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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-09-16436 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING September 16, 1960 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Friday, September 16, 1960 at 3:00 P.M. in Estebrook Hall. Members pre- sent were Mr. R.L. McQuillan, Chairman, Dr. William Cosgrove, Mr. Charles H. Cole and Health Officer, -Mark D. Lurvey. JULY The minutes of the July meeting were approved as read. MINUTES Due to the interest and the number of people present on the hearing of Potter's Piggery Mr. McQuillan explained that POTTER'S this was a regular Board of Health meeting and that the Public' PIGGERY was always welcome to attend these meetings of the Board of Health but the Board must take what action they deemed necessary first and then the Board would be glad to answer any questions, from interested people on the action taken by the Board. A motion was made by Mr. Charles H. Cole as follows: The Walnut Farm Trust must take action at once to correct all conditions at the Piggery which do not conform to the laws regarding the con- ducting of the piggery in the Town of Lexington. This includes first, the immediate removal of the piles of manure and garbage which are now present and the removal weekly as long as the . piggery is in operation; or second the trenching of the existing piles of manure and properly covering with dirt and this procedure be carried on during any further operation of the piggery. If these conditions are not carried out within 30 days by the Walnut Farm Trust the license for operating a piggery will be revoked. Motion moved and seconded by Dr. William Cosgrove. Motion passed by the Board. Mr. R.L. McQuillan made the following statement: A conference was held by the Board of Health with Mr. William Potter and other members of the Walnut Farm Trust. Mr. Harold Stevens, Lexington Town Attorney, was present at this meeting. We were unable to hold this meeting until Thursday night, September 15, 1960. After much discussion and legal opinion from the town attorney Mr. Potter was asked by the Board to write a letter to the Board stating in this letter all complications that would be met in removing his business from Lexington which has been conducted for 40 years and stating in this letter a definite date he would agree to remove his piggery from Lexington with the understand- ing that the Board will make their own decision as to when this removal must take place. This letter must be in the hands of the Board before 437 next Tuesday, September 20, 1960 by 5:00 P.M. A special meeting will be held by the Board and a definite time fixed by the Board for the ter- mination of the Walnut Farm Trust Piggery on Thursday evening, September 22, 1960 at 8:00 P.M. The Board will welcome a discussion with a com- mittee of three from the Minute Man Highland Association before next Thursday. It was agreed that the Board of wealth members would met with three members of the Minute Man Highland Association Tuesday, Sept- ember 20 at 7:30 P.M. in the Health Department Offices. Mr. Tom Osborne, 37 Webster Road, asked if the Town would do anything about the rat situation in the Minute Man Highland area? Mr. McQuillan replied that he asked Mr. Stevens, Town Council, about that and Mr. Stevens stated that legally the Board had no right to go onto private property to exterminate the rats but Mr. McQui±lan stated further the Board: was• ready -=and willing -to help relieve this rat situation in everyway they legally can. Mr. Lurvey explained that because of the number of complaints of rats in the Minute Man Highland area he had called in Mr. Patterson, Rodent expert of the Waltham Chemical Co., and Mr. Lurvey and Mr. Patterson made a house to house survey of the homes from which com- plaints had been received. Mr. Lurvey submitted Mr. Patterson's report to the Board. Mr. McQuillan read this report aloud to the Board and the group present at this meeting. Mr. McQuillan stressed the sentence in the rat survey report which stated that empty lots could be a harborage for rats. A question was asked by a member of the Minute Man Highland area who was responsible for the empty lots. Mr. McQuillan stated the land owner is still responsible because the Health Department annot legally go onto private property to exterminate rats. Mr. Mairson, Minute Man Highland Member, asked who determined where the rat survey was made. Mr. Lurvey stressed the fact that he at the expense of the health Department called in Mr. Patterson to make this survey and only at the homes where complaints had been received by the Health Department Office. A member asked if a copy of the report of Mr. Patterson, Waltham Chemical Co. expert, could be made so that the members of the Minute Man Highland Association could read it and digest this report at a later date? Mr. McQuillan said the health Department would be glad to see that a copy of this report was sent to the Minute Man Highland Association. Mrs. Tom Osborn, Webster Road, asked if they called other people in the Minute Man Highland area and those people called in to complain about the rats in their area would Mr. Lurvey make an investigation Mr. Lurvsy assured Mrs. Osborn that every complaint would be thourghly investigated. 