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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-09-081 549 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING SEPTEMBER 8, 1987 The monthly meeting of the Board of Health was held on Tuesday, September 13, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in Room G-15 of the Town Office Building. Members present were: Dr. Linda Roemer, Chairperson; Dr. Donald Goldmann, Dr. Stan Finkelstein, Barbara O'Donnell, Sanitarian, and Mr. George Smith, Jr., Director of Public Health. The minutes of July 14, 1987 were accepted as read. Dr. Roemer opened the meeting by introducing the new Board of Health Sani- tarian, Barbara O'Donnell. She wished her well and hoped she would be with us a long time. The first order of business on the Agenda was to review the Board of Health functions. The items for these functions were based on the Guidebook for Massachusetts Boards of Health. Dr. Roemer opened her discussion with her subject of Sewage Disposal stating the general point of the sewage disposal is the maintenance of good water Sewage supply and preventing the occurrence of nuisances. Generally, the Board of Disposal Health has control over what they call (ISDA) Individual Sewage Disposal Systems. DEQE and Division of Water Pollution has control over larger and industrial flows. Subdivision also comes under the heading of Sewage Disposal. In a subdivision each individual lot has to be considered separately; therefore, it has an individual sewage disposal system and not a larger one which would come under the State. Reviewing the plans of applicants for subdivision is the responsi- bility of the Board who is also responsible for considering applications for construction, repair, installation or alteration of septic systems and ISDS's. We also have the authority to require the installation of flow monitoring devices. We are supposed to ensure proper handling of septage. We can issue orders of compliance, including violations found by DEQE and DWPC. Protocol for ISDS includes that our representative must perform a site examina- tion on every individual site; witness deep hole observation and perk tests that are performed by a representative of the individual applicant. A plan must be submitted to us. The person who designed the system or representative of the Board has to inspect the system for certificate of compliance with the plan. Violations include penalties of $10 to $50/day and there can be a hearing. On Solid Waste the general responsibility of the Board of Health is to pro- Solid tect the health of the community from conditions beyond the control of the Waste individual citizen. One major responsibility of the Board of Health is to protect the health of the community from conditions beyond the control of the individual citizen. The strategy suggested for dealing with the issue of solid waste is to protect the community from old landfills and dumps and to assess current disposal arrangements and future needs. Specific responsi- bilities we would be involved in would be considering applications for salvaging or recycling material at disposal transfer sites. Also, adopting rules and regulations for removal and transportation of garbage, etc. 56-0 Asbestos September 8, 1987 Asbestos comes under the catagory of solid waste. Non -friable asbestos is considered non -hazardous. The whole process of handling asbestos is to keep it non -friable, in other words, do not let it crumble. Air Dr. Goldman's topics of Air Quality and Occupational Safety are basically Quality covered in both areas by State and Federal Agencies. The jurisdiction of the community is air quality - regarding complaints of alleged damaging effects of atmospheric pollution. The real key is if effects and sources of pollutants are within our municipality - then we have to abate emmission as authorized by general laws. Smoke comes under this guideline. The Board of Health responsibilities in regard to Noise Control, Dr. Goldmann continued, is to maintain records of noise complaints, the type, location and time of noise. Responsibilities will vary with current level of growth of each municipality. The Board of Health can set noise standards required of new industries, commercial ventures, and traffic. Occupa- In regard to Occuptational Safety and Health the Board of Health should be tional aware of the problems that might arise in the various industries of its towns Safety and be responsible to any complaints or requests for assistance it receives. If the employer refuses to correct the condition or denies that it creates a hazard or the source of the problem cannot be uncovered the board can then contact any of the local Occupational Safety and Health Departments. Hazardous Dr. Finkelstein began his subjects by explaining that areas of Hazardous Waste and Waste and Water Quality source is broken down into responsibilities of local Water Boards of Health and other agencies, and the jurisdiction it has. Most of the jurisdiction lies elsewhere. The role the Board of Health has is merely informational and technical support opposed to straight regulatory or licensing. The Board also has emergency powers. In areas of Hazardous Waste, labeling issues are not our responsibility but we have to know what the regulations are and what