Minutes of Meeting
October 29, 2007
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order on October 29, 2007, at 7:30 PM, in the Sharon Town Office Building, with the following members in attendance: Anne Bingham, Chair, Elizabeth Barnett, Vice-Chair, Suzi Peck, Jay Schwab, and Stanley Rosen. Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering, was also present.
Policy on Disinterments and Reinterments
VOTED: ( Barnett/Bingham) unanimously to approve the motion to amend the ability of the BOH policy #7 (on disinterments/reinterments) to include the public health nurse, administrator, and administrative assistant of the Board of Health (or 3 signatures of the BOH members).
I/A monitoring
Suzi Peck reported that she had spoken with someone at DEP re our required I/A tests and was told that our testing procedures would be acceptable (in lieu of state-required tests) if we just notify them of our procedures/testing requirements.
The issue of when/if to require one additional sampling per year was discussed. Suzi Peck stated that she recalled that the BOH had agreed to require one additional sampling per year of all I/A systems. Linda Rosen’s recollection (and the policy we’ve been using) was that the BOH might require one additional sampling ..... on a random check basis. Linda Rosen will review prior minutes for these discussions.
Animal Hearing
Abutters of the applicant, Melanie Ingalls, of 14 Pleasant Street, were provided with notification of the hearing. There were no attendees. Ms. Ingalls wants to have 8 chickens on her 1/4 acre property...basically for the fresh eggs they will provide. She would first have them in the garage...then would move them to a small building adjacent to her garage. According to Ed Little, Animal Inspector, she does not comply with current requirements due to the sideline setback requirements. Ed Little stated that he had issued her a permit a year or 2 ago (before our requirements began to change), but the applicant had allowed the permit to expire (and had not obtained any chickens).
Anne Bingham asked for a plot plan showing that Ms. Ingalls has maximized the distances....and showing placement of the chicken building as far from property line as possible. Hens will not be shipped until spring.
VOTED: (Bingham/Barnett) unanimously to allow the issuance of the permit for 8 chickens, provided a plot plan is given to the BOH showing maximizing of distances.
Brickstone - Preliminary Subdivision Plan
The Board received copies of the Preliminary Subdivision Plan and agreed to meet to discuss this matter on Thursday November 8th at 6:30 P.M. Brickstone representatives will be invited to attend.
Minutes of Meeting
VOTED: :(Barnett/Bingham) Barnett, Bingham, Schwab, and Rosen voted in the affirmative; Peck abstained, to accept the minutes of the meeting of October 15th .as amended.
Mass. Pellet
Stan Marcinczyk of Mass. Pellet did not appear, nor did he provide the documents previously requested.
Sharon Commons: Peer Review
The Board members agreed to send a letter to Marie Cannon of Earthtech providing the scope of services, and asking that she submit a work plan to review the Sharon Commons proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant, including her estimated hours/maximum fee. The Board members approved of her resume and were disposed to hire her pending review of references, as well as the cost of her services. The letter to her will note that the project is undergoing MEPA review, and that a 2nd (residential) plant will be designed as well. The Board expressed concerns about going forward without further info on the 2nd (residential) plant.
NADD (Neighbors Against Destructive Development)
Anne Bingham stated that she is associated with and working with NADD, and that she will step away from the table for this discussion so that the BOH members will feel more comfortable. She does not feel that she is required to do so; has not yet sought a definitive response from the Ethics Commission. She will seek a formal opinion from the Ethics Commission to uphold her right to be involved in any future permitting of the Brickstone project. Suzi Peck stated her concerns......that she was troubled if BOH members cannot take any political positions and still participate on the BOH. She felt that Anne Bingham need not step aside for this discussion (but Ms. Bingham did step away from the table for the discussion).
Dr. Elizabeth Essex, a practicing veterinarian as well as a homeowner who will be affected by the project, presented a paper prepared by Dr. Kyla Bennett of PEER(Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility). Stan asked why PEER is interested in Sharon MA. It was noted that Kyla Bennett lives nearby, in Easton, and is an environmental attorney with clients in this area. She has a Ph.D. in environmental issues from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Essex: concerns about pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), which are not completely metabolized in the body, getting into the groundwater. Concern is for the effect on humans, as well as animals. Suzi Peck expressed concerns that pharmaceuticals, etc., may already be causing damage in the environment. Stan Rosen: are there other jurisdictions now taking a look at this? Suzi Peck: This is an emerging problem and is starting to be reviewed.....in Europe and by DEP. BOH members asked questions about the document presented. Dr. Essex and neighbors are concerned about their private well water; said Brickstone had assured them town water would be extended to Briggs Pond.: that was not done.. Current wastewater technology does not remove the
PPCPs...treated water will be released into the ground. Suzi Peck: current standards do not look at these elements, because there is no treatment for PPCPs. Stan Rosen: so no wastewater treatment plant in the country that gets rid of PPCPs? Suzi Peck: generally where there are plants with very dense populations, the wastewater goes into river and is carried out to the ocean; but in this location, this would not be the case. Therefore, she questioned whether this is the appropriate place for this type of establishment? I.e., dense population of elderly people (taking more medications) in an area of ledge....so close to our wells. She explained that with ledge there are cracks; water can travel very long distances without any kind of treatment. Jay Schwab : discussed the number of septic systems throughout the town vs. this treatment plant. Suzi Peck reiterated: the difference is the geology and the
fact that this would include a large # of elderly people in a very small area. Elizabeth Barnett: would like local figure, e.g., test water samples in town, e.g., near the nursing home. Elizabeth Essex did approach a lab to do this type of testing. However, there are very few that do this for private people; to do one well, would cost upto $100,000. Ms. Essex stated that this situation is unique...they haven’t been able to find a situation like this elsewhere in MA....near private wells....she questioned, therefore, whether this project is appropriate for this location. Elizabeth Barnett asked: Assuming we recognize this as an emerging problem, how do we address it with emerging technologies? A neighbor from Brigss Pond: at least the town/Brickstone should extend the pipes so that neighbors can hook up to town water ...at least for psychological reasons. Another Briggs Pond resident asked for
clarification on what happens if a contaminant shows up in a monitoring well. Both Stan Rosen and Jay Schwab agreed that this issue needs clarification.
Elizabeth Barnett left the meeting at 9:10 P.M.
Dr. Essex urged the BOH to study the articles on Town Meeting warrant; she asked that they endorse Article I, II, or III. She asked that the BOH take positions on these articles prior to Town Meeting. since all the other boards have come out in favor of Brickstone.
VOTED: (Schwab/Peck) Schwab, Peck, Rosen voted to hold a meeting prior to Town Meeting to discuss Articles one through 3.
Sharon Commons: (continued variance hearing )
Anne Bingham stated that the BOH is considering contacting a peer reviewer; however the BOH feels that the issue of the 35,000 gallon residential wastewater treatment plant is still unresolved. Michael Intoccia responded that, following the last discussion with BOH, they have moved the residential plant (for the LIPP...condos and apartments) away from the commercial plant .....to create a separate system further up the street. Under MEPA process...in draft EIR, to have cumulative impact report with concept plan for residential. Michael Intoccia stated that he owns the LIPP (apartments and condos) and has no commonality with the commercial aspect as of today. There will not be a second plant on the commercial property.
Stephen Smith , groundwater hydrologist from Geohydrocycle, Inc....
Mr. Smith, who was hired by Coler and Colantonio, presented a review of the hydrology of the property to include the proposed Sharon Commons. The study was done for 95, 000 gpd (both commercial and residential); another study will be done for the residential alone (35,000 gpd).
The hearing on Sharon Commons was continued to November 26, 2007 at 8 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM.
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