MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
January 3, 2011
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, January 3, 2011, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Stan Rosen, Vice-Chair, Andrew Stead, Ed Welch, and Suzi Peck.
Discussion re alarming barns.
Former firefighter Ed Little was present to discuss a resident’s suggestion re alarming barns and coops. There is no state requirement. The Board also reviewed comments by Fire Chief Dennis Mann. Both Chief Mann and Ed Little explained that there would be multiple problems with false alarms with smoke detectors in a barn, due to dust, etc. Also, noise from a smoke alarm would spook the horses, making it more difficult to remove them during an actual incident. The next best possibility would be a heat detection system connected to a central alarm. This would be extremely costly, as would a dry sprinkler system. Ed Little stated that an alarm system would NOT have saved his barn or the animals during the recent fire in his barn.
Stan Rosen asked if this is not a fire department issue, rather than BOH issue. Ed Little noted that Norfolk County Agricultural School is in the talking stages regarding a possible heat detection system for their stable area....which will house 17 horses. Ed Little stated that the cost depends on how elaborate a system is installed. If someone DOES put in a heat detection system, they cannot put in a partial system. E.g., pull stations (for Fire Dept) must be installed at every door to a barn. Andy Stead stated it doesn’t seem to make sense to require a system for smaller barns or coops. Stan Rosen suggested, and Ed Welch and Ed Little agreed, the Board defer the issue to the Fire Chief and Building Inspector. Suzi Peck stated that, per legal counsel response to the Selectmen,
the BOH does have the authority to do this. Ed Little does not believe Fire Department h as authority to impose stricter regulations. than exist in the state code. He further stated this would be imposing financial burden on animal owners. Stan Rosen stated, and Ed Little agreed, that this issue is in the province of the State Fire Marshall.
Everwood Day Camp
Sharon resident Scott Brody, director of Everwood Day Camp at Horizon for Youth property, was present, along with assistants Dane and Jamie Nichols, to present an informational update on plans for the property.
Everwood has leased the Horizons site for a day camp for 20+ years. Scott Brody has owned and run childrens’ summer camps, including overnight camps in New Hampshire, since 1996.
Jamie and Dane Nichols have worked with Scott at camps for many years. Mr. Brody stated they want to create a strong partnership with the town, and have already made a large investment in restoring the site in recent months, while preparing for their first season (in 2011) as a day camp. Later, they intend to operate some enrichment programs for children during the rest of the year. They may conduct small weekly overnights. They have also had requests from community groups, e.g., the Boy Scouts, to utilize the facility.
Suzi Peck expressed concern regarding wastewater because of proximity to lake. Jim Andrews provided septic data based on 250 total people (overnight camping). 8750 gpd is design flow for systems. Scott Brody provided copy of BDO Engineering report showing calculations re
day camp = 13 gpd, translating to capacity of 728 campers and staff. The plan is to have kids bring lunch four days/week; and to perhaps have a barbecue one day/week. They will provide snacks; will not be preparing food or washing dishes. They expect to be well within the margin of number of campers and staff, at least for the short term. They hope for 200 kids and 40-50 staff for summer of 2011...to average 150 kids per day. They are using water conservation measures wherever possible. Stan Rosen urged Mr. Brody to be in close contact with the department many months in advance re all inspections, etc. (camp inspections by Sheila Miller; food service inspections by Bill Iannucci). Mr. Brody stated they are ready and eager to do a walk-around with BOH at any time. Ed Welch suggested an open house
for the community.
Proposed dental office for 210 N. Main St.
Atty. Joel Fishman was present for this discussion, along with Mr. Jackson, trustee of trust that owns the building. The lower level is currently used for warehouse. A dentist would like to operate a dental office with no more than 6 dental chairs...2 dentists and 4 hygienists.
New systems are waterless; but the latest DEP regulations require 200 gallons per dentist per day. Conventional system was designed around 1900 with 1500 gpd. BOH requested copy of plan showing the design flow. Applicant does believe proposal fits within the design flow. Suzi Peck: Mercury separation will be required...to go into a tight tank. Mr. Fishman to consult with Jim Andrews and will schedule another appointment with BOH..this will be a change in use.
Annual Town Report: The Board reviewed and approved the submission for the 2010 Annual Town Report as prepared by Health Administrator Linda Rosen, with some edits.
Request from Susan Price:
The Board reviewed a request from Susan Price of Sharon Planning Board to provide information on septic systems at risk in P.O. Square. Peter O’Cain previously provided a spreadsheet of septic system age. Jim Andrews noted that the Planning Board can certainly go to the DPW to review information in the folders of each property.
Potluck Suppers
The Board reviewed a letter from Kim Foley, Acting Director of the DPH Food Protection Program, in response to Linda Rosen’s request for clarification of recommendations re potluck suppers. Linda Rosen also presented a draft BOH policy on potluck suppers as approved by Bill Iannucci, based on DPH recommendations.
Suzi Peck reported that, at Linda Rosen’s recommendation, she did speak with Kim Foley. According to Suzi Peck, Kim Foley stated: the BOH certainly does have the authority to waive regulations, but that, in her professional judgment, waiving them would be a huge risk; that the BOH could waive regulations, even allowing potentially hazardous foods to be prepared in private homes for public serving, if they believed that they could put other measures in place to adequately ensure the safety of food prepared at home. Board members questioned whether or not that was realistic.
Stan Rosen stated that DPH has more expertise in these matters than the local BOH. He stated that, in his opinion, the BOH should not try to find a “way around the regulations”. He suggested re-reading Ms. Foley’s letter in which she states that non potentially hazardous foods only may be allowed (to be prepared outside of non-licensed kitchens).
Suzi Peck asked that the proposed policy be brought back for the January 24th meeting, since she had not had an opportunity to thoroughly review it.
No Tanning Pledge....
It was the sense of the BOH to approve Sheila Miller’s request to plan a No Tanning Pledge program along with Kris Heck of the Sharon School Department. Sheila will again plan to set up the American Cancer Society Skin Analyzer machine at the High School to show students how UV rays, both natural and artificial, cause skin damage.
I/A System Maintenance
Andy Stead reported that he has been working for months with Linda Callan on developing a simpler, easier to organize spreadsheet on tracking I/A systems. The new system is now workable and Linda will begin using for residential systems.
He further stated that there are 17 locations for which we charge a $50 annual fee because of sideline setback or similar...no I/A system...to check on annual pumping, etc. Suzi Peck stated that the theory was to have a fee to enable the BOH to review that people comply with the requirements set by the BOH. Andy Stead proposed eliminating this fee since, he stated, checking on these systems (unlike I/A systems) is not time consuming....and we do have funds available through the septic revolving fund to continue to check on these systems. Suzi Peck added that some systems (with setback issues) are approvable by Jim, so there is an then equity issue.
Voted: (Stead/Rosen) unanimously to eliminate the $50 annual fee for those properties (without I/A systems) monitored for, essentially, annual pumping requirements only, effective immediately
At this point Andy Stead did not recommend changing the annual fees charged for residential I/A systems or commercial systems....but he would like to review this matter in the future.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.
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