HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-02-191
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BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
February 19, 1960
The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Friday,
February 19, 1960 at 3 P.M. in the Selectmen's Room of the Town
Office Building. Members present were Dr. William Cosgrove, Mr.
Charles Cole and Health Officer Mr. Mark D. Lurvey.
The minutes of the December and.January..meeting were accepted
and the.Clerk was:instructed to make the necessary corrections
before putting them in the permanent record book.
Mr. Lurvey reported that on January 21, 1960 a call from Dr. MARIA
Potter stating that approximately 120 children had been stricken HASTINGS
with Diarrhea at Maria Hastings School was received by the Health EPIDEMIC
Department. Mr. Lurvey immediately called the State Health De-
partment and they sent Dr. Pickering, State Health Department
Epidemiologist, out to investigate this outbreak. Mr. Lurvey and
Dr. Pickering worked all afternoon Thursday and all day Friday pro-
curing food samples, stool specimens of food handlers and children
stricken and a complete history of all the circumstances surrounding
the outbreak. All laboratory reports proved negative.
As the same type of outbreak was reported in another section of
the State and because of the detection of a particular bacteria,
considered nonpathogenic, up to this time but whereas it was found
in such large numbers in this case, a culture of this organism has
been sent to Washington D. C. for experimentation. Human volunteers
will be used in the experiments and we will just have to wait until
the experiments are concluded to find out what caused the mild epi-
demic at Maria Hastings School.
Letter to Grace Hussey, M.D. of the State Health Department
stating that the Lexington Health Department has confirmed the PREMATURE
tat that Premature Infant Bjorkan is a Lexington Settlement and INFANT-
the'Health Department will be responsible for the payment of hos- BJORKEN
pital charges for Premature Infant Bjorken on the recoginized $12.00
per diem was read and accepted by the Board.
The bill from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, 736 Cambridge St. PREMATURE
Brighton, Massachusetts for premature infant, Baby Boy Hamil- INFANT
ton of *732.00 was presented to the Board. Mr. Lurvey reported HAMILTON
that an investigation by Mr. Collins of the Lexington Welfare
Department has proved this case to be a Lexington Settlement
and therefore we are responsible for payment of this bill. The
Board voted to pay this bill of $732.00 for Premature Baby Boy
Hamilton.
Mr. Lurvey reported that he had attended several meetings STATE
on the State Sanitary Code. The State health Department wishes SANITARY
to set up a uniform Sanitary Code to be used by all communities. CODE
A State Code of this type would benifit the small towns and also
make the Public Health Laws of all towns more uniform. The accept-
ance of a Sanitary Code will enable the State Health Department
to set up a list of rules for all Health Departments and also enable
the State Health Department to ammend the rules when necessary. The
purpose of the meeting on February 24, 1960 at the Middlesex County
Sanatorium Auditorium is to inform all Boards of Health of the
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purpose and advantage, of the State Sanitary Code. Dr. Cosgrove
and Mr. Cole will both try to attend this meeting. Mr. Lurvey also
has talked to Mr. Harold Stevens, Town Councilor and he will try
to get to the meeting too. The letter Mr. Lurvey sent to Mr. Harold
Stevens, Mr. R.L. McQuillan, Dr. Wm. Cosgrove and Mr. Charles Cole
concerning the meeting on the State Sanitary Code was approved at
this time.
HAYDEN Letter to James Sumner, Hayden Recreation Center, Lincoln St.
RECREA'z.stating that the. water samples obtained February 2, 1960 showed
TION CTRuo•signs of pollution was approved by the Board.
CEDAR The report from Mr. Lucas, Engineer for Whitman & Howard
GLEN on Cedar Glen subdivision, owned by Mr. Gerard Freil, was read
and discussed. Public Sewer is available to take care of the
sewage problem but Mr. Lucas has stated in his report that the
cellars of all the houses should be at least one (1) foot above
the top of the drain in Cedar Glen Circle to assure the home owner
of having a cellar that can be kept dry by connecting to the drain
if necessary. Mr. Lucas has also recommended that in order to
avoid water pockets on the land Mr. Freil should provide the Board
of wealth with a grading plan. This plan should indicate drainage
outlets so that it will be possible to see where all surface water
will drain. Mr. Lurvey reported that John Ca -roll, Superintendent
of Public Works has okayed this subdivision. The Board instructed
Mr. Lurvey to send the regular letter accepting this subdivision
but'also stating that a set of grading plans must be submited to
the Health Department before a Building Permit may be issudd.
