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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-07-21in public buildings. Mrs. Mogan had said they were having trouble making the pupils keep their shoes on in the Senior High School and also in the Library. Mr. Heustis said there were no laws in public health regarding bare feet in public buildings. Dr. Ellicott suggested that one solution might be to have the insurance companies that carries the insurance for the public buildings include a. clause about shoes must be worn in all public buildings. He suggested that a letter to Town Manager and Selectmen suggesting such a clause for the protection of the Town in case someone should get cut or infected. A letter to the school committee might also be in order The following permits were signed by the Board: FOOD ESTABLISHMENT 'PERMITS Woodhaven Country Store Brewster's, Inc. Anthony's Restaurant Pewter Pot Realty Pine Meadows Golf Course Powder Horn Golf Course Minute Man Restaurant INSTALLER'S PERMITS Otto E. Tobiason Jack Sarness SWIMMING POOL PERMITS Adams Pool Corp. Paint Rock Pool Corp. Five Fields Pool, Inc. BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING JULY 21, 1970 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held in the Board of Health Office at 7:00 P.M., July 14, 1970. Members present were: Dr. William Cosgrove, Chairman, James W. Lambie, Dr. Charles Ellicott, and Robert Heustis, Director of Public Health. Minutes of the June 2, 1970 meeting were approved as read. Mr. Heustis reported that Mr. Legro, Town Counsel, sent his apology to the Board because he had been so long with the STABELING additional animal regulations. He did suggest that in the REGULATIONS future any new Regulations should be approved by the Town Manager before being submitted to him for approval. The renewal permit for La. horses by Ellen Sharkey, 13 Hazel ANIMAL Road was discussed by the Board. PERMIT SHARKEY C.� Q' tr wm 1 1 1 Mr. Heustis reported that the manure on the premises had been cleaned up and Mrs. Sharkey was shaping things up. There had been some trouble with the neighbors but at the present time things seemed to be in fairly good condition. Dr. Cosgrove said if the Board agreed he would recommend that this permit be renewed and a letter sent to Mrs. Sharkey with her permit stating that if on periodic inspections the premises are found in an unsanitary condition the permit will be automatically revoked. Mr. Heustis reported that Mr. McElman had asked the Judge at District Court in Concord for an extension of time which was granted. The case will come up on July 28, 1970. The horse MC ELMAN IS now off the premises. We understand that they are board- HORSE ing the horse at Carroll's Farm. Mr. Heustis explained that the new State Regulations governing Air Pollution had gone into effect on July 1, 1970. AIR POLLUTION The Fire Department has stopped all outside burning with the REGULATIONS exception of household rubbish burnt in an incinerator or out- side fireplace. The only burning in open areas will be for agriculture purposes. The problem of open burning on the Wilson Farm was re- ported by Mr. Heustis. He said we have had at least 3 com- plaints of open burning since the regulations went into effect. WILSON The State has also had complaints regarding this and they FARM have checked this burning and have determined it is not for agriculture. Mr. Heustis said that all departments, fire, police and health. would work together to enforce these regulations. The Fire Department will continue to issue permits for outdoor burning of household rubbish. If at any time the atmospheric conditions is not conducive to outside burning we will notify the Fire Department not to issue any permits for burning. Dr. Ellicott asked about leaf burning in the Fall. Mr. Heustis said the Town had voted at Town Meeting to purchase a high powered vacuum cleaner for leaves, he would discuss with Mr. O'Connell, Town Manager, if the Town planned to use this on all the streets. Home owners could rake the leaves to the side of the road and then the vacuum would pick them up. He would also check to see if the Town had any plans for rubbish collection, either by the Town or by private con- tractor, to go into effect by July 1, 1971. The Whitman & Howard Engineer's report on the sub -division entitled "Springdale Estates" was read by the Board. SPRINGDALE ESTATES Mr. Heustis explained that this was land off Bates Road. The sub -division had been filed in 1969 but additional in- formation was requested by Mr. Lucas of Whitman & Howard, Inc. Mr. Donald Jenkins, a builder, was interested in the land for development but did not want to purchase it if there were any Board. of Health restrictions on it. 352 The present owner, Colonial Development Corp. supplied the additional information and Mr. Lucas has checked it out. The Board approved the subdivision entitled "Springdale Estates" providing the restrictions as stated in the Whitman & Howard, Inc., report were followed. The clerk was in- structed to send a copy of this report to the Planning Board with the Board of Health approval. Mr. Heustis explained that a repair had been made to a sanitary system at 12 Myrna Road while he was on vacation. 