F.D.A. says. Pesticides Under pesticides, we can work with other agencies and programs that might be using pesticides. We have the freedom to engage in programs of mosquito larvaciding. Mr. Smith stated, the program of larviciding is now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health. Around 1983, the Town Manager made a decision that the Board of Health be responsible for mosquito control and instead of a separate item on the budget made it a line item. Dr. Finkelstein continued by saying people can pretty much use what they want on their lawns, etc., in way of pesticides. Mr. Smith said, the law is not clear and does not give us any particular power in that area. Pesticide spills and incidents are required to be reported to Pesticide Board; whereas, with a hazardous waste spill you have to deal with DEQE as well as the Pesticide Board. The big issue of Hazardous Waste is that the Board of Health is responsible for site finding and licenses. The Board of Health has authority to site an asbestos landfill; however, asbestos is not considered hazardous waste but a special waste. 1 September 8, 198/ Pm' 1 001 Dr. Finkelstein informed the group that Radiation is the responsibility Radiation of the Department of Public Health but Boards of Health must be know- ledgeable about Public Health regulations and monitor and enforce those who use it. Mr Smith said, we do bacterial testing every week. Radiology once a year. There is a lot of testing going on. We have a relatively problem free water supply. Dr. Finkelstein continued with two last categories stating, we are supposed to be an information source and aid to wetlands management and finally if the town uses salt to melt snow and ice, we must have properly constructed storage bins. Mr. Smith stated, the town has a State funded storage shed. After this review of the assignments, Dr. Roemer gave out the items to be New discussed at the next meeting: Dr. Goldmann, Food and Nuisances; Dr. Assign - Finkelstein, Lead Paint and Housing; Barbara O'Donnell, Animal and Insect lments Control and lastly Dr. Roemer, cemetery, Burial Permits and Inspection of Public Areas. Dr. Roemer informed the members that next month on the Agenda would School be the School Committee Issue. The letter from Lynda Wik, School Committee Committee, was reviewed and a decision was made that Dr. Roemer would Issue write a firm letter back to Mrs. Wik with a copy to Dr. Zimmerman with reference to the Health Department being on the Search Committee and bring up the subject of Life Skills Curriculum. Mr. Smith and Dr. Roemer also came to an agreement that they would No Smok- meet to isolate issues on "No Smoking". ing Regu- lations Dr. Roemer reported that Mr. Smith had been very kind in keeping her informed of all issues going on. Also, that as Chairperson of Board Chair - of Health she was entitled to become a special police officer; purely person's honorary. Mr. Smith is also a special police officer but has more Report power. Mr. Smith informed the members there had been some problems with Health Convenience Stores - mostly sanitary conditions. Director's Report Barbara O'Donnell, the new sanitarian, has been getting familiar with the town and its procedures. Mr. Smith had been working with her on asbestos and she had spent some time in Waltham and Arlington getting some experience. A tentative date of October 8 had been set for the Flu Clinic. we would be getting the vaccine after the 14th of September The nextissues coming up would be the budgets and annual report. House- hold Hazardous Waste Day would be October 24 and Mr. Smith would be working with Judy Marshall. September 8, 1987 Mr. Smith also informed the Board that he had received a note from Susan Adler stating that the Selectmen were interested in mailing out the Surgeon General's report on AIDS. Ms. Adler would like some feed back from the Board of Health. It is a matter of cost for purchasing and mailing. After a brief review the Board agreed to make "AIDS" an item on the next Agenda. Minuteman Home Care, Mr. Smith said, would like to be exempt from payment of their fee to operate a food establishment at Lexington Senior Center, as they are a non-profit agency. Mr. Smith, on closing his report, said to make note that the next meeting was photo time for the Town Book. At 8:30 P.m. respresentatives Harvey Lowell, Human Services Chairman; Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator and Bob Cushman, Co-chairman of Human Services arrived for their presentation on visiting nurse services to the town. Dr. Roemer advised the group of a conflict of interest in that she is a member of the Board of Directors of Choate-Symmes Hospital, and it is possible that the hospital could seek to deliver such services to the town. After an introduction, Dr. Roemer turned the meeting over to Dr. Finkelstein to chair. Mr. Lowell Mr. Lowell stated that over some years the Council on Aging and the Human Human Service Committee have been trying to figure a way of having the Services Board of Health cooperate with them in a joint venture for helping with Chairman elderly services. Last June they had a hearing on human service needs. They received a lot of information about elderly services to residents in Lexington and also ongoing role of overseeing Council on Aging