Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-05-18BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MAY 18, 1981 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held Monday, May 18, 1981 at 7:15 p.m. in Room G-25 (Board of Health Office) of the Town Office Building. Members present were: Mr. James W. Lambie, Dr. Michael S. Erdos and Mrs. Sandra Gabriel, Health Intern; and Mr. George A. Smith, Director of Public Health. The minutes of the Special Board Meeting were approved as read. Mr. Smith told the Board that Discovery Day in Lexington is coming this next weekend, May 23, 24 and 25th. He said we have issued more permits than last year for food service stands. A lot of the owners plan to serve the food inside this year instead of out on the sidewalk. Friday evening there will be a "Mini Discovery Day at Countryside" area. Mr. Smith said the inspection of all the semi-public swimming pools will be done by the end of the month. All the associations are anxious to get the pools operational and inspected for their summer season to begin. This year Mr. Smith hopes to emphasize "diving board" safety at the pools. Mr. Smith has drafted a set of regulations for whirlpools. He wants Harold Millican, who is very knowledgable about pools, to take a look at them before they are finalized. Mr. Millican has been in charge of the pools and whirl- pool for the Lexington Tennis and Swim Club. Mr. Smith told the Board that our annual rabies clinic will be held this coming Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22nd. from one to four p.m. at the Public Works Barn on Bedford Street. He said basically it will be the same as last year. We will have someone there selling 1981 licenses for those we find do not have a current license. One of the Visiting Nurses will also be there to fill syringes for the veterinarian. Mr. Smith reported to the Board that he had to condemta house on Bertwell Road. It was unfit for human habitation. He said he was astonished when he went there. There had been a fire at that address recently. There was so much rubbish and debris gathered in the house that it was unbelievable. The fire started because a lamp had fallen over and the lighted bulb caught some of the trash on fire. Mr. Smith had been to this house 2/ years ago and had found the same conditions as he found at this time. The whole house had to be cleaned out of all kinds of trash at that time. This time it was worse. The couple living there were removed to a motel in Bedford. The relative that owns the house has had it all cleaned out and plans to sell it so the former occupants will have to be placed somewhere else. Mr. Smith told the Board that the neighbors didn't seem to worry about this couple at all and they would like to buy it so it would guarantee that this couple won't be back. 1 1 1 He said when a case like this comes to his attention and it ends up in court, the person that had been living in the house usually is allowed to stay. The court figures they are not doing anyone any harm. This couple has children and other relatives but no one really seemed to care about their welfare. Mr. Smith told the Board that he had to condom another house recently at 80 Oak Street. Mr. Lambie recalled that there had been a problem back in 1970 when the Board at that time had to take some action because of the excess trash and litter, clutter around. There was a fire there at that time and newspapers were piled sky-high in some rooms. Mr. Smith discussed the gypsy moth/fifth disease outbreaks. He explained that the small caterpillars are everywhere and getting on people's bodies. They do not bite but they give off a toxin that creates a skin rash. If someone kills the caterpillar that is on them the toxin creates a rash. It can be easily spread by the hand that killed the caterpillar. We have been getting quite a few complaints about the Gypsy moths, several calls regarding private spraying companies and what is being used. ?,59 80 OAK ST. CONDEMNED HOUSE GYPSY MOTH Other complaints come in about leakage from the trucks but Mr. Smith explained that is only water that the spray gets mixed with just before the spraying begins. Mr. Lambie asked if this private company spraying could cause a problem. Mr. Smith said "yes" it could. Dr. Erdos asked if any of the Town Park Department workers have come up with a rash. Mr. Smith said that some of them had. Dr. Erdos asked if it was from the cocoons or from the caterpillars. Mr. Smith said they weren't sure. They had been scraping cocoons. He said the small caterpillars get on people and gives off a toxin that is causing a rash. Also, the hairs that make up the egg -mass cover have been reported to produce a dermatitis as well as respiratory problems. Mr. Smith reported to the Board that he had heard from the State Health Depart- ment regarding the flu vaccine for 1981. The State has given a contract price for the vaccine. As of now, each town or city will have to pay for their own vaccine and if they don't order now there may not be any vaccine available. Mr. Smith feels that the State will still be able to supply it free of charge to the towns and cities. He said at this point Dr. Firumara does not know if the State will be able to supply the vaccine free or not. Mr. Lambie asked how long we have to order or buy the vaccine. Mr. Smith said we can not buy any right now as there is no money in the budget. Dr. Erdos wanted to know what would be wrong with ordering the number of does of vaccine that we need and charge $2.00 per shot? FLU VACCINE 1981 Jy J Mr. Smith said we can do that but the senior citizens might get upset. Dr. Erdos said that might be so, but if that is the only way we can get vaccine by having to buy