12 MYRNA RD. The installer said he could not leave the system open because of the children in the area, therefore, the system was covered before a final inspection could be made. The owner of the property took pictures of the work done. Dr. Ellicott asked if the installer was reliable. Mr. Heustis said he was not familiar with his work but the pictures looked fairly good, He went on to say that to uncover the system now could cause more harm than good. Dr. Cosgrove said if Mr. Heustis thought this repair was adequate he would go along with it. He asked how soon public sewer would be in this area. Mr. Heustis said he thought within 2 years, public sewer was now on Adams Street. The Board voted to leave this repair as it was for the time being. ANIMAL The application for a permit to keep 2 horses by George PERMIT Forten, 388 Concord Avenue, was approved by the Board on the recommendation of Mr. Heustis. The application for a permit to keep 1 horse by Ralph Frissore at 92 Blossomcrest Road was approved by the Board on the recommendation of Mr. Heustis. The letter to the manager of the Lexington Sheraton Motor Inn Pool was discussed by the Board. Mr. Heustis said SHERATON he had received a complaint regarding the pool being dirty. POOL An inspection showed that the new filtering and recirculating system did not have the capacity to turn over the entire volume of the pool every 8 hours as required in Article VI. He has now instructed the life guard at the pool to close if the pool is not up to standard. The letter to the Board of Appeals regarding the hearing on the installation of a compaction unit at the Stop & Shop STOP & SHOP was approved by the Board. Mr. Heustis said he felt that this compaction unit would reduce the nuisance situation of maintaining this area according to our regulations. The clerk asked if a pharmacy that sells packaged ice cream only could be classified as the pharmacies that have soda fountains and a fee of $5.00 charged for a registration PEES fee instead of the usual charge of $25.00. 10,4 1 1 1 Q9Y The Board agreed that the same policy would apply to this situation that applies to drug stores with snack bars. The reports on the water samples taken by Mr. Jason Cortell OLD RES at the Old Res were reviewed by the Board. Mr. Heustis said the aireators were not working as well as was expected, but they have been pumping MDC water into the "Res" every day and this has helped keep the water quality up. The clerk showed the Board a booklet entitled "About Drug DRUG Abuse" used by the police in their drug education, program. Pur- ABUSE chase of more of these books was discussed. Dr. Ellicott suggested that the clerk contact Mr. Mabee, Board of Selectmen, and see if the Youth Service Fund in the Selectmen's Budget would allow for the purchase of a quanity of these booklets for the coming school year. Mr. Heustis explained that he had written a letter to the WATER Jefferson Union Company. 31 Fletcher Avenue, regarding a survey POLLUTION conducted by the Conservation Committee of Vine Brook. He said he noted 2 sources where the cutting oil used in the process of pipe threading was leaking into the storm. drain. This has been called to the attention of the Jefferson Union Co. The Health Officer's Report was checked and the high milk CUMBERLAND counts on the skim milk at Cumberland Farm Stores was noted. FARMS Mr. Heustis reported that Mr. Hershberg, Quality Control Man, for Cumberland Farm, had called to report that he thought he had found the cause of the problem. Mr. Medlar, Whitman & Howard Engineer, came before the Board to present and discuss the report on the preliminary survey for the fluoridation of the public water supply. Mr. Walter O'Connell, Town Manager, also attended this portion of the meeting. Mr. Medlar explained that Mr. Cooney, Engineer, had sent his apologies but previous commitments prevented his attending this meeting. If the Board had any questions or wanted any information not included in the report Mr. Cooney would be glad to meet with them. ±LUORIDATION RE PORT Mr. Medlar gave each board member a report of this survey and went over it with them. Two alternate plans were presented which was explained to the Board. Plan #1. Using the present concrete vaults which presently house the chemical feed equipment for injection sodium hexametaphosphate into the water. The reconditioning of these vaults to make them water tight and the installation of the equipment to feed sodium fluoride into the water would cost 550,000. Plan #2. Would require the building of 3 above -ground feeding stations and the chemical used for these would be sodium silicofluoride, the fourth station would be the underground vault now in use at Massachusetts Avenue at the Arlington line. This station would have to be reconditioned as described in plan #1. The cost of this plan would be $89,500. Mr. Medlar explained that although the first plan was less expensive to install the cost of the chemical for this station was more expensive, running about $5000 per year. The alternate plan although the initial cost is more the chemical would be about $2800. per year. He went on to say that the Town would have to study the merits of both plans and decide which plan will be best for the Town. The report as submitted does recommend alternate plan #2 based on long range costs, ease of handling the chemical, the safety of the operator and the general maintenance. Mr. O'Connell: Could the silicofluoride be used in the present stations as the sodium hexametaphosphate is feed into the system now? Mr. Medlar: Yes, but it would be more difficult to feed this chemical into the present stations, this chemical is a powder and you would have to take precautions in such a small chamber against the dust. Your operator would have to have safety equipment on hand at all times, in fact, I would say that it would require two men to do the treatment at each station. The acess ladders and the size of the chambers make it difficult to work in. Record keeping would be difficult in these small chambers, too. Mr. O'Connell: An operator would have to be instructed to use the utmost caution handling the chemical. I would imagine he would have to have a respirator as part of his equipment. We would probably assign just one man to this job. Mr. Medlar: A respirator should be part of his equipment, but I suggest that if you use the present chambers that at least 2 