MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
February 13, 2012
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, February 13, 2012, beginning at 7:32PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Suzi Peck, Chair, Vice-Chair Jay Schwab, Stanley Rosen, Andrew Stead, and Ed Welch.
Minutes of Meeting of January 9, 2012
VOTED: (Stead/Welch) Stead, Welch, and Peck voted to accept the minutes of the meeting of January 9, 2012, as prepared. Rosen and Schwab abstained.
Upcoming Retirement of Health Administrator
Suzi Peck noted that Linda Rosen will be retiring in a couple of months. She stated this brings up many questions: does the Board want to change the job description ...which might potentially include the role of the Sanitarian. She suggested postponing discussion on both the sanitarian contract and the proposed FY2013 budget (as prepared by Linda Rosen) until the next meeting. Discussion took place. Stan Rosen noted there are many options for the Board to consider (for this position). He suggested that, since the Board has been satisfied with Bridget Sweet’s work, this might be one area that the department would know would be in place for another year. Ed Welch and Jay Schwab expressed agreement.
7:48 PM: Animal hearing: Efron....30/32 Massapoag Ave.
Suzi Peck recused herself since she is a neighbor and has had a “fairly long relationship” with Mr. Efron.
Kenneth Efron: applicant for permit for a horse. He stated that his girlfriend has a horse currently housed in Lakeville. She formerly housed a horse in the barn owned by Ed Little. That horse died in a fire. She is now afraid to house her horse in a barn. They would need a permit from the Building Inspector (to go through ZBA for Special Permit) to board a horse.
Ed Little, Animal Inspector. He stated that he had not previously realized the large size of the back yard. He sees no problem with a 20 x 20 building out back for a horse. The girlfriend will take the horse via trailer off the property to run. Ed stated that he feels placement of the stable would not be detrimental to the neighbors. He noted that it might be 40' from the property line (requirement is 50'). Stan Rosen: Would applicant be willing to place the structure so variance would not be required? Ed Welch: can’t have a fence within 25' of a property line. Ed Welch stated he would like to see plot plan drawing of property - with exact location of corral, stable, etc.
Comments from abutters: Nancy Rae of 13 Massapoag Lane: would like to propose Ed Little is not the proper person to make recommendations since he stated he is personally involved with the horse owner. Jay Schwab: Mr. Little is professional in his recommendations. Ms. Rae: back yards of all residents on Massapoag Lane abut Mr. Efron’s property - very close to property line. She presented a letter from Lubins at 15 Massapoag Lane with their concerns along the same lines. Ms. Rae stated that she had met with Mr. Efron on February 12th and that he was unclear about all details regarding the stable and that there seemed to be no clear plan. He told her that he and the horse owner are hoping to reconcile. This left Ms. Rae concerned about a structure remaining with or
without a horse. Ms. Rae noted in the ZBA regulations
that the ZBA special permit would require that only the owner of the property could have the permit for horse. Ed Little: the BOH requirement would be 10x10 for a stall for a horse.
Jay Schwab: Mr. Efron hasn’t presented a structural plan yet, so it is premature to further discuss.
More comments from abutters: Chris Seiberling of 13 Massapoag Lane: grew up in Ohio next to a farm; this is not an appropriate location from a neighborhood point of view. Eileen Bullard: 9 Massapoag Lane stated that Ken Efron accumulates “stuff” on his property;
Alison Reid :11 Massapoag Lane..worried about location and proximity to the lake; Georgette Kafka expressed similar concerns.
Ja Schwab suggested and the Board concurred to continue the hearing to March 5th until the applicant provides additional details as requested.
Curry College contract
Stan Rosen noted that he has previously expressed concerns about affiliation agreements with schools (for nursing students). He noted that the Board has never received a written response from either Insurance Agent or Town Counsel regarding prior agreements - and stated that these agreements are written by institutions with their interests at heart; that the BOH has never received written confirmation that the Town is protected.
Stan Rosen noted that the current contract, which was signed by Suzi Peck, is 1) very different from an earlier contract received from another school (Simmons); and 2) In general, the Board chair signs (such documents) on behalf of the Board once the Board is aware of the document. Suzi Peck stated she thought it was an ongoing process and and noted Stan Rosen’s comment on her signing without being authorized to do so by the Board.
Snow Fence...Geese
No response has been received from the Selectmen to the Board’s request for replacement of the snow fence at the lake to restrict the geese. Stan Rosen noted that the issue may be that no one wants to put up and take down the fence on a routine basis.
Ed Welch suggested that the Lake Management Committee (or Chair) be invited to go to the Board of Selectmen with the concerns about the geese. The Board agrees that this is a public health nuisance affecting the lake. Linda Rosen noted that Cliff Towner brought this concern to the BOH. It was agreed to ask the Lake Management Committee to either attend a BOH meeting to discuss options for control of the goose population at the beach or to authorize the Chair to do so....and then to attend a Board of Selectmen meeting urging the Selectmen to address this concern. Linda Rosen noted that Cliff Towner will be attending the March 26th meeting of the BOH regarding the Lake Management’s article to ban dogs from the beach.
Health Administrator position
Jay Schwab noted that the Board has received a letter from Linda Rosen that she will be retiring in the spring after working for the town for 29 years. He noted this has implications for a number of issues: Hire new individual; change the current job description; affect the next FY budget which is needed by the Finance Committee shortly; whether or not to extend the contract for Bridget Sweet, etc.