CARRIG Letter to Louis L. Green reminding him of his agreement to
PROPERTYnotify the Board of Health if .the land taken by the State from
WELLINGTON Mr. Carrig included the piece of property on Wellington Lane
LANE in Lexington, Massachusetts which has a large accumulation of
rubbish on it was read and aprroved.
Letter from Mr. Louis L. Green stating that Mr. Carrig was
in elorida at the present ime and that upon Mr. Carrigts return
the question of the Wellington Lane property would be taken up with •
the Board of Health immediatly was read and placed on file. The
Board voted to wait until Mr. Carrig returned from Florida before
taking any further action on the Wellington Lane Dump problem.
MIDDLE Letter to the Chairman of the Planning Board regarding
RIDGE Middle Ridge, Section IV stating that the Health Department
SECTION had investigated this subdivision and has approved this sub-
IV division subject to the condition that Lots 48, 49, 50 and
51 should not be built upon without prior consent of the Health
Department was read and approved. Mr. Lurvey reported that a
letter of correction was sent to the planning Board on this
subdivision stating that Lot 51 was accepted for building pur-
poses but that lot 54 could not be built upon without the consent
of the health Department. The Board approved bots. letters.
PAUL The letters to Mr. Paul Broughton, 502 Massachusetts Ave.
BROUGH* Lexington, requesting him to clean up the accumulation of
TON rubbish and garbage in the rear of 502 Massachusetts Ave. was
502 MASSread and approved. Mr. Lurvey reported that as the usual letter
Ave. was ignored and the certified letter was unclaimed at the Post
Office a letter was sent by Constable on February 10, 1960 stating
tori
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that this nuisance must be abated within 3 days.. A pre -inspection
was made and as there was no improvement in the condition a Court
Order was obtained February 19, 1960 against Mr. Paul Broughton.
The letter to Herbert Nickerson, State Health Department YOUNG ST.
requesting the State Health Department to investigate a parcel & WEBB ST.
of land approximately 7 acres bordering on Young Street and Webb
Street in Lexington for installation of private sewage disposal
systems was read and approved. Mr. Lurvey made this request to
the State Health Department in order to avoid any misunderstanding
in the future on this property. Mr. Cole and Mr. Lurvey had looked
over the land earlier in the week and accepted one house lot on
29 Webb Street.
Letter to Anna Phillips, 29 Depot Square stating the results
Of the inspection made on February 1, 1960 was approved. Mr. Lur-
vey reported that Mrs. Phillips had been ill but would take care
of all violations as soon as possible.
Letter to Mike Zirpolo, Heritage Room, Battle Green Inn, BATTLE
1720 Massachusetts Avenue stating the results of the inspection GREEN,inl,
made on February 1, 1960 was approved.
Upon a complaint from Mrs. Willey, 3 Loring Road concerning TOWN
cockroaches in her home, Mr. Lurvey investigated this conditon, DUMP
Mr. Lurvey also inspected the Town Dump and feels that something
should be done about the condition of the dump. .Mr. John Carroll
Public Works Superintendent agreed to share the cost of the exter-
minators with Mrs. Wiley. Mr. Carroll has informed Mr. Lurvey
that the dump is to be sprayed periodically and a rat baiting pro-
gram is carried on continuously in order to keep under control any
vermin or rodents that infest the area. The Board instructed Mr.
Lurvey to continue to work with the Public Works Department in try-
ing to control the nuisance from the Town Pump.
The letter to Manuel•Souza, 12 Eastern Avenue, Lexington stating
that,a complaint, had been received by this -department concerning MANUEL
poultry,beipg kept at 12. Eastern Avenue, was approved. <,Mr. Souza SOUZA
filled out and filed with the Health Department an Animal App.!. 12 EASTERI
lication and upon investigation, Mr. Lurvey found two ducks wel-
kept in a pen in the rear of the house. Mr. Lurvey felt.that if
Mr..Souza moved his-pen'down the hiil_and away ,from the complainants
boundry line no objection couldbe..made to the Ducks. The_Board
suggested Mr. Lurvey call on.the,pere on,who made the complaint
and ask- if the •Ducks are moved if ,they will give the arrangement .a
three months trial period. If this is satisfactory issue the permit
with the stipulation that the Ducks be moved and a trial period
be tried before complete consent may be obtained from the Board of
Health.
ANNA
PHILLIPS.
Letter to all local physicians reminding them that they may THEATRE
obtain State Biological supplies at the Theatre Pharmacy whenever PHARMACY
the Health Office is closed was read and approved.
