HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-03-08Mr. McQuillan had requested that the March regular meeting be
held the second Friday of the month at which time he will be home
from Florida. The Board voted to hold the next regular meeting
March 8, 1968.
The Health Officer's report was checked and it was agreed that
there had not been enough time between the inspection of Blue Ribbon
Dairy and the time the samples were taken for Mr. Martines to make
all the corrections necessary, but before the next meeting re -sampling
from that Dairy should be carried out and if there is no improvement
then further action should be taken.
The annual report was approved as presented. However, Dr. Colburn
suggested that in the future the report could be prepared for the
Board's approval before the due date. This will be done in the future.
The following renewal permits were signed by the Board:
Installer's permit
Alfred Iodice
Garbage Removal Permit
Stanley Roketenetz, Inc.
As ther was no further business the meeting was adjourned at
9:00 P.M.
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
MARCH 8, 1968
The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Friday,
March 8, 1968 at 7:00 P. M. in the Selectmen's Room of the
Town Office Building. Members present were R. L. McQuillan,
Chairman, Dr. William Cosgrove, Dr. Charles Colburn and Robert
C. Heustis, Director of Public Health.
Minutes of the February 2, 1968 meeting were approved as
read.
The problem of the Bakeri was discussed by the board. Mr
McQuillan said he was very upset by the continued bad grades BAKERI
on inspection at thes establishment and asked Mr. Heutis what
the trouble was.
It was explained that in December the Selectmen wer notified
that a Common Victullars License could be issued on condition
that the standards of this establishment were corrected. At that
time the Bakere was in receivership. Mr Heustis said he under
stood that now the financial difficulties had been resolved.
Mr. Heustis went on to explain that on inspection he has
found rat holes, and faulty plumbing. Waltham Chemical Co. is
supposed to be carrying on a rodent control program and the
plumbing has been fixed but this establishment is still under
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observation.
Mr. McQuillan: How long is this problem going to continue?
Mr. Heustis: They never should have been licensed in
the first place. This is a residential district and the
bakery odors are annoying.
Dr. Cosgrove: This section is zoned for business and has
been for years. Marshall's Bakery was there for years and
we never had any trouble with them.
Mr. Heustis: It is not a desirable place for a bakery.
Mr. Kolvoson has said he cannot get help even though he has
offered high school boys as much as $2.50 per hour.
Mr. McQuillan: Why don't these people take care of
these things when they first come up?
Mr. Heustis:.KIf you recall I brought a form in which
would enable me to close these places down until they were
cleaned up. Probably a period of 48 hours but the Board
said they always granted a hearing first and then if nothing
was done licenses were suspended. I doubt if this operation
could ever get up to an "A1 rating.
Mr. McQuillan: We always have a hearing and give a person
time to correct the violations then if these things are not
done we revoke the licenses. The Common Victulars license is
issued by the board of Selectmen we would have to notify them
to revoke that.
Mr. Heustis: We can go through the process of a hearing
and then revoke his permits.
Mr. McQuillan: I think this man should come into our
next meeting and see if we can get this thing straightened out.
The Board agreed and instructed Mr. Heustis to see that
a letter was sent to Mr. Kolvoson requesting he come into a
hearing at the next meeting.
Mr. Frank Martines, Treasurer and Mr. Joseph Martines,
BLUE RIBBON Assistant Treasurer of Blue Ribbon Dairy Company came before
DAIRY the Board for a hearing on the continued high coliform and
bacteria counts on milk delivered in Lexington.
Mr. Heustis: Mr. Martines was in to see me on March 1st
and I requested he bring in all records of analysis of htts
products, taken by both laboratories involved in his quality
control program, for the months of January and February.
Joseph Martines: I have them here, also the reports
received from other towns we deliver milk in. As you can
see the reports of the samples taken January 23 by the Arlington
Health Department are very good. This report showed coli
counts all zero and standard plate counts 5000 or less. The
reports from Beverly taken February 6, 1968 showed coli L 1/m
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and plate count or bacteria 3200. Samples taken in Watertown, Dec.
5, 1967 were good also other samples taken on school milk delivered
in Arlington in February were good.
