MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
November 15, 2010
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, November 15, 2010, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Stan Rosen, Vice-Chair, Jay Schwab, Andrew Stead, Ed Welch, and Suzi Peck.
Animal Hearing: 9 Glenview Road
Ed Little, Animal Inspector, was present, along with applicant Eli Chernin - applicant for BOH permit for 10 ducks at 9 Glenview Road. Mr. Chernin stated he and his wife want to have ducks to teach responsibility to his 3 young children and because he prefers duck eggs to chicken eggs. Mr. Chernin constructed a pen to house the ducks. The coop meets the requirements of the BOH Animal Regulations. Mr. Chernin is of the understanding that ducks are quieter than chickens. Ed Little reported on his inspection...the property conforms to BOH rules and regulations. Mr. Little stated that the ducks will not be able to get out of the pen...and nothing will be able to get in. There will be a small child’s wading pool for use by the ducks.
A concern from a neighbor was presented to the Board and reviewed.
Suzi Peck expressed concerns that ducks will be noisier than anticipated..wondered whether they would be large or small ducks...and suggested starting with fewer than 10 ducks. Ed Little noted, and Jay Schwab reiterated, that an animal permit provides recourse for neighbors if there should be a problem. An abutter, Mrs. Spiewack, noted that there is already noise in the neighborhood and doubted that any duck noise would present a problem.
Voted: (Welch/Stead) unanimously to grant the request for a permit for 10 ducks.
Marc Parrish: update on animal permit for Crescent Ridge Dairy
Mr. Parrish wants to change his existing animal permit, which is for 60 cows, to add animals. He currently has 3 cows in the barn; the permit would be modified to include a total of 60 large animals. Suzi Peck expressed concerns that abutters should be notified (and, thus, a hearing should be held) since, she stated, this is a substantial modification of the permit. Andy Stead stated that, since this has been a farm, this is not really a substantial modification.
Ed Little stated Mr. Parrish could add as many as 10 horses within the structure of the existing building - including sheep, goats, etc. A local 4H group wishes to house 4-6 miniature horses at Crescent Ridge. Mr. Parrish wants to build an educational program for children.
MOVED: (Rosen/Welch) that Mr. Parrish provide an application explaining what he wants to do; and that the BOH authorize modifying the existing permit from 60 bovine to 60 animal units (not including ducks, geese, or rabbits)
VOTED: (Peck/Schwab) Peck, Schwab, and Stead voted affirmatively to amend the motion by requiring notification of abutters of a change in use of the existing permit. Rosen and Welch voted against the motion. The motion carried.
More discussion took place on the amendment. Ed Little stated he is opposed to the Board’s action and that it would be burdensome on Mr. Parrish.
MOVED: (Peck/Schwab) that Mr. Parrish should complete a new application....notify abutters....hold a hearing for change in existing permit to 60 animal units (excluding rabbits, chickens, etc.) Peck and Schwab voted in favor; Rosen, Stead,and Welch opposed. The motion did not carry.
VOTED: (Welch/Rosen) that Mr. Parrish should complete a new application to modify his permit from 60 bovine to 60 animal units (excluding ducks, geese, rabbits) - without notification to abutters - and that the BOH would approve the permit.
Rosen, Stead, and Welch voted in favor; Peck and Schwab opposed. The motion carried.
John Roades, Norwood Engineering
Mr. Roades was present, along with representatives of Salvation Army, to present plans for an enhanced nitrogen removal system. Mr. Rhoades provided an update on the status of planned septic system upgrades at Camp Wonderland and Hillcrest Lodge conference center, which will cost over one million dollars . All the cesspools will be removed; the campers’ wastewater will go to composting toilets. The applicants have applied to DEP for a groundwater discharge permit and will also appear before the Conservation Commission. Suzi Peck and Andy Stead: the applicant will still require a groundwater discharge permit from BOH...for the Bioclere system since it will be over 2500 gpd. Jim Andrews: Salvation Army is going above and beyond what any other camp would do. The applicant stated that, in the long
run, the composting toilets will be more expensive. They will need a construction disposal works permit from the BOH. The board agreed that plans will be submitted through Jim Andrews....no hearing will be required....a BOH groundwater discharge permit will be granted.
Members of the Board expressed the sense of the Board that the applicant has done an excellent job and that the BOH is supportive of the project.
Meeting dates: January through June
The Board agreed on the following meeting dates for 2011: January 3 and 24, February 28, March 14 and 28, April 11 and 25, May 16, June 6 and 27.
Vote to Accept Donations
VOTED: (Rosen/Peck) unanimously to accept $280 in donations to be deposited into the Health Department Donations Fund.
Meeting Minutes
VOTED: (Welch/Stead) Welch, Stead, Schwab, and Rosen voted in the affirmative...Peck abstained...to accept the minutes of the meeting of October 18, 2010.
The board reviewed and discussed various correspondence.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.
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