HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-10-18BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 1968
The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Friday,
October 18, 1968 at 7:00 P.M. in the Selectmen's Room of the
Town Office Building. Members present were Dr. William Cosgrove,
Dr. Charles Colburn and Robert Heustis, Director of Public Health.
Mr. Heustis explained Mr. McQuillan was ill in the hospital.
Minutes of the September 13, 1968 meeting were approved as
read.
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Mr. Heustis explained an order had been sent to John & Jean
Shanahan, owners of property at 18 Vine St., Lexington to correct
the conditions which caused the wet ceilings in the upstairs north
bedroom. He went on to say that Mr. Robert Carrig had requested
a hearing on this order but Mr. Shanahan had come into the office
and stated he was going to fix the roof as soon as the present JOHN.
tenants moved. Mr. Heustis recalled to the Board that the tenant, &
Mr. Maxner, had been issued an eviction notice by the court, and JEAN
it is understood that by the end of October this apartment will SHANAHAN
be vacant and that is when Mr. Shanahan says he will repair the
roof.
Mr. Heustis went on to explain that he told Mr. Shanahan to
write a letter to the Board stating that he would make the nec—
essary repairs, but as yet he has not received such a letter.
Dr.. Cosgrove said we should be very sure that the Board had
jurisdiction in this matter and that this Board is not being used
to further anyone's gains.
Dr. Colburn asked if this was a problem of the Board of
Health's, he went on to say that wet walls and ceilings would
seem to him to be a problem of the building inspector, and he did
not feel that the Board should be concerned if this problem was
not in their jurisdiction.
Mr. Heustis said according to Article II of the State Sani-
tary Code we were responsible.
Dr. Cosgrove asked if Mr. Maxner gets out at the end of the
month, as you say he will, is it up to us to see that Shanahan
does all these things before he rents this place again?
i'r. Heustis replied, I would say, Yes.
The Board asked if the other tenants had filed any complaints.
Mr. Heustis said not in writing.
The Board asked if the other apartments had wet ceilings and
walls.
Mr. Heustis said he had not been in the other apartments, but
he would take Shanahan's word that he will fix this roof properly.
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Dr. Cosgrove asked if Ir. Shanahan will request a hearing
on this order in the near future.
IIr. Heustis replied he was supposed to write a letter
stating what he intended to do. I did not receive this letter,
therefore, he has relinquished his right to a hearing. Now
it is up to the board to issue an order.
Dr. Cosgrove said, Mr. ' ieustis you have stated the con-
dition of this apartment but before this board issues an or-
der on this, I would like some legal advise before iti'ir.
Shanahan rents this apartment again. If he rents this apart-
ment right away, we can only have another complaint on our
hands.
Er. Heustis said we could probably ask for a restraining
order so he will have to fix this before renting it.
Dr. Cosgrove and Dr. Colburn instructed Mr. Heustis to
write to Iir. Legro, Town Counsel, asking for legal advise in
this matter. It was also pointed out that Mr. Legro had not
replied to the letter of September 17, 1968 regarding the
interpertation of the regulation of keeping horses in the
Town of Lexington.
Dr. Colburn suggested a reminder regarding the keeping
of animals could be added to this letter, but he did feel it
important that written records be made of matters at all times.
Mr. Heustis presented the news release from the State
Health Department which stated the Fluoridation law was now
enforce.
FLUORIDATION The Board said they had already stated they were in
favor of fluoridation but as the law reads the State health
Department has to make a survey first and then the board
could proceed.
Mr. Heustis said according to Ir. Burke, Town Engineer,
the water supply to Lexington comes in at 4 different loca-
tions. Ir. Burke suggested a survey be made before any steps
are taken as to costs, etc.
Dr. Cosgrove said as far as he could see the board could
not take any action until the State Health Department completed
their survey and then this would have to be an article at Town
Meeting.
Dr. Colburn said he didn't see that such a survey would be
necessary. As he read the law the State Health Department
would, after their survey, instruct the Board of health to
fluoridate or not fluoridate, then at that time the problem
should be turned over to the Board of Selectmen and the Public
Works Department.
It was suggested that when a definite recommendation was
received from the State office that it might be wise to request
a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Burke, Town
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Engineer, and discuss the proper procedures to follow.
The Budget for 1969 of the Mystic Valley Mental Health BUDGET
Association was presented to the Board. A requested increase F;TAL
of X627.00 over last years assessment has been made. WEALTH
Dr. Colburn recommended and made a motion the Board
approve this increase.
Motion passed.
The supply of Flu Vaccine for the elderly was again FLU
brought up by the Board. After last months meeting a letter VACCINE
Wo,S Writt i tti Dr. Ellicott asking how he felt about the Health FOR
Department supplying flu vaccine to the physicians, free of ETT)ERLY
charge, to be given to residents in certain categories.
Dr. Ellicott replied that most doctors would charge from
3 to 5 dollars to administer this vaccine in their offices. He
also stated that he and many other doctors would work in a public
clinic for nothing.
The clerk reported to the Board treat Mr. McQuillan had dis-
cussed this with her and felt after Dr. Ellicott's reply that
supplying vaccine to doctors free of charge was not a good idea
because first it could set a precedent and also after checking
the drug supply houses there would be no vaccine available until
sometime in December.
After a short discussion it was suggested that a short
article be written for the newspaper recommending that a person
in a high risk group check with his own physician for this in-
noculation.
The following animal permits were approved by the Board on
the recommendation of Mr. Heustis.
Albert Szaho
Evelyn Snyder
Ralph H. Davis
48 Summit Road
40 Fern St.
66 North St.
1 horse
1 horse
increase to 12 horses
I>Ir. Heustis reported that Mr. Cortel had sent a report on
his study of the "Old Res" to Ir. Powers at the State Health
Department and although there has been some delay the Park De- "OLD
partment would like to get any work done that is necessary so RES"
the "Res" could be filled up again for skating. Mr. Heustis
suggested a meeting with the Selectmen and the recreation com-
mittee after a report is received from Ir. Powers.
Dr. Colburn said he did not feel another meeting was nec-
essary. If the Town goes ahead and develops this area and it does
not meet with our regulations then we no not issue a permit to
operate, they only need a permit from us to operate this area.
Mr. Heustis said with our regulations as adopted the sanitary
facilities, etc. would have to be checked