Minutes of Meeting
December 4, 2006
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order on Monday, December 4, 2006, at 7:35 P.M., in the Sharon Town Office Building, with the following members in attendance: Elizabeth Barnett, Vice-Chair, Suzi Peck (left meeting for first twenty minutes to attend Economic Development Committee as BOH representative), Stanley Rosen, and Jay Schwab. Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering, was also present.
Vote to accept donations:
VOTED:( Barnett/Rosen): Barnett/Rosen/Schwab voted to accept donations to the Health Department Donations fund in the amount of $434.
Lyme disease: Jay Schwab discussed plans for an educational program on lyme disease for spring 2007.
Linda Rosen presented a game developed by one of the Simmons College Student Nurses working with Sheila Miller this semester. The other student nurse will provide a Powerpoint presentation on Lyme Disease. Jay Schwab is looking at late January to review the project; planning to present to younger students in Sharon schools; and to recreation department programs. Literature will be obtained from the State Department of Public Health. We need to determine number of handouts needed; plan to hand out after February vacation.
Fluoride
Jay Schwab reviewed communications regarding the American Dental Association’s November statement regarding fluoride in infant formula...as it relates to fluorosis. He noted that the ADA and Massachusetts Dental Society state that ideally, infants 6 months or less should be breast-fed; otherwise, ready to feed formula is best; as a third option, if using powdered formula, caregivers should use bottled water without fluoride or with low levels of fluoride. Dr. Schwab further stated that dental fluorosis is quite rare and is generally seen only with extremely excessive amounts of fluoride.
Minutes of Meeting
VOTED: (Barnett/Peck): Barnett, Peck, and Schwab voted in favor of accepting the minutes of the meeting of November 20, 2006. Rosen abstained.
Stephen Nelson - Clearwater Recovery
Present: Stephen Nelson of Clearwater Recovery, R.S., member of Rockland BOH, and wastewater treatment plant operator. He operates about 12 I/A systems in Sharon, mostly Bioclere and some JET systems. He was present, along with a few homeowners, to express the concern from homeowners about the expense of ongoing maintenance of the I/A systems. He noted that, in the long run, regular maintenance saves money and the system.
Mr. Nelson explained that DEP changed their model for testing this year....from BOD to Dissolved Oxygen and Turbidity...and, also, reduced testing to twice/year. In Sharon we continue to require four tests per year until two years of successful test results have been received; with the exception that BOD remains a quarterly requirement. Therefore, our regulations are now requiring an additional set of tests over and above the DEP tests, incurring additional homeowner costs of approximately $320/year. (In Sharon, annual costs currently run approximately $700/year for 4 visits.)
For example, for a single family home, annnual cost = $480/year...based on 4 visits..2005....including one complete set of effluent samples.BOD/TFF/ammonia and nitrates; visual... Semi annual cost, per DEP model $350/year. Dissolved oxygen levels and turbidity requirements....have been told that if these are ok, the requirements have been met. (More expensive than BOD).
Now..for a year.... purchased equipment to do this testing and can provide actual field numbers. Have seen no decrease in compliance with the effluent. Would be more effective to be sure that everyone complies with some regular maintenance.
[2006 DEP model of testing = $350/year for 2 tests/year — dissolved oxygen and turbidity.
Sharon current rules: 4 tests/year = DEP minimum and site inspection = $80 each for sampling and BOD= $160 per visit = $640; Plus for DEP - documented field test = $90 each time. ]
Suzi Peck suggested that DEP be asked whether or not they would accept our 4 times/year BOD instead of the twice/year DEP-required turbidity and dissolved oxygen. If not, the Board will consider switching to DO and Turbidity, which, actually, is slightly more expensive. Jim Andrews agreed with the proposal to eliminate double testing requirements.
VOTED: (Barnett/Peck) unanimously to change our testing requirements for I/A systems to four visits per year with twice/yearly maintenance. Tests will be for either Dissolved Oxygen and Turbidity or BOD, depending on DEP’s response to this request. Decision on tests to be determined and all I/A operators (including Clearwater Recovery) to be notified by early 2007.
Suzi Peck also explained that we maintain the quarterly testing requirement to ensure that people are not turning off their systems in between visits to get back to Clearwater Recovery. The Board agreed to also consider changing the requirements to 2 regular visits per year plus one or two random visits....instead of the regular quarterly visits.
Animal Regulations
Jay Schwab reported on the work done so far on revising the animal regulations. Stan Rosen and Jay Schwab will continue working on these in a logical, realistic manner.
Medical Reserve Corps
Stan Rosen reported on the meeting he attended for the Medical Reserve Corps Steering Committee. The next meeting, during which Incident Command will be reviewed and ICS 100 will be completed, is December 12th.
Economic Development Committee (EDC)
Suzi Peck reported on her brief attendance at the EDC...which coincided with the BOH meeting. She stated that the EDC expects Suzi Peck to be a voting member of that group, representing the BOH.
Flu Clinic
Elizabeth: Barnett reported on the recent flu clinics held by the Health Department, stating that we was .impressed with the organization.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 P.M. .
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