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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-09-11100 After further discussion it was agreed that our main concern was with the public health problem and our only interest was having the whole sit- uation corrected. The Board agreed to send the letter drafted in May an updated copy to the Town Manager. The following permits were signed by the Board: FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS Christos Restaurant, 1 Meriam St. - new owner Le Bellecour Restaurant, 10 Muzzey St. Daniel Martinez, Lexington Golf Club, Hill St. FROZEN DESSERT Friendly Ice Cream, 1060 Waltham St. ANIMAL PERMITS John D. Chiesa, Jr., 44 Adams St., 12 horses, 2 ponies John Sellars, Concord Ave., 1 horse Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 1978 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Monday, September 11, 1978 at 7:00 P.M. of the Town Office Building. Members present were: Dr. William L. Cosgrove, Chariman; Mr. James Lambie, Dr. Michael S. Erdos and George A. Smith, Director of Public Health. TRI COMMUNITY At 7:00 P.M. Mrs. Jayne Tapia, Director of Tri Community Services, HEALTH came before the board to discuss ideas for new programs for the coming year. SERVICES Yrs. Tapia explained that the budget amount received from the Board of Health has been less due to the declining case loads, therefore, they were wondering if a few new prograr^ could be started to keep the budget figures up. She explained that the amount paid for this past year was just half of *:hat was paid for services the previous year. The main source of income for the Tri Community Health Services from the Board of Health is from the Well Elderly Clinics. In a study done by Jean Wood this past year indicated that the people attending the clinics at the three different locations were not from the villages where the clinics were held but about 77% of the people attending the clinics came from the outside. Dr. Cosgrove said that would indicate that the clinics should be set up outside the villages. He wondered if any thought had been given to ser- vice these people at other places in town. Mrs. Tapia said the Counsel on Aging new headquarters might be a good place to hold some clinics or programs because of the easy accessibility of the rooms. If a nurse was posted there for an hour a week she could see 101 people on a drop in basis and then if there was any problems they could he referred to one of the Elderly Clinics. Dr. Cosgrove asked if any other programs had been considered other than the Elderly Clinics, he mentioned the Out -Reach program that was considered early this year. Mrs. Tapia said that at the time Dr. Erdos did not think that was a good idea but they have been seeking anyone they hear about that is too sick to come to the clinics. She also said that due to staff change over it has been impossible to do much out -reach work. Mr. Smith questioned what type of work the nurse would be doing at the Counsel on Aging Headquarters. Mrs. Tapia said she would talk to people and assess their health needs and then refer them either to the established clinics or to a physician. She went on to say that the other things Mr. Smith and I have talked about was having a nurse go into the nursery schools to check the health records and answer ques- tions the staff might have. Mr. Smith said he had talked with Mrs. Tapia about this because although we do not license the day care centers it appears that the State Office for Children just issue licenses and do not check on the regulation requirements. He did say that before we did this he would like to set up a meeting between Mrs. Tapia and the Office for Children. He also felt that the area of the Special Needs Group in the summer could use some help. This program is conducted by the Recreation Department but the letter this year from the State indicated that there was a lack of nursing and doctor coverage for this program. Mr. Smith said he felt that these areas of day care centers would be a good area to work in because they were not being covered by the State. Mrs. Tapia said she had thought that a screening type program for Town Em- ployes might be acceptable. Dr. Erdos said he thought that before any programs were initiated for Town Employees it might be a good idea to send out a questionaire asking if they have a private physician, do they have an on-going medical program and would they be interested in such a service. It was also suggested that immunization shots for children might be sched- uled one hour one afternoon per month to keep the children's immunizations up- dated, this would be booster doses only. Mr. Smith suggested TB tests for teachers, bus drivers and other personnel. The Board instructed Mr. Smith and Mrs. Tapia to meet