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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-11-06MANFRED FRIEDMAN - MOSQUITO CONTROL The following hermits were signed by the Board: Retail Food Store Permits Mt. Royal Butchers White Hen Pantry Cumberland Farms #3306 Food Service Establishment Permits Bellino's Donut & Pastry Shop Folsom's Seafoods Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 1978 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Monday, November 6, 1978 at 7:00 P.M. in Room G-15. Members present werel. Dr. William Cosgrove, Chairman; Mr. James Lambie, Dr. Michael S. Erdos and George A. Smith, Director of Public Health. The proposed Budget for 1980 was discussed by the Board. Dr. Cosgrove explained that he had received a letter from Town Manager instructing the Board to cut the 1980 budgets by 10%. He went on to say that the expense account could be cut by 10% but there was no way the personnel service budget could be cut. Dr. Cosgrove said the budget had been submitted with state- ments of what effect a 10% decrease would mean to departments. With it he had also sent a note stating the Board would not consider a wage cut for personnel. The Board members were given copies of the budgets as submitted and any questions will be discussed at the next meeting. The letter to the Board members from Dr. Manfred Friedman regarding the Board'suppomt his request to stop spraying for mosquitoes except in health emergencies. After some discussion Mr. Smith said that Dr. Friedman should be talking to Paul Mazerall, Park Department, because mosquito spraying is in his budget. The Board discussed the spraying program for mosquitoes and Mr. Lambie said he would like to see some proff that the spraying program was effective. Mr. Smith said Mr. Moran of East Middlesex Mosquito Control had sent a letter stating the effect & testing that the spraying had on mosquitoes in the Cedar Street and Spring Street area. Mr. Smith said that East Middlesex Mosquito Control was trying to please all the Conservationists and the residents of the area, by using a mild fogging material. It is effective for a short period of time. He went on to say that stronger chemicals were available but they are not being used because of opposition from conservationists. Dr. Cosgrove reviewed the mosquito control budget which has been decreased from $18,000 dollars to $8000 dollars. 1 1 1 Mr. Smith said that Dr. Friedman really was not a good example because he only quatee the parts of articles he wants to. He went on to say he has seen letters Dr. Friedman has written requesting ditching and drainage work. Many of his items are misquoted to suit his advantage. Dr. Erdos said he felt there was several issues and he felt we did not have enough information regarding the safety of the spray or the long term effect of the program of the chemicals used in ditching and larviciding. He said he felt money had to be appropriated for the ditching, drainage and larviciding work. As far as the nuisance control spraying this was another thing. Mr. Lambie said he felt that we would have to condone spraying in emer- gency. He said as far as nuisance control he felt the pesticudes were being regulated so carefully now that there would be few dangers. He went on to say that until there was a good argument against spraying he would go along with it, Mr. Smith said that the effect from spraying could last about a week. Mr. Lambie said he would like more tests done to see the effect of spraying under control conditions. Dr. Erdos said he would like 2 points made: (1) for spraying for dis- ease control and the correlation of the number of mosquitoes with the amount of rainfall per year and the ditching and larviciding work being done. The other point is the spraying and chemicals used on the trees and shrubs. We worry about the low volume spraying for mosquitoes as against the chemicals used for shrubs and trees. Dr. Erdos made a motion we table the mosquito problem until such time as we had more information. After further discussion Mr. Smith said he felt the bulk of the program now was for control not an eradication program. He went on to say it was not the Board's problem to fuss about this budget item, this is up to Dr. Friedman to discuss this with Mr. Mazenall. Dr. Erdos said he agreed it was not our business to discuss the budget portion but it was to our interests to discuss the health aspect of nuivance control. He said he felt that there was not enough information to ban the spraying entirely. Dr, Cosgrove said he felt we should get more information before Dr. Friedman's letter was answered. Mr. Smith reported that Mr. Briggs, Planning Director, has stated that WOOD PARK if the Board recommended they would probably hold up the bond on the Wood ESTATES Park Estates. The developer has cleaned out the pond and bailed out the brook, etc. but there still seemed to be problems in the area with rats and mosquitoes. Mr. Lambie asked if the drainage problem was taken care of. Mr. Smith said "no" that Conservation will not accept this place until a machine is brought in and the brook or swale is cleaned out. If this is built up the people can keep their area mowed as part of their lawn which could help control the vermin. /I • There