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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 172 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 1 1 173 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? 174 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 1 1 1 1t) 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- lib 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. CT 104 1 1 177 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 CT keg 1 1 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. 180 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. 004 1