Mr. Martines went on to explain that Mr. Leach, laboratory man
from Acton and Mr. Howard, laboratory man from Amherst, were both
taking samples of both the raw milk from the farmers and thefin-
ished product at the plant.
Mr. Heustis: How often are you sampling? Your
trol program is very weak.
Mr. Marines: About once
or twice a week at the plant.
milk telly bad. Evidently the
them to clean their equipment
Mr. Heustis: That still
be pretty good on the farmers
should be done every day.
quality con -
a week from the farmers now and once
We did find some of the farmers
real cold weather made it hard for
properly.
is not enough. Twice a week would
milk but your finished product
Dr. Colburn: When Mr. Heustis and I made our inspection at
your plant I noticed temperature charts not operating properly.
If this is part of the routine operation these things should be
kept in proper condition. A lot of your trouble could be in
the routine operation.
Mr. McQuillan: The Board of Health is responsible to the
people of Lexington and when a milk company comes up month after
month with high counts such as yours and nothing is done to cor-
rect the matter we must take some action.
Mr. Martines: We have found one of the causes is the farmer's
milk and we have done something about that.
Mr. Heustis: This is your responsibility to get this condition
under control.
Dr. Colburn: We discussed sterilization and temperature
control during our inspectionat your plant. As I said the temp-
erature charts were not operating correctly, you say those are
fixed, have yougot the temperature of the water for cleaning up
to the correct temperature.
Mr. Martines: The two charts you speak of have been fixed,
one is for the cooling and the other for heating. The phosphate
tests have all been negative so I know the pasteurization is all
right. The temperature charts have been fixed and we had a man
out from the Taylor Company to check the calibration and they
are now working perfectly. The water temperature has now been •
brought up to 1800 degrees for cleaning.
Mr. Heustis: Who does the pasteurization?
Mr. Martines: Joseph, Danny and my father.
Mr. McQuillan: How many quarts do you put out in a day?
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Mr. Martins: About 30,000.
Mr. McQuillan: Many other companies keep their milk up
to standard. Now it is up to you to find the cause of your
trouble whether it be in the farmers milk or your operation.
These high counts could indicate unclean milk and that could
lead to disease that is what bothers me. We will try to help you
in any way we can but you must get this thing under control.
There must be something wrong to have this over and over
again. If this continues we will have to suspend your license
to deliver milk in Lexington.
Dr. Colburn: Does the State Departments have any con
sultation service which dairies could call on when they are
having problems such as this?
Mr. Martines: We have talked to the people at the
State and they have gone out to the farmers and taken samples.
My father has also gone out on the trucks to the farmers and
talked with them.
Dr. Colburn: There must be some fine people at the
University of Massachusetts that you could contact for help right
now. Do you know anyone up there?
Frank Martines: I feel Mr. Howard is one of the -best
men in the business.
Dr. Colburn: No doubt he is, I was referring to one of
the professors or associates in the Dairy School connected
with the University, at least someone not previously involved
in the situation. Sometimes a fresh opinion can be of more
value to clearing up a problem. As things are going now you
are not solving your problem. Even if this service cost 50
to 100 dollars it would be worth it.
Frank Martins: I did call Dr. Litski, professor of
bacteriology, at the University. I also know and could talk
with Dr. Potter, Mr. Evans and Dr. Hankenson. I had them
for professors when I attended the University.
Dr. Colburn: I feel it would be worth the call to see
if any of these men could give you some time and help.
Mr. McQuillan: I know you appreciate the position this
Board is in. We are trying to help you in every way we -can
to clear this situation up but we do have our obligation to
the people. Mr. Heustis will help you all he can and continue
to take samples.
Dr. Colburn: I know you are trying to clear the problem
up and I suggest this Board give you until May, in the mean-
time we will continue to sample the milk.
Mr. McQuillan: May is agreeable with Dr. Cosgrove and I
and I also suggest Mr. Heustis take 3 or 4 samples as different
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times between now and May and see how things work out.
Mr. Martines: Mr. Heustis when you take a sample will
you remind the driver to bring the one next to yours in the
case back to me.
Dr. Colburn: You know it is your right to request these
samples be split so you can test from the same container of
milk.