Letter to Mr. Donald Nickerson, Board of Appeals, stating BOARD OF
the results of the inspections made of the Child Care Centers in APPEALS -
January was approved. Mr. Nickerson would like to meet with the CHILD CARE
Board of Health at our next meeting to discuss our regulations CENTERS
on Child Care Centers. Mr. Lurvey explained that the Board of
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Appeals wants no more than 10 children in Child Care Centers that
are conducted in private homes. The Health Department regulation
reads that there will be one toilet for every 12 children. The
only Child Care Center in violation of our regulation is Miss
Lothrop's Kindergarten but as Mr. Lurvey reported her kindergarten
is as clean as can be and she was in operation approximately 27
years ago before any rules and regulations were in being. The
schools and churches are not affected by this ruling of the board
of Appeals. The Board agreed they would be pleased to meet with
Mr. Nickerson to discuss the problem. The Board also voted to
postpone any action against Miss Lothrop's Kindergarten until after
the meeting with Mr. Nickerson.
The copy of the letter sent to Mr. John J. Shanahan, Lawrence
Farms, 48 Pleasant Street, Lexington by Mr. Mitchell J. Spiris JOHN J.
stating that all milk cases will be steamed each night, milk SHANAHAN
coolers will be provided for the 2 elementary schools whiChare
now without that equipment and that a concerted effort will be put
forth to eliminate all the problems that have been encountered
so far this year.
Letter to Antonio Buse, 46 Lowell Street, Lexington stating
that the Board of Health voted to order the dwelling owned by
Mr. Busa at Lowell Street connected to Public Sewer by April
1, 1960 was approved. .
Letter to Mr. William Maloney, Chairman of Board of Select-
men stating the results of the inspection made by Mr. Lurvey of
the property owned by Mr. Joseph Goodwin, 9 Pearl Street, Lex-
ington was approved. Mr. Lurvey reported that although their
was considerable amount of automobile parts and miscellaneous
junk stored in a shed at the rear of the house he could not find
anything objectionable from a Health standpoint.
Letter to Mr. William Maloney, dhairman of Board of Select- SEWER
men stating the results of the survey made by Mr. Lurvey of the SURVEY
sewage problem on Longfellow and Hawthorne Roads was approved. LONGFELLOW
Mr.-Lurvey reported that of the 12 houses on Longfellow Road' & HAWTHORNE
8 had sewage trouble, of the 6 houses on Hawthorne Road 4 had
trouble quite often.
Letter to J. Neil Morrisey stating that permission to keep 3. NEIL
2 ponies at 25 Brandon Street, Lexington was denied due to lack MORRISEY
of sufficient land areawas_ approved.
Letter from Clifford D. Castle, Jr. President of the Lex- APPOINTMENT
ington Visiting Nurse Association was read and the Board voted
to appoint Mr. R. L. McQuillian as the representative of the Board
of Health to serve on the Board of Directors of the Lexington
Visiting Nurse Association.
Report of action taken by the Board of Selectmen on the 1960 BUDGET
Budget Expense Account was reviewed by the Board. Our expense ACTION
Budget for the year 1960 has been decreased $1,500.00
1
ANTONIO
BUSA 46
LOWELL ST,
MR. JOSEP]
G00DWIN
9 Pea' r:
St.
Report of children attending posture clinic and their marks
was presented to the Board. Thisreport was accepted and placed POSTURE
on file. CLINIC
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The Whitman & Howard Bill was accepted for payment. ENGINEER BILL
The Dental Clinic report for January was accepted and DENTAL
placed on file. CLINIC
Licenses were signed by the Board for:
Paul Little - Garbage
John Reardon & Sons - Garbage
Georgine Bodine - Child Care Center
LICENSES
Application signed appointing Mr. Lurvey, Slaughtering APPOINTMENT
Inspector.
Mr. Lurvey asked the Board to please write a letter to Mrs. VIOLATION
Yarin who sent her child to school although she knew he had the COMMUNIC*
Chicken Pox. This case was reported by Dr. Pearlman to Mr. LurveyABLE DIS -
The Board voted to write a letter to this mother stating the EASE
State Law concerning Communicable Diseases.
An animal permit was granted by the Board to Henry Travers ANIMAL
L0 Earl Street to keep' 1 horse and 1 goat. PERMIT
The discussion of a Booster program for Fourth Polio Shot POLIO
for the children of Lexington was postponed until the next meet- CLINIC
ing. The Board would like more information on this program.
Mr. Cole asked Mr. Lurvey about 1001 Waltham Street. Mr. 1001 NAL-
Lurvey explained that he wanted Mr. Kraynick of Whitman & How- THAM ST.
and to look at this property before he could say too much about
it. Approval was granted by the Planning Board for this building
a few years ago but since then the zoning laws have been changed
and at the present time this property is in the hands of Harold
Stevens, Town Councilor for further action.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 E.M.
Clerk