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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-05-031 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETIA— MAY 3, 1968 The regular meeting of the Board of health was held Friday, May 3, 1968 at 7:00 P.M. in the Selectmen's Room of the Town v Office Building. Members present were: R. L. McQuillan, Chair man, Dr. William Cosgrove, Dr. Charles Colburn and Director of Public Health Robert C. Heustis. Minutes of the April 5, 1968 Meeting were approved as read. Mr. TcQuillan explained to the Board that Dr. Howard Foley 5 Harrington Road, was coming in to discuss the violation of HOWARD his animal permit to keep horses. His original permit was for FOLEY 3 horses, because of complaints received from the parishoners ANIMAL of the Unitatian Church an inspection was made by Mr. Heustis PERMIT on April 25, 1968 and there were 8 horses on the premises. Mr. Heustis wrote to Dr. Foley, after this inspection, or- dering him to reduce the number of horses to the original 3. The renewal application for 1968 has been filed and they have increased the number to 8. The Board briefly discussed the regulation for keeping horses, the size of the manure pile in the Foley's yard, the location of this propery and the complaints received. At 7:30 P. M. Dr. Foley and his daughter Jane came before the Board. Mr. McQuillan said he thought it would be easier if Dr. Foley explained the situation and also how so many horses had been added in the years time. Dr. Foley explained that when they took out the original per- mit they had 3 horses but his daughter Jane, a physical education instructor, teaches riding at a surmier camp in Maine, and acquired these school horses to take with her to Maine. He went on to say he never gave it a thought that he was violating his permit. The horses will be moved to Maine around the 21st of June, and in September they plan to bring back to Lexington only 5 horses. The Board stated that the regulations state 1 acre of land or more for 1 horse, but the area must be suitable to the Board of Health. They said they knew Dr. Foley had approximately 2 acres of land, but he was located almost in the center of Town and certainly 8 horses were too many for the area and location. Mr. McQuillan asked about the manure pile and if Dr. Foley had made any arrangements to have this removed. Dr. Foley agreed that the manure pile was bad, he said with the snow and cold this winter their was no way of removing it, one truck load has been taken out and he was trying to get someone with a truck to clean out the rest of it, he also stated that if he could not get someone with a truck he would clean it out himself with his trailer. He went on to explain that the reasons conditions were as they are was because they had been negotiating a land -swap deal with the Unitarian Church, but now they find that this will not be possible. The repairs and permanent cor- rals will be done this summer while the horses are out of the barn, and were planning to have flooring installed and other repairs done this summer. Mr. Heustis mentioned the back land which was low and of not much use. Dr. Foley explained that they were going to have some of this land graded and then would be able to use it for grazing, he said he planned to put up a temporary corral in the back so it could be moved to various sections of that area. The Board explained to Dr. Foley that the regulation was for the protection of the health of the population and they were really streehing a little bit when they (ranted him a permit for 3 horses. Dr. Foley and the Board discussed this problem further. The Board thanked Dr. Foley and Miss Foley for coming in and explaining their problems. The Board discussed the permit for the number of animals to be allowed to be kept by Dr. Foley and agreed that a tem- prary permit for 8 horses be granted until June 30, 1968. In September a permanent permit be issued for the keeping of 3 horses by Dr. Foley. Other stipulations were the Manurepilemust be cleaned up by May 17th and arrangements made to keep the manure -cleaned up on a weeklyor bi-weekly basis. The repairs and improvements must be made before the horses are brought back to Lexington in September, or at least some plan of work started by that time. Mr. Heustis was instructed to notify Dr. Foley of the Boards decision. The Board also instructed the clerk to include a notice in all permits issued, either new or renewals, that the num- ber of animals as listed on the permit must not be increased unless permission was granted from the Board of Health. BLUE RIBBON The Board checked the milk sample reports for Blue' Ribbon DAIRY Dairy taken during the month of April, and all agreed that a big improvement had been made in the operation at this Dairy. The license to sell milk in Lexington will be issued. STOP & Mr. Heustis reported he had also met with the quality SHOP control man from Stop & Shop and they will watch the refrig- eration and packing of the Dairy case from now on. Mr. Heustis reported that the Bakeri, Inc. had done BAKER' about two-thirds of the work requested. He said he had INC. made a second inspection with the State Food & Drug men and they felt a big improvement had been made in this establish- ment 1 1 1 189 The Board agreed that they would issue the Food Establish- ment Permit based on the reports from Mr. Heustis and the State Food and Drug men,but they instructed Nr. Heustis to keep an eye on this estabishment to be sure it was maintained in a satisfactory condition. The Board voted to inform the Structure of Government STRUCTURE OF Committee that they would like to see the following GOVERNMENT changes made in the Government Structure plan before it is presented to Town Meeting in June. 1. The Board of Health be appointed by the Board of Selectmen or by the Town Manager with the approval:of the Board of Selectmen. 