M. with the Selectmen to discuss the Board of ' Health budget for the coming year. The Board adjourned at 14.30 P.M. 357 358 BOARD OF HEALTH SPECIAL MEETING February 9, 1959 A special meeting of the Board of Health was held on Monday, February 9, 1959, at 2 P.M., in the Selectmen's Room, Town Offices, to discuss policy in regard to subdivisions, engineering, etc. Mr. William Maloney., Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. John Carroll, Public Works Superintendent, Mr. Lawrence Krayniek, Whitman & Howard engineer, Mr.. Donald Irwin, Lexington Building Inspector, Mr. Charles Cole and Chairman McQuillan of the Board of Health, and Mr. Mark Lurvey, Executive Health Officer, attended the meeting. Chairman McQuillan opened the meeting by explaining that the Board of Health up to the present time has employed Whitman & Howard, Engineers, to check on subdivisions and questionable lots.. In the case of subdivisions, an engineer tram Whitman & Howard has checked the area, reported to the Board of Health, and the engineering fees have been paid by the developer. Developers may hire their own engineers, but the Board of Health must then have its engineer check on this report. Engineering work has been in- creasing rapidly now that the best land in the Town has mostly been built on, with the result that the budget for engineering is increasing too. The Board wonders if the Town Engineering Depart- ment could help with some of this engineering, because as well as being expensive, the Board feels t is a great responsibility to make sure that land is suitable for drainage. The Board feels a responsibility on the severed lots as well, as the drainage affects the neighborhood. The Board of Health realizes that the town engineers do set road grades, sewers, catch basins, etc., but even with this established, there is a problem of drainage on private lots to surrounding areas that involves a responsibility somewhere that worries the Board of Health. Standing water can be a hazard and a source of pollution. Mr. Cole expressed the opinion that there should be engineering control on drainage of new areas on private lots. Should the Board of Health tell these builders that they ought to fill lot so and so, have the land drain into the street drain at least? The Board should have engineering help as it is really an engineering problem. Mr. McQuillan gave Colonial Acres for an example of the engi- neering that is involved. Mr. Kraynick.went all over the area and made a report to the Board when the Preliminary Plan was sub- mitted. Now he will have to check it all again when the Definitive Plan is received by the Board. Hiring an engineer like this runs into money. The Board wonders if the town engineers could help out on this. Mr. Cole said there would be some house lots where water cannot get out into the street because of the street grades. Mr. Kray nick's idea is that perhaps the public works department could work' with the board of Health in approving and setting grades for lots so that some lots will not be dammed up. TO Board feels Mr. Krayniok must look into drainage in yards, and the time so spent rui into a lot of money. Frain now on the Board will have more and more marginal lots. Perhaps the public works department can help us and cut down on same of the fees the Board of Health would have 1 1 -2- 359 to spend on engineering. Mr. Irwin, the Building Inspector, suggested that a list of rejected lots be given to his department, so that he would know the lots that should not be built on. Mr. Cole and Mr. Lurvey said perhaps another square could be arranged on the building oard.so that both departments w ould k now when a lot is approved for drainage or rejected until further engineering plans are approved. Mr. Maloney asked why Whitman & Howard engineers are needed. The Board explained that when lots are questionable the Board needs engineering help, and on large subdivisions the Board must engage an engineer to make sure proper drainage may be secured on each lot. Mr. Cole outlined the example of the procedure for a builder who, having 5 lots rejected, wants to get these lots o.k'd. He knows they can be corrected, and can be built on, but what is the first step? Mr. Carroll stated that if corrected the builder may build on the lots, second paragraph of the sub division law. Mr. Cole said at present there is no machinery for the Board to approve a lot once it is restricted and turned down. After a builder has built on his good lots, then naturally he will want to build on the rejected lots. It might be a very simple matter to correct these lots. At present there is no proper machinery for anybody to o.k. the rejected lots. Mr. Carroll said he would cooperate with Mr. Lurvey and the Board of Health. He or one of his engineers will go out to the questionable lots with Mr. Lurvey. Mr. Maloney suggested that perhaps there would be better cooperation with the builders if they are asked for their ideas on the correction of rejected lots, rather than for the Board to flatly state that the lots "cannot be built on". Get together on these problems, and the builders will go along with it. Mr. Kraynick asked if the Board felt he needed to check the lots after the preliminary plan is submitted, and again after the definitive plan is submitted. Perhaps he could just check after the second definitive plan is received. The law does not say action has to be taken on the preliminary plan. This would save a great deal of time and money. Mr. Carroll suggested that the Board of Health talk to the Town Counsel. Maybe the developer could be asked to post a bond, and when the work is finished to the Board's satisfaction, the bond would be released. Mr. Lurvey, to sum up the meeting, said he can now get help from the town engineering department, and act on this advice. He asked Mr. Carroll if Mr. Carroll would give him a report on his investigation. Mr. Carrollsaid he would. Mr. Irwin will be 114 given a list of restricted or rejected lots. Mr. Snow of the Planning Board did not remain at the meeting, but said he would return if needed. The meeting adjourned at 3.30 P.M.