Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-06-0641 BOARD OF HEALTH Mr, !ING JUN 6, 1977 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held on June 6, 1977 at 7:00 P.M. in the Health Department Office of the Town Office Building. Mem- 7.<.BOn.",Teev bers present were: Dr. William L. Cosgrove, Chair am James W. Lambie, Dr. ;".`,TER T' T`: Michael S. Erdos, and George A. Smith, Director of Public Health. Mr. Smith reported that he had been checking out the implementation of the laboratory analysis prior to the E.P.A. Safe Drinking 'Vater Act. He went en to explain he had met with Mr. Gerald McCall regarding the certifica- tion of our laboratory but in going over the requirements it was agreed that at the present time the Town world stay with the State program because of the limited man power in the Health Office. A meeting with ,William Green of the M.D.C. and John neeweeney to discuss the i.mplementetion of this pro- gram was held on May 25th. It will be un to !.r. McSweeney's department to establish the sampling sitee and also train the water personnel to collect the sample'-. TiceState laboratory i:'i' l dc chemical and Cter i -+a -'ci .r..l r.. ,, anal`.rr;is. The F.P.A. Safe nrinki.ng tThter Act goes into effect en June 24th. Mr. Smith reported that en .. we d7d have nOmr±l. .3l pts o.1�.�.. 'Fh.e i'.:n.r. a.TSIIotln,-nr7 their haeq pi't an additive in the water s1r pl<r to combat corresi on in the nines 7n7Tnn throughout '7.D.C, water supply, this additive is also being used because of the fluoride which is enticinrted in the near future. Mr. SM.,'.th reported th t Cary ee-rrial r ihrery had beer having nr h1ems. '.n.th the tsste and oder of the t-er*, •:•.'!ter. nri.cr to the 2 th -f 71,77, some of the workers had heen ill but the,/ rationalized it by the fact th.=t t'^e .?,ter heater 1-d been out of or -ler and the water eoeler -as nut .et the .^.ar' ti^'e. The r 3rr .et that ti. -'e feor' thr eetee — siril ar t-, :anti -free: -e. The -ter di,a n -t feel -lick or ^Z'~der r. We have t^)cen sem lee e.rd i.n the r eeetiee thev , re croi_no to have the -ir conditioner checked. This could bp a cro's- connection problem because thev do nut anti -freeze in the air conditioning system during the winter. We have nothing certain atthis tire but e -e ^•ill keep on this problem. nr..,Cnith explained that in ."nri.l the Department had a letter from the MEASLES State Health Department regarding the high incidence of measles throughout the .State, earticularlv in the teen age boys and girls. , survey of these children showed that most of then had been, inneculnted prior to one year of nae. A review was made of the school records and statistics showed that a number of children were lec?;ing in thb i_rmunization required for schori attendance. Most of the surrounding tcn'ns have sched'lled i.mmuni cation clinics for this innoculation. As soon as "e herr from all the schools, if the need is here, we will also have clinics. This year where it is so late in the school year we will just do the junior high and high schools, the elementary schools will be done in the Fall, 2't these clinics the girls will receive the Bingle virus dose of measles vaccine and the boys will receive measles, mumps and rubella. (MMR). At 7:45 o.m. Mrs. Jane Tapia came before the Board to discuss the Tri- TRS-COMMUNIT" Com^'unity Health Servicer- to date. She reported that the re -visits at the HEALTH SEPwec`' Well Elderly Clinics are staying stable and she mould like to suggest a joint meeting ':pith the Board, Council on Acing end the Tri -Community Health Services so that they may do more with the educational. program. 42 It w? s suggested that the ioi.nt meeting could be held in the early Fall. Mrs. Virginia Collard of the Red Cross was expected to attend this 77•YFRTHNSION meeting to discuss a. hypertension nrogr<am. Dr. Cosgrove explained that the Rotary Club was interested in assisting with the financing of a Hypertension program and the Red Cross was definitely going to start some sort of a. program for blond nressure. Mr. Smith said he attended that workshop conducted by the State re- garding Feneral grant money for Hypertension Programs. Basically what they are interested in is to implement programs in the elementary schools and go up to 50 years of age. In order for these programs to be of any use at all they must be on-going with a. good' follow-up. In order to be eligible for funds the Department would have to work out a. very comprensive plan. Dr. Cosgrove said if the funds were available maybe the Red Cross could come up with a pian and then they could run the program. He suggested. Mr. Smith talk with Mrs. Collard. Mr. Smith reported that the May snowstorm on May 9th and 10th created SNOT"- some problems with power outages etc. The power failures made it necessary STORM to contact and inspect every food market and every restaurant to make sure every precaution to protect the public was taken. Because of the conditions here he did contact the State and they did send an inspector out to assist him for the two days. The larger markets were able to get either dry ice or a, refrigerator truck to hold their products. Most of the things lost were dairy products. TTTT TOFF, T.9mP.LL ST. MOSQUITO CONTROL LANDFILL OPERATION Mr. Smith explained that a Mrs. Paul