Mr. Martines: Yes but I think the quart of milk next to
the sample quart in the case will be all right.
Mr. Heustis: I really don't feel you have done enough
to get control of the situation, a few random samples from
health departments is not enough. You should check the fin-
ishedrproduct everyday.
this.
Mr. Martines: I will talk to Dr. Hankenson again about
Mr. Heustis: You should know yourselves what your fin-
ished product is.
The Board thanked the Martines' for coming in and told
them to try and solve this problem by May..
Mr. Frank Wheeler, Manager, and Mr. Robert Welby, Assist-
ant Manager, of the Sheraton Lexington Motor Inn came before
the Board as a representative of the Dunfey family. The Board
had asked that one of the Dunfey family come in to this LEXINGTON
meeting to talksbout the conditions of the kitchen at the SHERATON
Lexington Sheraton Motor Inn, 727 Marrett Rd., Lexington. INN
A letter was received early in the month that both Mr.
Frank and Mr. John Dunfey would be in Burlington, Vermont
at this time and would be unable to come before the Board
as requested. They did say they would be glad to attend
the April meeting, however.
Mr. McQuillan:: Mr Wheeler I am very much disturbed
Ibout the report of the conditions at'the Sheraton Lexington
nn. I am also unset when a person is snrnoned to a hearing
by the Board of Health and they say they cannot come in at that
time but will come into the next meeting. I feel they have
no right to tell us when they will meet with us, to me this
was very discourteous.
Now we have had trouble with this establishment since it
was built. We realize the changing of managers and the oper-
ation was to blame. Now with the Dunfey family and Sheraton
name we feel we should get results and have no more problems,
and yet we have been receiving complaints.
Mr. Wheeler: Our output has exceeded our facilities and
we are planning a new kitchen to be started immediately. A
new addition is being put on the Inn and the kitchen is in-
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eluded in those plans.
Mr. McQuillan: I know there is talk about a new
kitchen but what we are concerned about is right now and
getting things in shape as they are today. First there was
this complaint from the lady in Fitchburg regarding dirty
dishes. Mr. Heustis explained that the detergent was not
being rinsed properly. There has always been the problem
of hot water and I remember a memo stating a booster had
been purchased and then find it was never connected.
Mr. Wheeler: The hot water booster is installed now,
an adjustment to the furnace brought the water up to 170
degrees, now with the booster the rinse water is better
than 200 degrees. The detergent on the dishes was because
the rinse cycle in the dish washer had been turned off and
the dishes were not being rinsed. Dishes from the dish washer
have two check points, 1. when they are taken out of the
machine and 2. when the waitress at the dish storage closet
handles them to set the tables. As Mr. neustis pointed out
the waitress station was very poorly lighted, this has been
corrected with the installation of flourescent lights. We
have made a job diseription for the dish washer so that in
the future they will be checked at the station. This job
description also includes directions for receiving and the
disposal of wastes. A kitchen manager has been hired to
check on these things. The turn over of personnel has been
the biggest problem we have had. I finally contacted the
Fernald School and the Metropolitan State Hospital and we
now are using people from these places who work very well
under supervision. I had a great deal of success with the
employment of this type person in New Hampshire, so I am
sure they will work out well.
Mr. McQuillan: Are these people capable of doing the work?
Dr. Colburn: If they are properly supervised they do
very well.
Mr. Wheeler: They must supervised but they do very well
and are very dependable. The new kitchen manager will super-
vise them and I am sure they will work out well.
Mr. Heustis: I would say you are heading in the right
direction. An in-service training program and the job
description (copy presented to the Board) is good. Your
imm_ediate problems seem to be getting correcred. Mr Quigley
your kitchen manager seemed to be working out well.
Mr. Wheeler: They should start construction on the ad-
dition very soon.
Mr. McQuillan:You have filed plans with the building
department for the construction? You should have your
architect file a set of plans for the kitchen with the
Health Department.
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Dr. Colburn: I am reading this job description, you say
wash hands before putting dishes in the machine, may I sug-
gest you also emphasize washing the hands before taking the
dishes out of the machine.
