Minutes of Meeting
July 21, 2008
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order on July 21, 2008 at 7:35 PM, in the Sharon Town Office Building, with the following members in attendance: Stanley Rosen, Chair, Anne Bingham, Jay Schwab, and Suzi Peck.
Planning Board-approved plans for Brickstone definitive subdivision
Anne Bingham stated she will not sign the plans. She noted that work appears to be ongoing on the site......she assumes related to the wastewater treatment plant....but the BOH has not been notified. It was agreed that the BOH would send a letter to Brickstone, with copies to Peter O’Cain and Jim Andrews asking them to remain in direct contact with us, as well as with our agent, James Andrews, as work goes forward; noting that the BOH is aware that drilling has been taking place and wonder if this is related to BOH issues; also understand that the developers have discussed moving the wastewater treatment plant. Please provide us with notice when doing exploratory drilling; also if has impact on neighbors.
The Board thoroughly reviewed a memo from Peter O’Cain regarding the signing of the Brickstone plans for the definitive subdivision. After discussion, it was the sense of the Board not to sign the plans out of concern that, by signing, they'd give up their (future) authority under MGL Chapter 41, S.81U. It was their understanding that they would not be holding up a project by not signing the plans. Stan Rosen had previously signed the plans....which, along with the minutes of the BOH, will indicate that the Board has seen the plans.
Animal Regulations
Ed Little, Animal Inspector, was in attendance to discuss proposed revisions. Jay Schwab stated that a good amount of the draft represents a composite from regulations of other towns. He added that, as time goes on, the BOH will probably need to revise whatever regulations it adopts.
Ed Little made a suggestion, noting the cost of sending notices by certified mail, that notification of abutters should be reduced to strictly abutting properties when the application is for small animals, e.g., chickens, fowl, rabbits, pigs. Anne Bingham suggested notification only if more than one animal unit per acre. Suzi Peck: turkeys, geese, ducks are noisier and produce more odor; small animals have minimal impact. Anne Bingham suggested changing the definition of “Animals” to “agricultural animals” ( remove state licensing to another section).
Linda Rosen noted that certified mail is not currently required; option is provided to applicant to hand-deliver notices to abutters and obtain signatures. Suzi Peck suggested language that “Applicant must provide evidence of notification of abutters, such as signed notice by abutter...or certified mail.”
Additional suggestions by Ed Little: Definition of “farm”......property owner can rent land to be a farm. Do we need definition...is it used in the regulation?
13.3.B...shall obtain and provide a plot plan from the DPW.
13.3 C....Question of initial fee to be higher than renewal fee....e.g., ?$40 and $25(annual)...
13.8......Anne Bingham to rewrite this section.
13.17...new barns have prefab construction....concrete would be an added burden. Suzi Peck: “Shall be concrete unless owner has demonstrated adequate rodent control.”
13.40...should be goats and cows
Anne Bingham suggested that 13.15-13.40 = standards for the regulation
Anne Bingham and Stan Rosen will provide rewrites for Linda...who will send draft to Ed Little and BOH.
Water Reports
Suzi Peck had questions on water reports received from Water Department. It was agreed to ask Dave Masciarelli to advise the BOH of the frequency of some of the specific tests received; the results of the last two tests prior to these; the significance of these excessive counts; and plans for remedying, e.g., manganese and iron.
Minutes of June 30th
Suzi Peck and Anne Bingham will provide comments on these minutes for the next meeting.
Minutes of July 7th
VOTED: (Rosen/Bingham) voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the meeting of July 7th, 2008.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.
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