MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
October 17, 2011
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, October 17, 2011, beginning at 7:35 PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Suzi Peck, Chair; Jay Schwab, Vice-Chair; Andrew Stead, and Ed Welch.
Minutes of Meeting of September 26, 2011
VOTED: (Welch/Peck) Welch, Peck, and Schwab voted in the affirmative; Stead abstained; to approve the minutes of the meeting of September 26, 2011.
Update on application for geothermal well
Suzi Peck updated the board on the proposed geothermal well for 7 Capen Hill Road. She stated that this standing column well is considered an open loop well per DEP. In addition, DEP regulations now has in depth guidelines for geothermal wells and require DEP certification prior to installation. The well installer must be licensed/authorized to install a geothermal well. She noted that she had forwarded the guidelines to Jim Andrews, who has forwarded to applicant. DEP says open loop well is okay as long as it complies with strict DEP guidelines. Per Jim Andrews the applicant has asked for BOH approval in order to go forward with DEP approval. The Board agreed to complete this discussion following tonight’s appointments.
Variance Hearing: 117 Billings St
Paul Brodmerkle, P.E., of Site Design Professionals, presented a variance request on behalf of property owners Robert and Tyrene Johnston and contractor Aldo Ruscito. The existing 2 bedroom home with a cesspool was occupied until about 8 months ago. They propose replacing it with a 3 bedroom home with septic system. Would require a mounded system since the water table is high. Variances from Article 7 would be required for depth to groundwater, and from Article 7 and Title 5 for distance to property line and cellar wall. Suzi Peck reviewed the requirement re manifest injustice for new construction: the Board has held fast to requirement of loss of virtually all economic benefit to the property. She added that approving a 3 bedroom home would go against what the Board has maintained to date. Ed Welch suggested the possibility of adding property from the owner’s adjacent property (which is their residence). Suzi Peck noted that doesn’t solve the depth to groundwater issue. If
there is a mounded system (because can’t meet depth to groundwater requirement) the proposal would come to BOH even if setback requirements met (i.e., if they can change the property line somewhat) and maintained 2 bedrooms. This would constitute maximum feasible compliance but would still require a variance for the mound. An abutter, Mr. Gilden, asked that the discharge drain to wetlands....not to his property.
VOTED: (Welch/Peck) unanimously to continue the hearing to the next regular meeting:
November 21 at 8:15 PM.
Sharon Commons: Update
Atty. Bob Shelmerdine, consultant Marie Cannon of AECOM, Kelly Killeen, P.E. of Coler and Colantonio, and Richard Kershaw, Project Manager from Sharon CF2LP.
Bob Shelmerdine summarized: Congress Group received permit from BOH on September 22, 2008 for system to service the Sharon Commons (retail) facility. Layout has since changed....have obtained approval for layout from ZBA and Concom. ZBA permits were filed with Town Clerk on August 30, 2011. He apologized for not coming to BOH on September 26 as previously arranged. He stated that, due to a mixup, he did not provide the information to the consultant, Marie Cannon, with enough time for her to review prior to that meeting. Suzi Peck stated that this presented a significant inconvenience to others who wanted to appear before the BOH on the 26th, but were turned away because of the appointment with Sharon Commons. Bob Shelmerdine again apologized...both to the BOH as well as to anyone who was
inconvenienced.
Kelly Killeen reviewed the new layout; locations of buildings have changed; square footage has been reduced. However, they haven’t sacrificed anything from the original design as pertains to septic system. They are .now requesting a change to leaching chambers from the previously approved trench design. There are still 950 seats for food service. They have received Phase 3 approvals from ZBA for Target and BJs.
Bob Shelmerdine stated that the system really hasn’t changed and that he doesn’t believe it rises to level of a modification to the permit. Suzi Peck noted that DEP states it is a modification. Marie Cannon suggested simply amending BOH permit to include the pending modification letter from DEP and to reference the final plans. The BOH will wait for DEP to respond re the modification....then copies of response letter to go to Marie and BOH and Jim Andrews. Coler and Colantonio will provide a record copy to the town with the minor modifications. In addition, a simple clarification in #27 of the O and M: to “flow and loading”.
Septic monitoring fees.
Andy Stead provided a chart sent to him by Linda Callan showing results of septic monitoring to date. The Board noted that inspection and testing requirements are not being met in many instances. Linda Callan had recommended possibly reducing the $100 per year fee for residential systems to $25 per year, since, she said, the monitoring is not as time-consuming as previously thought. Suzi Peck noted that one reason the Board set the fee was to provide oversight. In reviewing the chart she suggested that we, perhaps, need to notify people their system needs to be inspected and pumped.
The Board agreed with Linda Rosen’s suggestion that, since the Board’s requirements are now the same as state requirements, we simply speak with the companies servicing the I/A systems to see if, perhaps, we are not receiving all the information. Then the Board can determine how to follow up on pumping requirements, etc.
Geothermal well discussion:
Following further discussion, it was the sense of the board that members need to see a detailed plan showing construction specs of the well.....layout of where the well will be - with setbacks, etc., before can issue approval. Linda Rosen will notify Jim Andrews...and will forward the DEP guidelines (sent by Suzi Peck to Jim and Linda) to the rest of the Board members.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 PM.
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