budget as well as providing money for the Visiting Nurse Senior Health Monitoring Program. There are a lot more elderly people out in the community that need help. Some are let out of hospitals too quickly, some being still acutely ill. At the same time, Human sErvices has been funding V.N. program for monitoring senior health. They have had 20 clients in the program for the past five years. The doctors are very supportive of the program and have heard no complaints about Visiting Nurses. They don't know how the programs keeps going as Human Services does not provide full funding and getting statistics and basic administrative responses from the V.N. is very difficult. Human Services would like to know if this is going to be an ongoing program. They are concerned about administration liabi ity and how they manage the program The V.N. request to them was for $8,000 .nd then again in the spring $7,000, which was provided by the trustees. Mr. Lowell stated, what the Human Servic-s Committee specifically wants to do is to have a case management or case Funding component to find additional cases for the program, arranging through COA, who has outreach for getting people into the Center to have them coor'inate and oversee V.N. aspect of this program. Mr. Lowell said, they hav- developed a strategy of pooling resources and dollars with COA and the Board of Health. They thought this might work as Board of Health has a contract with V.N. providing similar kind of care. 1 1 1 September 8, 1987 Mr. Smith said, our contract is for $8100. We cannot just use it any way we want as it is a line item on the budget sheet put there by the Town Manager. Dr. Roemer informed the group that our $8100 was wrapped up with communi- cable diseases, premature infants and other things the V.N. do for us as well as the elderly. However, the whole total of the money is not committed for that and we would have to see about separating it. Mr. Lowell said, they want to make VNCH more accountable to one entity, or whoever gets the "RFP". Choate-Symmes and also Minuteman Home Care Corporation are interested. Mr. Lowell turned the meeting over to Mr. Baran who produced copies to the members of figures and statistics of what they have been doing over a period of time. After a review, Mr. Baran turned the meeting over to Mr. Cushman who further explained "RFP", what they wanted to do and again to request support and help from the Board of Health. The Board was favorably inclined to the idea of taking steps to improve the acoountability of whatever agency delivers visiting nurse service under the town's contract. In addition, some members of the Board felt that some or all of the case management services now performed under the Board's own contract would more appropriately be under the juris- diction of the Human Services Committee or the Council on Aging. The issue of how to or whether to request re -allocation of those portions os the Board's budget used for case management seemed potentially complicated. Upon completing the presentation, Dr. Roemer thanked the Human Services Committee and siad the Board supported the concept proposed by the Human Services Committee and would consider how best to help them accomplish their aims. The members before adjourning at 9:00 p.m. set the date for the next Board Meeting to be on Tuesday, October 13, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. The following permits were signed by the Board: Animal Permit Donald Flannery 22 Vine Street - 12/ thickens - 12/ laying hens Ralph J. Frissore - 1/horse 92 Blossomcrest Road Catering Permits Food For Thought 445 Common Street, Belmont Gourmet Farms Kitchen - Commissary Permit 53 Bedford Street Service America Corp Minute Man Home Care 83 Hartwell Avenue - Council on aging 000 Steve Baran Human Service Coordinator Bob Cushman Co -Chairman Huamn Serv. D September 8, 1987 Manufacture of Frozen Desserts and/or Ice Cream Friendly Ice Cream Corp 1060 Waltham Street Mother Earth Natural Foods 10 Muzzey Street Food Establishment Permits Daka School & College Food Service Boston Higashi School 2618 Mass. avenue The Coffee Connection - Sidewalk/Outdoor seating 1729 Mass. Avenue Folsom's Fish Market 6 North Hancock Street Friendly Ice Cream Corp 1060 Waltham Street Service America Corp Ginn/Xerox Corp. 191 Spring Street Viking Vending Corp. Hayden Recreation Centre 24 Lincoln Street Gourmet Farms Kitchen 53 Bedford Street - Cafeteria - Vending ARA Services - Cafeteria Honeywell Radiation Center 2 Forbes Road Canteen Corp - Vending Instrumentation Lab 101 Hartwell Avenue Canteen Corp - Vending Instrumentation Lab 113 Hartwell Avenue Seiler's Corp - "D" Cafeteria MIT Lincoln Lab 244 Wood Street Minuteman Regional Vocational -Fife & Drum Grill Technical High School 758 Marrett Road Seiler's Corp - Main Cafeteria MIT Lincoln Lab 244 Wood Street September 8, 1988 Food Service Establishments (continued) Minute Man Home Care - Senior Center Kitchen Council On Aging 1475 Mass aVenue Wild Acre Inn 50 Percy Road Service America Corp Xerox Corp 191 Spring Street Retail Food Store Permits Folsom's Fish Market 6 North Street McLaughlin's Farm Stand 973 Mass Avenue Methyl Alcohol Yong Service, Inc. 330 Woburn Street - Vending Sewage Permit Root Man Donald MacDonald, Pres. 268 Rangeway Road, N. Billerica - 1/Truck