Mr. Heustis: How about the outside rubbish disposal
units, have they been taken care of?
Mr. Wheeler: We have six new ones, the others are on
back order.
Mr. McQuillan: Things have been done and now the only
thing we ca do is keep on top of this thing. We expect a
good establishment from the Dunfey's.
Mr. Wheeler: From the public relations stand point
these problems have been very bad. When I took over the
management down here the kitchen was the worst thing I had
iver seen. I an looking forward to the new kitchen.
Dr. Colburn: Have you actually let your contracts out?
Mr. Wheeler: Yes, the kitchen should be finished by
August lst.
Mr. Heustis: Have you made provisions for your operation
during construction?
Mr. Wheeler: They are doing the kitchen first. We may
have to serve downstairs in the Bar and possible go to buffet
service, but I hope all the problems will be solved by
September 1st.
Mr. Colburn: I hope we don't have to invite you in
again.
Mr. Wheeler: I hope all the problems will be solved.
Mr. McQuillan: Thank you for coming in.
The Board asked about Buttrickts milk, the milk taken
from the chest at the sandwich shop has had continually high
counts.
Mr. Heustis reported he had a letter from Dr. Cleveland, BUTTRICKS
quality dontrol man, stating that he had established a con-
trol program. But so far it doesntt seem to be working too
well we still have high counts this month.
The Board agreed that another letter should be written to
David Buttrick Co. regarding these milk counts and set a date
for these counts to be straightened out. If they are not
corrected begore the next Board meeting then Mr. Buttrick should
be requested to come before the Board.
Mr. McQuillan said he had been reading about the Structure
of Government Committee as reported in the MinuteMan, and
GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
178
he had noticed their original statement of having the com-
bined Boards of Health and Selectmen approve the Director
of Public Health had been changed.
He did feel that the way this report read now the Town
Manager would appoint all appointed personel Hefelt that
was too much power for one man. Mr. McQuillan said he felt
Town Manager should appoint with the approval of the Board
of Selectmen, but he also felt that the Town Manager Should
not appoint the policy making Boards such as Board of Health,
Planning Board etc.
Dr. Colburn said he attended the meeting of Government
Structure and he stated that he did not approve of one man
having all the power to appoint the Boards.
Mr. McQuillan said he wasn't too sure about the appoint-
ment of the Director and as a Town Meeting Member he thought
he would check this out.
The letter from Mr. Thomas MacLaughlin, State Sanitary
FOREMAN'S Engineer, stating that the sanitary system for the foreman!s
garage located at route 128 and Marrett Road had been inspected
and met all State requirements was read by the Board.
The Board agreed to accept this statement and placed the
letter on file. The fee for this system was waived.
FOOD MARKET Mr. Heustis spoke again of the new. Food Market Regulations
REGULATIONS whick are now a State law. He explained that at the present
time a number of amendments are being talked about by the
Health Council and Governor Volpe.
The Board instructed Mr. Heustis to take the necessary
steps to comply with these regulations.
The definitive subdivision plan entitled "Ridge Estates,
Lexington, Mass. dated December 22, 1968 and filed in the
RIDGE Health Department office on February 12, 1968 was approved
ESTATES by the Board subject to the restrictions as stated in the
Whitman and Howard report. A copy of the Whitman and Howard
report will be filed with the letter of approval.
BUDGET The letter to the Board of Selectmen reducing the request
for funds for Mental Health from 7847 to 7220 was approved.
This is a reduction of 25/ per capita to 23¢ per capita.
Dr. Cosgrove explained that the Dental Clinic Budget had
DENTAL been reduced 815 dollars in expenses and 1050 dollars in
CLINIC personal services, a total of 1865 dollars. He explained that
a recent survey showed that most of the patients in the clinic
were eligible for Medicaid or were now under Medicaid, there-
fore he could see no sense to continue the Dental Clinic work.
Mrs. Finneran, Dental Hygenist, has been carrying on with
the Dental Health Education program in the schools and if
there was no more Dental Clinic he thought possible if he got
in touch with DS.Fobert the School Department would like to
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place Mrs. Finneran on their staff and she could continue her
work in the schools because without the clinic work there
would be no need for the Health Department to continue with
a Dental Hygienist.