438 Mr. McQuillan called to the attention of the people, that were present from the Minute Man Highland area, that in this report it was stated that the source of the rats could be controlled. A request was made by the Minute Man Highland Association that a copy of the motion made by Mr. Charles H. Cole and also a copy of the statement made by Mr. n.L.Mcquillan be given to the three representatives on Tuesday evening, September 20, 1960. Mr. McQuillan assured the Minute Man Highland Association that copies would be ready for their representatives on Tuesday evening. He also assured the association members that the Board of Health would do everything possible to help relieve this situation without getting involved in a long law suit. The Association members assured Mr. McQuillan that they did not want a long court case either but they did want a definite understanding and a letter from the Board of Health stating their final decision and the assurance from the Board of Health that this decision would be carried out. The Board voted to send Mr. William G. Potter a letter asking for his letter in regard to the complications involved in moving his piggery from Lexington this letter to be deliv- ered to the Health Department Office by Tuesday, September 20, 1960. A copy of the motion made by Mr. Charles H. Cole and also a copy of the statement made by Mr. McQuillan will also be sent to Mr. William u. Potter. MR. Mr. Mairson a member of the Minute Man Highland Association MAIRSON had asked to talk to Mr. Lurvey after the meeting. Mr. Lurvey asked Mr. Mairson to stay after the hearing on Potter's Piggery was finished. Mr. Mairson said that now that the main sewer lines were coming through the Minute Man Highland Section he was questioning whether he should petition now for sewer lines on Lawrence Lane and other streets in that area. He also asked how permanent the present systems were. Mr. Cole explained the sewage system and leaching beds to Mr. Mairson and explained that Septic Tanks and Leaching Beds were only temporary systems. Mr. Mairson asked that where all the systems go out the back of the houses would the Town consider taking an easment from the backs of the homes. Mr. Lurvey and Mr. Cole explained that all of the questions on sewer easement and sewer lines would have to be answered by John Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works. 178 CONCORD The letter to Mrs. R. Russell, 178 Concord Avenue, in re - AVENUE gard to the complaint of rats on her property was accepted by the Board. Mr. Lurvey in this letter recommended the gassing and seal ing of the wall along the property line on Chadbourne Road. 1 1 1 1 1 439 The letter from Alfred L. Frechette, M.D., Commissioner LABORATORY of Public Health, stating that a certificate of Laboratory APPROVAL Approval was sent to the Lexington Health Department was accepted by the Board. Letter to Mr. Donald Nickerson, Chairman Board of Appeals CHILD CARE; stating that a prelininary inspection of two new Child Care CENTERS Centers had been made, namely, Countryside Kindergabten, 296 Woburn Street and Mrs. Broughall's Kindergarten at 922 Mass- achusetts Avenue was approved. Mr. Lurvey reported both these kindergartens were very good and he would recommend issuing the licenses for these kindergartens. The Board signed the licenses for these two kindergartens and also the license for the Arlington, Lexington Bedford newish Center Kindergarten which had been approved at the July meeting. The letters to Frederick J. Muldoon, Esq., 10 State Street, 43A THOREA Boston, Mass, certifying that according to the records of the ROAD & 42A Lexington Health Department consent was given to erect a build -WHITMAN CR. ing on Lot 43A Thoreau Hoad and Lot 42A 1 Whitman Circle on July 24, 1959. The date of the approval of the Septic Tank and Leaching Bed was stated. These letters were approved by the Board. The letter to John Carroll, "uperintendent of Public