Minutes of Meeting
June 30, 2003
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order at 7:40 P.M. on Monday evening, June 30, 2003, in the Sharon Town Offices, with the following members in attendance: Chairman Anne Bingham, Vice-Chair Elizabeth Barnett, M.D., Susan Peck, Jonathan Goldberg, and Andrew Stead. Also in attendance was Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering.
Hearing — Proposed Revision of Article 7
A hearing was held to review the Board’s proposed changes to Article 7 of the Rules and Regulations of the Sharon Board of Health (“Minimum Requirements for the Subsurface Disposal of Sanitary Sewage”). Several attendees were present for this hearing. Anne Bingham, Chairman, opened the hearing at 7:42 P.M. A comment period was set for one month, so that all Boards and citizens would have the opportunity to comment. The Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Building Inspector, and Board of Selectmen will be provided with copies and asked to comment within the one month period. Mrs. Bingham noted that MGL21A, Sect. 16, allows Boards of Health to promulgate more stringent regulations if there is a local basis for stricter regulations. She noted the following as basis for stricter regulations
in Sharon: Small lots; density of development - primarily residential - in areas that are within a Zone II and/or Sharon’s surface and groundwater protection districts; a high groundwater level. Suzi Peck noted that Sharon is at the top of the watershed, so that what we do affects the rest of the watershed below; the town is mostly septic and depends on town wells for its drinking water.
Anne Bingham noted that most of the changes are meant to clarify existing language and remove duplicative language to state codes. The main change is to allow for smaller setbacks from the property line or street line if certain soil conditions or topographical conditions are met. There is a proposed new section regarding treatment plants. Comments were received from Peter D’Angelo regarding setback distances related to the reserve area.....and will be reviewed by the Board. The hearing was closed at 8:05 PM – a comment period was extended for one month — the Board will review the regulations again at the August 11th meeting.
Striar Hebrew Academy - Consent Order
Howard Diamond and other representatives of the Striar Hebrew Academy were present to request revision of the penalties provision of the consent order. Andy Stead and other board members questioned the appropriateness of the suggested changes and felt that the Board had already been quite lenient by providing the opportunity of extensions upon provision of notice/request by Striar. Anne Bingham suggested, and the Board agreed, removing the doubling and trebling..but, that, if the Striar Academy LLC fails to comply with Section 5 without explanation, i.e., that a deadline is missed without an extension granted in Section 4, Striar Academy LLC will be required to pay $250 per month. Elizabeth Barnett further explained that the burden of identifying, resolving, and notifying the potential for missing deadlines
should be on Striar, not on the Board. It was agreed that any penalties incurred will go into the enterprise account passed by the 2003 Annual Town Meeting.
Variance Hearing: 18 Hixson Farm Road - Upgrade - Bioclere System
Jeremy Downs of GCG Associates presented a proposed upgrade of this large system (>10000 gallons) under Title 5. GCG has been working with Brett Rowe of DEP regarding this upgrade and presented this request to the Board for its information at this point. The existing system, installed in 1996, is in failure. The first system lasted 20 years (installed in mid-70's). There are a total of 88 one bedroom units. The proposal for a mounded system includes variance requests from both Article 7 (setback distances and
minimum perc rate) and Title V(depth to groundwater). This is neither a surface water nor groundwater protection district. Anne Bingham disclosed that she works for DEP and works with Brett Rowe of DEP, with whom GCG Associates has consulted. Jane Desberg and Jack Connors of the Housing Authority were in attendance for this hearing. Jack Connors noted that the Housing Authority has been extremely frustrated with the failure of the 96 system, and is continuing to work towards tying in to the Canton system (a suggestion made by the Board). However, he stated, this won’t be accomplished quickly and the problem needs to be addressed in the near future. Anne Bingham stated her concerns that all bases be covered to come up with the best system possible under the circumstances — she will discuss
with Brett Rowe to see if he has any other issues/concerns. The Board requested answers on several items – the hearing was continued to August 11th at 7:45 P.M.
Minutes of June 9, 2003
VOTED: (Stead/ Goldberg) unanimously to approve the minutes of June 9, 2003.
Proposed Meeting Schedule: September - October 2003
The Board agreed upon the following dates: September 8 and 29; Oct. 20th – all at 7 P.M.
Re-appointment
The Board expressed regret to Andrew Stead’s announcement tthat, due to increased personal and professional obligations, he will not be seeking reappointment when his term ends in September. Anne Bingham noted that the Board will sorely miss Andy’s engineering expertise. Particularly in light of Andy Stead’s pending departure from the Board, It was further agreed to ask Eric Hooper and Peter O’Kane to provide the Board with their opinion of proposed systems ---- at the least of the more complex/larger systems.
339 South Main St. - Request for Testing Reduction
Andy Stead followed up by speaking with the testing company, which reported that they have not been testing quarterly as the Board had required. It was agreed to send a letter responding to their request stating that there will be no reduction at this point; that they are required to do quarterly testing, as previously required.
Whitman Homes:
The Board agreed to respond to the letter from Whitman Homes by notifying them that, since our information is that the dwelling is occupied, the Board maintains that an inspection must be conducted and expects to receive the results within 30 days. Within 10 days the Board expects that our Health Agent for Engineering will be notified fo the date of the inspection.
Serge Wisotsky – Underground Tank Requirements:
Andy Stead stated that the method used by Mr. Wisotsky is not a certified method. Anne Bingham will again contact Mr. Wisotsky and, once again, explain that these regulations are meant to protect the water quality in the town and that a certified testing methodology must be used.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
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