Mr. McQuillan suggested Dr. Cosgrove work out a letter
with Mrs. Jones, Clerk, to be sent to Dr. Fobert explaining
the situation.
Mr. Heustis explained that a substitute teacher in the
elementary grades in a routine x-ray was found to have active
pulmonary tuberculosis. This teacher is now in Middlesex TUBERCULOSIS
Sanatorium. CASE
He reported he had been working with the School Health
Services and a team from the State Health Department on this
problem.. He explained a letter was being drafted to be sent
to the parents explaining the situation and that all the
children in the elementary grades would be given the tine test
with the parents permission. This program will be carried out
before the schools close in June.
Dr. Barber, physician in charge of the patient at Middle-
sex Sanitorium, was still testing the patient to determine how
great the risk had been to the school children.
The Lexington Visiting Nurses have checked with the im-
mediate family and all the close contacts and all their reports
have been negative.
The Board instructed Mr. Heustis to continue with the
school department on this.
Mr. Heustis reported to the Board that Mr. Hamilton,
builder, was in and was interested in a single lot on Rockville
Avenue, however public sewer,is not on Rockville Avenue but ROCKVILLF
is within 200 feet on the street now called Phillips Road. AVENUE
bone of the houses on Rockville Avenue are serviced by the
public sewer and Mr. Hamilton did not want to go to the
expense of bringing the sewer line up to this lot if the
Board would permit a individual sanitary system.
The Board discussed this and agreed they would need
more information before any desision could be made.
FAIRLAWN
Approval was made by the Board for Fairlawn Nursing NURSING
Home to use the new addition of 20 single units. Mr. HeustisHOME
reported that this was inspected and these units met all the
requirements.
The clerk reported that Dr. Smith wished to bring to
the Boards attention the number of animal bites such as guinea ANIMAL
pigs, gerbels, rabbits, etc. occuring in the schools. These BITE
animals are being uses in all the schoolsas part of the
education program and also in the science classes. Dr. Smith
said he felt the Board should be made aware of the potential
rabies hazard and also the possibility of the town being involved
in law cases from these bites.
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Dr. Colburn said he never heard of a case of rabies
from laboratory animals unless the animal was innoculated
with rabies virus.
The Board made note of this information, but took
no immediate action.
L. V. N. A. The Board voted to appoint Mr. R. L. McQuillan as the
Board of Health Representative to the Lexington Visiting
Nurse Association.
The following appointments were made for 1968 by the
Board:
Robert C. Heustis
Dorothy Jones
Dr. Howard A. Smith
Isabel S. Finneran RDH
Paul F. O'Leary
Charles S. Karr
Dr. Wm. McLaughlin
Director of Public Health
Milk Inspector
Slaughtering Inspector
Clerk
Agent
Animal Inspector
Dental Hygienist
Special Agent
Special Agent
Special Agent
The following licenses and renewal permits were signed
by the Board:
Meadow Breeze Day Camp -renewal revreation camp
Meadow Breeze Day Camp -renewal swimming pool
Sun Valley Association -Swimming pool -renewal
Hayden Recreation Centre -Swimming pool -renewal
Battle Green Motor Inn -Swimming Pool -renewal
Five Fields Pool -Swimming pool -renewal
Adams Pool Corp. -Swimming pool -renewal
Richard F. Wall -rubbish Disposal
Henry B. Russell -Rubbish renewal
Minute Man Disposal Inc. -Rubbish renewal
Muffin H ouse of Lexington -Food establishment renewal
Anthony James Bossi-Food establishment permit. Mr
Bossi has taken over the Minute Man Bufbtteria on Marrett Rd.
The renewal permits for the Food establishments for
Buttrick's Sandwich and Lexington Sheraton Motor Inn were
held by the Board pending the corrections of violations in
these establishments.
The. Health Officer's report was checked and the water
tests of the brooks and streams noted. Mr. Heustis said
right now the brooks were testing all right. They were all
meeting the standards as set by the Department of Natural
Resources, but he was concerned that when the warm weather
comes and the flow slows down they could go below these
standards.
As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned
at 10:00 P. M.
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