it, we would have to charge a small fee. FITZGERALD Mr. Lambie wanted to know if there was a cutoff date for ordering. HORSES SMOSKE HORSE APPLICATION VALLEYFIELD STREET SUBDIVISION PRELIMINARY PLAN Mr. Smith said no, there is no cutoff date to have an order in. He said we will have to play it by ear. Mr. Smith told the Board that the Fitzgerald permit for 4 horses renewal has not been sent out as yet, we are holding it for the present time. The manure pit problem should he settled first. Our Department has not heard from the Fitzgeralds at all. Upon inspecting the property, Mr. Smith found they had six horses there without a permit for six. Mr. Smith said he would like to send them a letter and also would like to file a complaint in Concord Court. Mr. Lambie said he had driven into their yard and saw the horses, also. The Board told Mr. Smith to go ahead and write the letter and to file the complaint in the Concord Court against them. They will back him all the way. Mr. Smith told the Board that the Smoske's have re -filed for their animal permit. Hr said that the Animal Control Officer was in court today versus the Smoske's and Daniel Estow. It seems Mr. Estow filed because of the Smoske's dog being a nuisance. Smoske's animal permit will be discussed at the June meeting. Dr. Erdos said that we had decided last year as long as one abutter objects - Mrs. Smoske should not have a permit to keep horses. Mr. Smith said "But we did tell them they could reapply to the Board in a year's time. We also stipulated they (the Smoske's) should try to reconcile differences., they have with their neighbors first. Dr. Erdos said that we will have to have a meeting, listen to all the abutters, set up stringent regulations (if the permit is issued) and make it clear we will revoke the permit if any regulations are broken. Mr. Smith told the Board of a preliminary subdivision plan for Valleyfield Street. He said there was not much on the plan. It showed only a 15 ft. wide street. He could not really review the plan. Mr. Smith said Trinity Covenant Estates is to be developed by Ted Freeman. Freeman is putting in the water and sewer. There will be only six houses. Mr. Smith sees no problems at all with this plan. 1 1 1 `;61 Mr. Smith briefly told the Board there has been complaints about the dust MISCELLANEOUS at the Boston Properties construction on Bedford Street. Mr. Smith also reported that there had been several sick raccoons in the town lately that had to be shot. Also, the Board was told how there has been a problem with the trash storage behind the C.V.S. lately. He has written a letter to the store manager. He also explained to the Board that the new Li'l Peach store could not sell sandwiches when the store opened for business because they had not gone be- fore the Board of Appeals. Mrs. Gabriel reported to the Board that she has been getting after the Mass. MRS. SANDRA Ave. Cumberland Farms Store recently. They needed to paint within the store. GABRIEL They are now doing some renovations and painting. Mrs. B's donuts is also doing some renovations, Mrs. Gabriel said. The walls are being replaced with masonite. This is very helpful because the old walls were absorbing the grease. Mr. Smith told the Board that Mrs. Gabriel will be leaving us on June, 3rd. Mrs. Gabriel said she wanted to come to the meeting tonight to thank the Board for the opportunity of working here in the Health Department. She said she has to give Mr. Smith a lot of credit and a thank you for all his teaching and guidance while she was here as a Health Intern. Mrs. Gabriel said the intern program is good and that it is too bad it cannot continue. Mr. Lambie told Mrs. Gabriel she has contributed as much as she has taken. Mr. Smith told the Board that Mrs. Gabriel has been an asset to the Department and has contributed so much to the program. He said it has been most enjoyable working with Mrs. Gabriel and that she has contributed a lot. Dr. Erdos wanted to know if the program could be continued. Mr. Smith said, "No, I do not think so, not at this time. Dr. Erdos wanted to know if we couldn't get someone through a college elected program. Mr. Smith said, "No". He said the program was successful because of Mrs. Gabriel. It wouldn't work again. He said that Mrs. Gabriel has done an out- standing job as a health intern and that she will be missed. Mr. Lambie wanted to know couldn't we get someone from Northeastern University or some other school? Dr. Erdos said that sometimes the problem is you can get someone you have to spend all your time teaching and not getting much help in return. Dr. Erdos told Mr. Smith after Mrs. Gabriel leaves it would have to be as they discussed at an earlier meeting, putting priorities of the job first. Mr. Smith said that he would have to change his whole work schedule. Dr. Erdos suggested asking for volunteers who have had experience in this typd of work - to at least inspect the pools. Mr. Smith said that Mrs. Gabriel has been inspecting the pools and will try to get them all done before she leaves. He said places are in better shape since Mrs. Gabriel came to work here. She did many food service establishment inspections and really was dedicated in doing her job. Mr. Lambie said that now it will be important to draw up a list and to put priorities first. Mr. Smith said that he would have to go back to the way it was before. He said it will be slower getting everything done. Mr. Lambie asked the Board if it would be at all possible to change the night of Board Meetings. He said he may have another commitment on Mondays. Dr. Erdos and Mr. Smith saw no big problem of changing the night in the near future. It was decided to have the next meeting on June 8th at 7:15 p.m. 1 1