2. The Executive Health Officer be appointed with the approval of the Board of Health. The letters to and from Dr. Howard Smith regarding the ANIMALS animals in the public schools were read and discussed by the IN SCHOOL Board. It was agreed that a letter should be written to Dr. Smith asking for specific recommendations in the handling and care of these animals. When such a letter is received the Board would evaluate the recomendations and if necessary submit these to the superintendent of schools for his consideration. Mr. Heustis reported that he had checked with the State TUBERCULOSIS Health Department on the payment of tuberculosis drugs for MEDICINE residents of Lexington under the care of their private physi- cian. If a patient goes through the clinic at Middlesex Sana- torium the drugs are supplied free of charge, but there is no law stating that the Board must pay for these drugs. This would be a policy the Board could adopt if they wanted to. The Board agreed that they would pay for these drugs for a year for the Lexington resident who had called inquiring about such a policy. The clerk was instructed to notify the resident of this action. The definitive subdivision plan entitled "Woodbridge WOODBRIDGE Estates Section 14." was approved by the Board with the re- ESTATES 4. striction that Lot 1 cannot be built upon without prior consent of the Board of Health. The letter from Senator Ronald MacKenzie thanking the Board for their interest in the Fluoridation bill was read And placed on file. The letter to Dr. Fobert regarding the possibility of transfering Mrs. Isabel Finneran to the School System was approved by the Board. FLUORIDATION BILL DENTAL HYGEN I ST The State inspection reports on Wilson Farms and Ricci FARM LABOR Brothers was placed on file. Mr. Heustis explained that CAMPS these farm labor camps are now under the State Health De- partment. The,letter from the School Department regarding a meet- DRUG ing of all Town Agencies on drug abuse was read by the ABUSE 190 Board. Mr McQuillan said he was interested in attending this meeting, and if any of the other Board members would like to attend he would be pleased. Dr. Colburn requested the Clerk to make a copy of the letter to be sent to him. MARRETT RD The letter from Robert E. Bond of the Recreation Committee RESEVOIR regarding the "Proposed Marrett Road Resevoir Beach" was discussed by the Board. Mr. 1`icQuillan said it had always been the contention of the Health Department and the Board that there was too much surface drainage to make this a desirable place to swim at the present time. Mr. Heustis said a great deal of improvement would have to be done before this area could be acceptable for public use, not only with the resevoir itself but arrange- ments would have to be made for sanitary facilities. The Board agreed that until a plan was presented to them which would conform to the Sanitary Regulations for Public Swimming areas they could not approve this area for recreation. 5 FLETCHER AVE. GARBAGE & RUBBISH DISPOSAL The report to Dr. Monderer, School Health Services, regarding Sex Education in the Schools was read by the Board and placed on file. Mr. Heustis explained that he has been serving on a committee make up of school nurses and himself to study and make recommendations for this course. These recommendations will be presented to the School Committee for their consideration. The letter to James J. regarding the accumulation approved by the Board. Mr. Heustis said this a private dump and records every year. Collentro, 5 Fletcher Avenue, of rubbish on his property was rubbish accumulation was almost on file show that this goes on The letter to Old Colony Disposal Service was read and approved by the Board. Mr. McQuillan explained that this company was picking up rubbish and garbage mixed at the Sheraton Motor Inn without a permit and against Board of Health Regulations which states rubbish and garbage should be stored in separate air tight containers. This matter came to the Health Department+s attention when Mr. Roketen- etzky called to say that he had been told not to pick up any more garbage at the Lexington Sheraton Inn-. Mr. DeMonte of this company did come in and apply for a permit to collect rubbish and garbage but at this time Mr. McQuillan said he felt a great deal more study should be made in regard to the commercial pick-ups. Mr. Heustis reported that Mr. Wheeler had called to say he had gone back to Miller & Sons for collection. Mr. Heustis also said he had talked with Mr. Miller, who said he was 1 1 1 1.91 picking up both the rubbish and garbage and taking it to an incinerator in Lowell but if the Board's ruling of not mixing the two held he would be glad to just pick up the rubbish. Mr. McQuillan said he gave the Old Colony Disposal Ser- vice the opportunity to come into this Board Meeting and ex- plain the type of operation they had, type of containers used and etc. They have not come into this meeting so therefore INr. McQuillan made a motion that the Board not approve their ap- lication to pick-up rubbish or garbage in Lexington until more inforiiatibn:regarding this service was received. The Boarded seconded the motion. Permit was not approved. The Board discussed the rubbish and garbage pick-up regula tions and agreed that a great deal more study was needed before any definite action could be taken to change the regulations. The Board felt the Board of Selectmen and the Public Works Department should be contacted regarding the use of the town dump on Hartwell Avenue by these commercial disposal trucks. The need of a change in updating the fees for this type of permits was mentioned. The application of Milton G. Lambert, 11 Alcott Road to ANIMAL stake one horse in thefield behind his house, weather per- PERMITS mitting for a few days was approved by the Board. The horse is stabled at the Cosgrove Farm, 128 Hartwell Avenue, on a permanent babis. The permit will stipulate the conditions as stated by Mr. Lambert on his application. The application for a permit to keep one horse by Donald E. & Patricia McElman, 7)4 Blossomcrest Road, was approved by the Board. Mr. mcElman did not have the required area in his house lbt but a written agreement was attached to this permit signed by Vernon and Shirley Parsons leasing to the McElman's a parcel of land abutting their property to make the required acreage to keep a horse. A number of renewal permits requesting increases in farm animals were discussed by the Board. It was agreed that on all the permits with increases a site inspection by made by Mr. Heustis begore the permit was re -issued. The Board agreed that the increase in horses in Lexington was getting to be a problem and a study of the present regulations should be made. Mr. Heustis was instructed to contact neighboring towns for copies of their regulations and their methods of hand- ling these permits. The renewal permit for garbage pick-up for Bay State Tallow Company was signed by the Board. The rubbish disposal permit for Regional Landscape Service was signed by the Board. No further business, meeting was adjourned at 10:00 P. M.