Works 20 FREEMONT stating the dates and action taken by the board of health in re- STREET gard to an overflowing sewage system at 20 kreemont St. was app- roved by the board. This letter was in answer toa request from Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works for their records as the owner at 20 Freemont Street was not satisfied with the grading and landscaping after the home was connected to the Public Sewer. The letter to Mr. L.P. Collins asking him to bring in his RUBBISH truck for inspection in order that a permit might be issued to PERMIT him to collect rubbish in Lexington was approved. Mr. Lurvey reported the truck was okay and the permit had been signed and issued. The letter from Arthur E. Burrell, Lirector of Lexington CIVIL Civil Defence was read by the Board in this letter Mr. Burrell DEFENSE asked for the specific items of equipment or service which the Health Officer will need in relation to the Civil Defense org- anization for next year. The Board agreed that it would be better to ask Mr. Burell to attend the next regular meeting of the Board of Health in order that the Board could discuss the matter of Health equipment for Civil Defense more fully. The letter from Levi G. Burnell, `chairman of the Lexington Planning Board stating that the definitive subdivision plan COUNTRY entitled Country Club Manor, Section One, Lexington, Massachu- CLUB MANOR setts dated June 21, 1960 accompanied by an application for SECTION I aprroval of definitive plan Form C dated June 24, 1960 be approved subject to the condition that no building or structure be built or placed upon any lot without prioe consent of the Lexington Board of Health was read by the board. 440 WATER SAMPLES ANIMAL PERMIT 27 HILL ST. 80 HILL ST. DENTAL CLINIC LOT B BURL- INGTON ST. 11 WINCHES- TER DRIVE The letter to Mr. Burnell, Chairman of the Planning Board, stating that the Board of Health approved the Uountry Club Manor Section I subdivision but because of the stipulations set forth in the Whitman & Howard report the Health Department requests that this subdivision be approved with the restrictions that no building or structure be built without prior consent of the Board of Health was approved by the board. The letter from Herbe't D. Nickerson, District Engineer,` on the results of the water samples one from 16 Downing Road and the other from 546 Concord Pike was read by the Board. The application of Joseph P. Kelley, 32 Middle Street, to keep one goat was approved by the Board pending the results of Mr. Lurvey's investigation. The letter to Thomas A. Bartley, 27 Hill Street, ordering him to connect his home to the Public Sewer was approved. Mr. Lurvey reported that this house was all connected now. 1 The Board of Health gave Mr. Lurvey permission to order Mrs. Phyllis L. Coe, 80 Hill Street, Lexington to abate the nuis- ance of overflowing sewage on her property. Dr. Cosgrove reported that he had met with Mrs. Frances Porter Dental Hygenist, and the records show a great deal of work incomplete and Mrs. Porter explained this was due to the fact that a great deal of time is now being spent on the children in the Junior High and High School. The Doctors and Mrs. Porter would like to cut down on this age group and work on the elemen- tary children and only take Junior High and HighSchool children who have been cleared through the Welfare Department or in case of emergency. Dr. Cosgrove said he would recommend that.we adopt that as our policy. The Board so agreed. Dr. Cosgrove suggested that the Health Department contact firs. Porter and ask her to draft a letter to be sent to the school Department and the Superintendent of Schools stating the change in policy and also the reasons for it. Dr. Cosgrove also told the board that two new dentists have been appointed to replace Dr. Asarkof and Dr. Frim who have resigned. The new dentists are both local men, new in Town, they are Dr. John N. Reichheld and Dr. Thomas R. Bane. Mr. Lurvey asked for permission to send an order to Mr. Koski, Woburn Massachusetts ordering him to abate the nuisance of the fine sand blowing from the fill he has placed on Lot B Burlington Street. Permission was granted. Mr. Lurvey ex- plained we had written to Mr. Koski on August 1, 1960 calling this nuisance to his attention but nothing has been done. Mr. Lurvey reported that while investigating a rat com- plaint at 11 Winchester Drive he discovered a pile of brush, owned by the DeVries Construction Company on the lot line, which was conductive to the rats and he would like permission to order DeVries to burn this pile of brush. Permission granted. 1 1