Hilcoff on Lowell Street, opposite the greenhouses owned by Lexington Gardens has been complaining about the use of pesticides in the fumigation of the greenhouse. She sees signs on the door warning of gas and sees the nen in masks, etc., which really has convinced her that they are discharging poisons from this operation out into th the air by way of the greenhouse ventilators. Mrs. Hilcoff is so distraught that this has become quite a. Problem. I have had inspectors from the State Pesticide Board, the Air Pollution Committee and the Mass. Dept. of Public Health people to check this facility and they have all assured her there is nothing wrong but nothing seems to satisfy Mrs. Hilcoff. '7e will con- tinue to work this problem out. The Board discussed the letter to the Board of Selectmen by Manfred Freidman suggesting that the mosquito control program be stopped. The Board said they would go on record as being in favor of the mosquito con- trol program not for comfort reasons as Mr. Friedman stated but for disease control reasons, (eg. Encephelitis, Heartworm in dogs and pro- tection for people allergic to bites). Mr. Smith said he would like Dr. Erdos to write something on the medical aspect of the mosquito control program. Mr. Smith reported that today he attended a show cause hearing held by the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering relative to the closing of the Land Fill. The Town Manager has requested some time so he might take corrective action. In the meantime he had delegated Mr. Smith to make a weekly in- spection of the Land Fill and write him a written report. 43 The State said that the problems with the landfill had been going on for at least 3 years and to date Lexington had not done anything about the prob- lems nor had they met any of the requirements set down by the State at least 3 years ago. At this meeting Town Manager has taken ful responsibility for this operation. The State has given them some time but if they do not follow through this time then further action will be taken by the State through the Attorney General's Office. The Board agreed there was not much they could do at this time. Mr. Smith said he thought the letter written by Mr. Lambie regarding the SEWER sewer surcharge was excellent and if it was aggreeable with the other Board SURCHARGE members this letter would be sent to the appropriate departments. Mr. Lambie said he thought the Town must come up with a good plan to correct this problem if not we should put a hold on any more connections to the sewer. The Board discussed this surcharge problem further and felt that with the new construction by Mark Moore and other builders there could be quite a strain on the M.A.C. lines. Mr. Smith reported that he had heard from the Mass. Commission Against PEWTER POT Discrimination regarding the Pewter Pot employee and he had supplied the com- mission with all the information they requested. Mr. Smith explained to the Board members recommendations made pertaining to the definitive plans for the Thymewood Subdivision, a three house subdi- TYMEWOOD vision, planned for the Tymewood Farm (Davis Farm) off North Street. The SUBDIVISION plan was submitted by Mr. Ralph Hall (S & A Realty Trust), 1656 Mass Avenue, Lexington on March 14, 1977. In as much as municipal water is available to the site and subdivision drainage is not of significant consequence in this area no unusual problems can be expected in these areas of concern. Sewage disposal is another matter. No municipal sewerage is available to this site consequently sewage disposal must be by on site disposal. Deep test hole observations and percolation tests showed that the site was acceptable for on site disposal. However, because the Board of Health has recommended municipal sewerage be constructed in North Street the recommendation was made to the Planning Board that a requirement be made of the developer to install dry sewer from North Street to the approximate limits of a common driveway between lots 4, 5 and 6 with the minimum invert elevation at North Street to be determined by DPW/Engineering. This recommendation was made because of the unusually long run from lots 4, 5 and 6 within the subdivision to North Street, also of these lots Lot 5 appears to be the most disadvantaged in respect to making a sewer con- nection as the subdivision is proposed at this time. In addition, it was noted that the Town is rapidly nearing the end of it's new sewerage con- struction program and North Street is one that will be sewered although sewerage construction is not imminent. 