The Board reviewed information on hiring procedures, options, and job descriptions just received from the BOH Chair late this afternoon.
Review of proposed FY2013 Budgets and Health Administrator position
Linda Rosen presented the draft budgets she prepared for FY2013...both for the Health Department and Uncontrollables (trash pickup items and mandatory drug testing for DPW employees). She noted that the Finance Committee will be needing the Health Dept. Budget by early March.
Suzi Peck: the proposed FY2013 budget (one option only) reduces the Health Administrator position to 35 hours per week and eliminates the additional 10 hours per month previously provided for Board meeting preparations and attendance. Linda Rosen explained that the additional hours have not been needed for the greater part of the past year. She explained in the letter to Fincom that this is due, in part, to increased hours of the Administrative Assistant and to fewer meetings of the Board, partly due to the economy slowdown.
Suzi Peck stated that leaving in the extra 10 hours per month would allow for a full time position (to replace the Health Administrator) if desired. She stated that a number of people have expressed that Sharon might want to follow the model of some other towns, e.g., where the same person (as the Administrator) provides sanitarian services. She noted this additional 10 hours might allow this. Ed Welch stated that the Board doesn’t have the time to review this option. Ed Welch: the BOH will have trouble going through the entire process by May/June. Jay Schwab questioned whether Linda Rosen might consider working part-time on a temporary basis. She responded that she would need to research what is allowed following retirement. Jay Schwab: since this process will take some time, the BOH must vote on a
proposed budget shortly to be presented to the Finance Committee. He also suggested that the Board consider extending Bridget Sweet’s contract since it is the consensus of the Board that she’s done a great job.
Vote to renew contract for Bridget Sweet
Linda Rosen recommended that the 2nd year bid for Bridget Sweet as Health Agent for Sanitary Inspections and Enforcement be accepted and that a contract be signed for a second year beginning July 1,2012. Following some further discussion,
VOTED: Peck/Schwab unanimously that the second year bid of Bridget Sweet for FY12 (which reflects the same rates as for FY11) be accepted for the year beginning July 1, 2012.
BOH Uncontrollables budget
Linda Rosen asked that the BOH approve the Uncontrollables budget as prepared, since this is required by the Selectmens’ sector. This budget is reduced by $8000 from the FY2012 budget.
VOTED: (Peck/Rosen) unanimously to accept the FY2013 BOH Uncontrollables budget of $118000, as presented
Discussion on FY2013 Budget (continued)
Following further discussion on various possible scenarios for the Health Administrator position, Linda Rosen stated that she will prepare two budget options for the BOH and the Finance committee to approve. The first budget scenario will remove the additional 10 hours per month in order to include projected salary and step increases and keep a level-funded budget. The second scenario will include the 10 hours (as in FY12) in order to allow for a full time (or equivalent) position. It will be noted that the economy can change, requiring additional BOH meetings. Jay Schwab further noted that Linda Rosen will require some additional hours for a period of time to train the new individual.
Suzi Peck: the Board needs to move as expeditiously as possible in the hiring process; the Board has a tremendous amount of flexibility in this process; having some one by the time Linda Rosen retires is not likely; the BOH first needs to be comfortable with job description and qualifications; Have to have decided on broad questions, i.e., technical or more administrative; ?should the position be more like a department head with everyone reporting to this position; or more of a coordinating position?; should BOH members meet with former BOH members, other departments (including Concom, DPW, Selectmen), etc., to see how they would like to interact with the Health Department and possibly change the dynamic.
Ed Welch stated that the position would need to be funded (by the Town ) if it were to be a department head. Andy Stead that he felt it should be a department head. He stated there could be one person at the top, but with a similar structure. Suzi Peck stated the Board would then need to recognize the impact on existing Board staff. She also stated that the personnel board would specify how to hiring for a department head; and rate the position and determine the salary. Stan Rosen stated that the BOH would be wise to reach consensus with the BOS if a department head scenario was desired.
Jay Schwab asked who helped to draw up the information Suzi Peck provided to the Board. She responded that she had informal discussions with both Andy Stead and Ed Welch. She stated that she spoke with Ben Puritz about the process. She also had conversations with both Sheila and Linda Callan in which they stated they want to be clear that their job descriptions reflect their current/actual responsibilities. She noted that they have ideas/vision of things the BOH could be doing. Suzi Peck suggested speaking with representatives of a variety of departments for their input. Jay Schwab stated that it was critical that each interview be done by at least two BOH members.
The following plans were agreed upon:
1. Linda Rosen will get job descriptions from other communities, while asking for the setup of their offices (number and type of positions, etc.). Suzi Peck asked that communities totally on septic systems not be included. Linda Rosen noted that there are 10 towns the Town generally uses for such comparisons. She will also obtain Town Reports from each community.
2. It was agreed to schedule possible BOH meetings for February 28 and 29 at 7 PM to review.
3. Suzi Peck and Jay Schwab will speak with Sheila, Linda Callan, and Linda Rosen to look at existing job descriptions for potential changes; to identify areas to be clarified with concern about overlapping.
4. Suzi Peck and Stan Rosen will discuss related issues with Ben Puritz and with the Selectmen.
5. Andy Stead and Ed Welch will discuss with Conservation (Peg Arguimbau and Greg Meister) and with DPW (Peter O’Cain, Jim Andrews, Eric Hooper, Joe Kent).
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 PM.
6. Suzi Peck will distribute a proposed list of specific discussion points to be covered at the above meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 P.M.
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