and discuss these programs. Mr. Smith said that as yet we have not heard from the State regarding the Influenza Vaccine. He also said he had received a letter from Mr. Tropeano, President of the Senior Citizen Group, asking the Board of Health to sponsor a pneumococcal vaccine clinic. Mr. Smith said he had checked with other towns and they did not have a very good response to the pneumococcal vaccine clinic, also he had talked to Mr. 102 Hutchinson, Town Manager, and they felt that this type of clinic would be very expensive for the Town and there was not enough funds available at this time. Dr. Erdos said he would recommend that the Health Department put an art- icle in the paper recommending that people see their physician for the pneu- mococcal vaccine. He said he highly recommended this vaccine and he felt that the Board of Health should make a public statement to that effect. Dr. Cosgrove suggested to Mrs. Tapia and Mr. Smith that they meet and discuss some of the programs suggested tonight. Mrs. Tapia thanked the Board and retired. The minutes of the July 10, 1978 meeting were approved with the correction that the Animal Regulations have not been accepted as yet. Mr. Smith said he would like to go over the Animal Regulaions at a later \1‘,date. Dr. Cosgrove asked if the Special Needs Day Camp had been co ered. Mr. Smith said he thought we would have to send recreation a note stating that they would have to have physical records for the children and also the staff. The Board questioned if the Recreation Committee couldn't pay for a nurse from their own budget. Mr. Smith said "Yes" they could pay for a nurse from their own budget but he thought where we had a nurse available looking for extraservices this could be one thing. This matter was tabled for the time being. SECTION 13 Mr. Smith explained that during this year we Lad to condemn a couple of CHAPTER 79A houses; one at 81 Wood Street because of fire; the other at 7 Brandon Street because of the disrepair of the bathroom. Section 13 of Chapter 79A states that the Board of Health must pay up to $200. dollars for reimbursement for anyone moving from a condemned home. So far we have not had any requests for payment under this law but if we did we would have to pay up to the two hun- dred dollars and then the State would reimburse one-half of the amount. FIRE LAW DAISY WILSON SUBDIVISION At the present time this could be a problem because we have not budgeted any monies for this law. Mr. Smith went on to say that another law that has gone into effect the first of the year requires that in the case of fire damage homes or fire - gutted homes the insurance company cannot pay the damages unless they receive a letter from the Board of Health, Board of Selectmen or the Building Depart- ment. stating that orders have been issued for clean up. This can be a nuisance because when we order the debris cleaned we have to wait until the insurance company is satisfied. If we do order the debris cleaned up and the insurance company approves then they will pay the home owner part of the ex- pense to have this debris moved. The Daisydilson Farm sub -division located on Fern and Moreland Avenue was discussed by the Board. 1 1 1 1 1 1 103 Mr. Smith explained that the engineers have not approved this subdivision at this time because there are no grading or water distribution plans. He went on to explain that what was needed at this time was approval by the Board of Health so that a special permit to be issued by the Board of Appeals to sub- divide this property. He said he did not see any problem for approval of this plan for the special permit at this time. The Board approved this plan for a special permit by the Board of Appeals. The appointment of Michael A. Caira as Special Agent to sign Removal Per- MICHAEL CAIRA mits at the Metropolitan State Hospital was approved by the Board. SPECIAL AGENT Mr. Smith reported that there had been a few problems at the subdivision woodpark Estates owned by A. J. Lane off Wood Street. He explained that they have a hill of sand which has been causing a nuisance for the past year. Mr. WOODPARK EST. Lane was to have removed this sand but when he started to removed anything it was the loam and gravel in the area so he was issued a Cease and Desist Order. In July he did apply to the Board of Appeals for a permit to remove the sand and this permit was granted to him for a thirty day period, he took sometime before he started to remove the sand and he did not follow through on the rec- ommendations made to control the dust. There is also a bad mosquito problem and a bad rat problem in the area. A meeting is scheduled soon to discuss these problems with Mr. Lane. Mr. Smith also reported on a rat problem in the barn at Bi -Centennial Estates off Cary Avenue. This is