46 ment is a 300 page book regarding the after the fact statements of the spraying done in 1973-1975 because of the encephalitis outbreak. He said you could in- terpret this statement any way you want to. The statement deals with the use of malathion as the pesticide. Mr. Lambie asked if they felt the spraying really did the job. Mr. Smith said they were not 100% sure. Mosquito Control does a lot of winter work. The drainage and larvae work is all done during the winter months. He also said the Town Manager would like a statement from the Board regarding the mosquito work. Mr. Lambie said he was sure the pesticides used were thoroughly checked out and he agreed that the comfort part was probably more important to most people than the health hazard. He agreed and he felt that the Board should stand firm that the encephalities and diseases presented more of a hazard than the spraying. LANDFILL Mr. Smith reported that since June 6th he had been making weekly inspections at the landfill. Things seem to be going well. They have to put up a litter fence yet but they have done well covering up. Right now they are working on the elementary conditions. The Town Manager at the Show Cause Hearing took full responsibility for this problem. Right now the Town has 45 days to submit preliminary operational plans and also closure plans. The Town Manager has also asked if the Board would give an opinion about putting garbage into the landfill along with rubbish. The engineering firm of Whitman & Howard are now making a study of what the impact would be if garbage and rubbish are mixed. The Board said they felt that this would certainly contaminate other Towns water supply. They also felt we were not in a position to make that decision as to whether garbage could be put into the landfill, they said they felt that was up to the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering to decide what could or could not be done. The Board said they would, at this time, go on record as being opposed to this type of program. Mr. Smith.said he would check with the State and then if it was necessary would contact the Board members. Mr. Smith said he had met with Tom McLoughlin regarding the implementation of Title 5. Mr. McLoughlin has to approve the site for the dumping of seepage by the licensed disposal personnel. The Bow Street site was checked and now according to the new regulation the Board of Health will be respinsible for issuing single permits for the use of this manhole. Mr. McLoughlin feels a closer watch should be kept on the manhole than is now being done. Mr. McLoughlin also met with John McSweeney and Jerry Martin at this time to discuss the sewer surcharge problem. The Mill Brook sewer construction is now 18th on the priority list but things can change a lot faster than anyone expects. Bedford does have a plan for a direct line from the M.D.C. line to their town line. When this is completed all sewage from Bedford will by-pass the Lexington pumping stations and go directly into the M.D.C. iina. Mr. Lambie asked where the letter regarding this problem had gone. 43 The State said that the problems with the landfill had been going on for at least 3 years and to date Lexington had not done anything about the prob- lems nor had they met any of the requirements set down by the State at least 3 years ago. At this meeting Town Manager has taken ful responsibility for this operation. The State has given them some time but if they do not follow through this time then further action will be taken by the State through the Attorney General's Office. The Board agreed there was not much they could do at this time. Mr. Smith said he thought the letter written by Mr. Lambie regarding the SEWER sewer surcharge was excellent and if it was aggreeable with the other Board SURCHARGE members this letter would be sent to the appropriate departments. Mr. Lambie said he thought the Town must come up with a good plan to correct this problem if not we should put a hold on any more connections to the sewer. The Board discussed this surcharge problem further and felt that with the new construction by Mark Moore and other builders there could be quite a strain on the M.D.C. lines. Mr. Smith reported that he had heard from the Mass. Commission Against PEWTER POT Discrimination regarding the Pewter Pot employee and he had supplied the com- mission with all the information they requested. Mr. Smith explained to the Board members recommendations made pertaining to the definitive plans for the Thymewood Subdivision, a three house subdi- TYMEWOOD vision, planned for the Tymewood Farm (Davis Farm) off North Street. The SUBDIVISION plan was submitted by Mr. Ralph Hall (S & A Realty Trust), 1656 Mass Avenue, Lexington on March 14, 1977. In as much as municipal water is available to the site and subdivision drainage is not of significant consequence in this area no unusual problems can be expected in these areas of concern. Sewage disposal is another matter. No municipal sewerage is available to this site consequently sewage disposal must be by on site disposal. Deep test hole observations and percolation tests showed that the site was acceptable for on site disposal. However, because the Board of Health has recommended municipal sewerage be constructed in North Street the recommendation was made to the Planning Board that a requirement be made of the developer to install dry sewer from North Street to the approximate limits of a common driveway between lots 4, 5 and 6 with the minimum invert elevation at North Street to be determined by DPW/Engineering. This recommendation was made because of the unusually long run from lots 4, 5 and 6 within the subdivision to North Street, also of these lots Lot 5 appears to be the most disadvantaged in respect to making a sewer con- nection as the subdivision is proposed at this time. In addition, it was noted that the Town is rapidly nearing the end of it's new sewerage con- struction program and North Street is one that will be sewered although sewerage construction is not imminent.