were several questions by the Board regarding the drainage of this area. Mr. Smith said eventually the Town will have to service this area. Mr. Smith said he felt that the town should not release the bond on this sub- division until the developer had corrected all the drainage problems. Mr. Smith said we had the same problem over at Freeman's subdivision FREEMAN on Cary Avenue. SUBDIVISION Dr. Cosgrove asked about the State over ruling the Conservation Com- mission requirements on the Freeman subdivision and wondered if the Board of Health would have to go to court to get the problem corrected. Mr. Smith said he did not think so, he felt that if the Planning Board could hold up the bond there, also, until everything was done to the sat- isfaction of the town. Mr. Smith explained that he has been notified by Nancy Banks of Per - HEALTH sonnel that they would try to get an intern to help him. INTERN Dr. Cosgrove said to the Board that he had talked to Mr. Smith and he felt that he would waste a lot of time training an intern. Most of these interns are trained in administrative work, they are not trained in in- spection work or laboratory work. He went on to say he felt an intern would be more of a hinderance to Mr. Smith. Dr. Erdos asked where this intern would come from. Mr. Smith said the University of Mass., Boston, was the only place in the area that was coming up with any interns. At this point Harvard, B. U, or Northeastern has not responded. Also, University of Mass. is only Health administrative, Dr. Erdos said he felt you could get a good deal of work from an intern at very little cost. Mr. Smith said he would be sending back the request sheets on an intern and hopefully something will come from it. Dr. Erdos said he noticed Friendly Ice Cream on Bedford Street permit FRIENDLY was up for renewal and his family had been in this particular store in the ICE CREAM - last few weeks and the odor is like a ditty dish rag. Also, the personnel COMPLAINT in charge has been very young, probably not over 16 years of age. The attire in this place of the help leaves much to be desired. FLU CLINIC Mr. Smith said he felt Friendly's was going down hill. Dr. Cosgrove said he felt it was since Friendly's went public. Mr. Lambie suggested the permit be held up. Mr. Smith said he was in the process of checking all the food establish- ments and he would certainly check Friendly's. It was reported that about 450 influenza vaccine shots had been given at the Flu Clinics. Dr. Erdos said he felt that we had bad publicity. Mr. Smith said since these new people had taken over the newspaper we have had very poor coverage. Dr. Erdos reviewed an article which appeared in one of the medical journals regarding the mandatory immunizations. MANDATORY IMMUNIZATIONS Mr. Smith said that the Minute Man Vocation School had kept about 125 FOR CHILDREN students out of school until they had their vaccinations updated. The public schools in Lexington just received an extension from the State to December 1st. Dr. Erdos asked what vaccines were available to the physicians from the Health Department. The clerk listed the vaccines available. Dr. Erdos asked about measles vaccine and was told that vaccine was not available unless there was a special clinic. The Cambridge Farm preliminary subdivision plan was discussed. Mr. Smith CAMBRIDGE reported there would be six houses. Town Engineer:.has reported that sewer, FARM water and drainage was all right. SUBDIVISION This preliminary subdivisbon plan was approved by the Board. Mr. Smith presented the proposed sanitary sewage construction for 1978. He said this was just so the Board would be aware of the proposed areas. The septic system plans for Lot 9, North Street in the Thyme Farm Sub- THYME FARM division was presented to the board. SUBDIVISION This lot was previously listed as Lot 11 in the subdivision plans or- iginally prepared in December 1976/January 1977. This lot is in the process of being sold, but has not been sold as of the date of this meeting. Mr. Hall is submitting this plan at this time because he is concerned with getting the plan approved before the expiration of the two year deadline for soil tests. The original tests for this subdivision were made on December 21, 1976 and were satisfactory. (Tests results are good foratwo year period only.) This plan is acceptable and meets the current requirements and can be approved, however, granting of the permit should be held in abeyance until such time as Mr. Hall requests and receives from the Conservation Commission a certificate of determination relative to Hatch Act or the Town Wetlands By - Law, if agreed, Ir. Hall will be notified in writing of this decision even though we had written to him in January 1977 of our concerns for this lot. The Board of Health approved Mr. Smith's recommendation. This lot is in the subdivision that we discussed at the October meeting where as the Board of Health was made aware of Mr. Hall's interest in having the soil test results extended beyond the December 21, 1978 deadline. The following permits were signed by the Board: Food Establishment Permits Alexander's Convenience Store Friendly Ice Cream - Bedford Street Animal Permit Carroll Bros. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M.