Mr. Freeman's subdivision and the barn can- BI -CENTENNIAL not be demolished until the rat problem is taken care of. ESTATES The Clerk explained that the Planning Board had requested a release from the Board of Health for lot 44A in the Ingleside Development. She explained LOT 44A that in 1961 when this subdivision was approved lot 44A was rejected for the INGLESIDE building of a structure until grading had been done. Since that time a house has been built upon this lot. It is felt that once public sewer was installed this house was treated as a single lot and whoever built on it was not aware of the subdivision requirements. The Planning Board would like the release for this lot so the bond being held on the subdivision may be released. The Board approved release of Lot 44A, house number 5 Carnegie Place, in the Ingleside Development. Mr. Smith reported that the sewer connection at Wild Acre Inn was almost WILD ACRE INN complete. They were now completing the inside work and had complied with all our recuirements. Mr. Smith reported that the sewer connection at Hayes Lane had been com- pleted and although this would probably not cure the surcharge problem which HAYES LANE has been experiencedthe past few years it is hoped it will help. SEWER Mr. Lambie said he and Mr. Smith had met with Mr. Jerry Martin, Town En- gineer, and he said that areas 9 and 10 had a problem with the inflow. He said if this inflow could be controlled it would help a great deal. Mr. Lambie said this statement was not based on any figures but more of a "gut feeling". Mr. Lambie went on to explain some of the corrections that had been made so hopefully we will not have a surcharge problem during another large storm Mr. Lambie also reported on the conversation he had with Mr. Martin regarding the [0` application for federal funds to finance some of the repairs. He went on to say he did not think there would be any great changes this year but he felt another year should bring about some major changes. Dr. Cosgrove said he felt that the Board had never had a satisfactory reply to their request for a contingency plan. He said Bedford is still up- set about the contamination of the Shawsheen River because of the pumping of sewage into Tophet Swamp. Mr. Smith said Bedford's problem is not being caused by Lexington as much as by the industrial plants in Bedford. He also said that Bedford wells are drying up and they have been purchasing water from the M.D.C. Dr. Erdos reported that Vine Brook had not run all summer and the odor of decay was very bad. Mr. Smith said D.P.W. claims that Conservation will not let them into clear these brooks and this could be some of the problem. Mr. Smith reported that he had closed a swimming pool at Minute Man Condominimum because the pool was installed with0toard of Health permits, proper wiring permits and proper plumbing permits. Also, a. four foot fence was installed around the pool and regulation require a six foot fence for a public or semipublic pool. Mr. Haroian did install a 6 foot fence but left the 4 foot gate. There was problems with the backwash and also with the wiring. Mr. Smith said he had closed this pool and until all the regulations are met the pool will be kept closed. DEFELICE PIGS Mr. Smith reported that a number of complaints had been received regard- ing pigs at Joseph Defelice's, 81 Westview Street. He explained that Senator Amick's Office had complained, Bedford Health Department and a number of Bed- ford residents. At the present time we have not been able to determine how many pigs are there because there is a number of dogs in the yard and we have not been able to walk into the yard. There was also evidence of rats all over the yard also. Mr. Smith said he planned to go over the area with Frank Martin, the S.P.C.A. Officer and the agent from the Bedford Health Department and the Police Department. The Board instructed Mr. Smith to report back after the investigation. Dr. Cosgrove reported that in the parking lot in the rear of Mario's Restaurant there was a. very strong odor. Mr. smith paid he had been in- vestigating the sewer and cross connections in that block of stores. He went on to say that he would continue to check this out. Dr. Erdos said he felt that now that the fall season had started he thought George should spend as much time as necessary checking restaurants and markets. He went on to say he would not like to see a case of food poisoning develop because of lack of inspection on our part and he felt all the restaurants and markets should be carefully monitored. Dr. Cosgrove agreed with Dr. Erdos but he said he also felt that at this time pressure should be put on the Town Manager for more help for Mr. Smith. Things are really building up in the department. Mr. Smith is here many nights 1 1 1