men be assigned to the job, also another man should be instructed in the procedure of feeding these stations in case of sickness or vacations. Special care should be used every time the chamber is entered. I suggest a good safety procedure be adopted and followed every time the chambers are entered. Dr. Cosgrove: Have you people done any thing for Arlington yet, or haven't they got in touch with you? Mr. Medlar: As far as we know Arlington has not done any thing yet. They have just 2 stations. Mr. Heustis: There is rumor that the Lexington stations are now in bad repair. If we use them as they now are will they hold up over the years. Mr. Medlar: There was nothing that couldn't be taken care of in the reconstruction program. They do have a water seepage problem now that would have to be corrected, but the recontruction as recommended and the water proofing would take care of this. Mr. O'Connell: What would be the danger if the water table rose higher than it is now, by that I mean, a flooding situation as was experienced in Bedford a year or so ago. Mr. Medlar: There should be no danger if these stations are reconditioned properly, even as these stations stand today they C3' tr 1 1 1 should be reconditioned just to feed the sodium hexametaphosphate or Calgon into the water supply. Dr. Ellicott: Could the same people servicing the stations now service the stations with the fluoride. Mr. Medlar: Yes, they could be instructed in the handling of this chemical. I suggest 2 men service each station and that they be instructed to handle this chemical with all the pre- cautions called for. Of course, sodium fluoride is a crystal that would not have the danger of the dust factor that the sili- cofluoride has. I suggest the men be instructed in the use of a respirator and always 2 men on the feeding operation. Mr. O'Connell: No matter which type of chemical is used I certainly would insist that every precaution was taken at every operation. Is there a danger if the feeder should mal- function. Mr. Medlar: No both chemicals are feed in such a way that no more than is needed will go into the water at any one time. There are safety equipment on the feeder in the case of mal- function or emergencies. These stations are also fed and records kept every day and the chemical has to be fed into the system every 2 or 3 days so that each station is checked closely. You also have to have a testing program as required by the State. Mr. Heustis: Have you heard if the M.D.C. is planning to do anything? Mr. O'Connell: It would take legislature action before the M.D.C. could do this, and then only if each town agreed, or by the legislature to order it for the whole State. I doubt the M.D.C. would take on any additional financial burden now, I believe they have financial problems now. I suggest that you folks have all the information about the M.D.C. and the Town of Arlington before you go before Town Meet- ing, every factor should be considered and all the information available. Dr. Ellicott: As I read the statistics on the use of water, I understand that more water is used for washing and cooking and a very small percent for drinking. Will this chemical cause problems in the waste absorption. Dr. Cosgrove: That is right, but the absorption is no more than 2%. You are thinking of the problems they have now with DDT and other chemicals, but as I understand it the absorption rate will not go above the fluoride content as fed. I have the feeling that this coming year Town Meeting will be very tough on spending money, we will probably have quite a job getting them to accept this program at the prices quoted here. As I look over this report I see where the reconditioning and repair to the 4 stations is a very big item. It would seem to me that this would be up to public works and would be included in their budget. If we submit either plan as it is now that one item would be more than double cur present budget. Mr. Lambie: It would seem to me as I look at this report that about 20 thousand dollars is needed just to get these stations in good repair. I should think our request would be for the fluoride equipment and that Public Works would have to include reconditioning in their budget. Dr. Cosgrove: I feel that our next step is to give Arlington a push, I am sure that economically it would be very sensible if we could make some arrangement with Arlington to to share the costs with them. I suggest that we contact the Arlington Health Department and I will also contact members of their Board of Health. Is this report now public record. Mr. O'Connell: If you accept this report tonight, it means that you have a working report. You do not have to make any of this public unless you want to. Mr. Medlar: A copy does have to be submitted to the State for their approval. Dr. Cosgrove: If it is all right I will give a copy of this report to Dr. Paul Burke, of the Arlington Board of Health, and see if we can speed them along. Mr. Heustis, I suggest you get in touch with the Health Officer in Arl- ington and see if you can give him a push. Mr. O'Connell:. In my opinion, Gentleman, you have a working report. It will now be up to you to get any and all information for Town Meeting action. Check closely with Arlington and have any information you can get regarding MDC plans. You should have all the information about the machinery, chemicals and operating procedures too. After further discussion the Board thanked Mr. Medlar for coming in with the report and explaining to them so thoroughly. The following permits were signed by the Board: Child Care Center Manor Nursery School Installer's Permit Arlex Oil Corp. William C. Levine Food Establishment Permits Howard Johnson's Wardrobe's Pharmacy Town Line Pharmacy Geoffroy's Pharmacy Hancock Market Reed's Drug Store Itek Cafeteria Dorothy Jones, Clerk 1 1