[Comment1]MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
May 21, 2012
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, May 21, 2012, beginning at 7:35 PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Suzi Peck, Chair, Jay Schwab, Vice-Chair, Stanley Rosen, Ed Welch and Andrew Stead.
Also in attendance: Cliff Towner, Greg Mesiter, Betsy McGrath, Hank Langsthroth, Linda Rosen, Michael Gelbwasser, Melissa Wolfert, Timothy Traut-Savino, Katrena Traut-Savino, Susan Olsen, Lindsay Drisko, David Oberlander, Joel Fishman, Robert Pac, Kamaljeut Singh, Frank Gallagher, Jim Andrews
Meeting Minutes of May 21 Amended as follows:
class=Section2>
- Approval of meeting minutes of May 21, 2012
Comment on second page regarding animal permit hearing. Should add sentence stating that Andrew Stead recused himself from discussion and did not participate in discussion on application for animal permit.
105 Beach Street variance hearing, 3rd paragraph - there was a typo - wit should be changed to with.
In the next paragraph sentence beginning with requested by board member.... fix typo
On page 3, Lot 19 and 20 Bella Road Variance., Vote should read 4 Not in favor, 1 abstention (Schwab)
Peck moves minutes accepted as amended. Stead seconded. VOTE: All in favor.
Minutes of the meeting of April 23, 2012
VOTED: (Peck/Rosen) unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 23, 2012,
APPOINTMENTS:
Conservation Commission re: Water quality issues at Memorial Park Beach
Greg Meister, Cliff Towner, Betsy McGrath, Hank Langsthroth
[Comment2]Discussion brought in front of Board of Health (BOH) to ask for BOH to support the Conservation Committees (ConCom) Notice of Intent (NOI) sent to the Board of Selectman (BOS) regarding change of policy at Veterans Memorial Park and the health issues surrounding the beach. BOH was thanked for their support of Article 3 to ban dogs at beach at recent Town Meeting.
Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2012
Page 2
Discussion ensued with the following questions being raised:
*How often high E-Coli results, at what beach were these high counts?
*Why do most other towns in Massachusetts with fresh water lakes have dog bans (totally or for the summer bathing season)?
*Why should beach goers be subjected to feces in the sand or on the paths?
*Is current regulation that difficult to understand?
*Who currently enforces? Who will enforce additional regulations?
(Rules and Regulations of the Sharon Board of Health) Article #28 - Pets Banned from Town of Sharon Public Bathing Beaches was presented for discussion and approval. This was not on the agenda and several BOH members asked for this to be an agenda item at next meeting so they would have time to read and better understand, as well as to allow public input.
MOTION: (Peck/Stead) Defer discussion of proposed Article #28 to next scheduled meeting date of Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 7.30PM, Town Office Building, Lower Level to give proper public notice.
VOTED: In favor or postponing discussion to next meeting (Welch, Stead, Peck). Opposed postponing of meeting: (Schwab/Rosen)
It was also decided to defer and continue discussion item(s): Lake testing and Selectmen’s proposal at Town Meeting to study the sources of bacterial contamination in the lake until next Tuesday, May 29th
class=Section4>
Animal Permit Hearing: Melissa Wolfert - 34 Morse Street
Applicant would like to have chickens. According to the applicant, Ed Little (animal inspector - he was not present for this meeting) felt the proposed proposal is in full compliance. Abutters have been notified. .Questions regarding setback from residential property were raised. Is garage considered part of residential property? Is chicken coop far enough away? Two abutters present. Both were in agreement in that they support their neighbor having chickens. It was decided that if applicant moved the chicken coop and plan was acceptable to Ed Little then it would be acceptable to the Board.
VOTED: Pending action by the animal inspector, Ed Little, that applicant has met property setbacks and new drawing of proposed chicken coop has been provided, application for chickens has been granted. Vote was unanimous.
Variance Hearing - 105 Beach Street
David Oberlander, DBO Enginnering
Richard Lindsay Drisco & Susan Olson, Property Owners
Variance granted in 2005, requesting pretty much same thing for same system. Former owner never acted upon. New owner would like to move forward. House is in need of repairs. Would like to knock down and rebuild. Former owner never actually lived there, had a tenant for many years. Variance granted in 2005 for 3 bedroom house. Former owner provided evidence of use as 3 bedroom. Failed septic system prompted former owner to come before the board in 2005. How long are variances good for? Need to address allowable time for granted variances
Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2012
Page 3
and work to be performed in association with. Variance was given in good faith, unfortunately, homeowner never proceeded or acted upon. Board in consensus that variance previously granted for a 3br home should remain the same and be reactivated for new homeowners.
Difference in variance request from 2005 to now: Wetlands line has been drawn closer to the home. Previously 44 feet, currently at 25 feet. Asking for 25 foot setback from property line. Footplan of home has changed slightly. Have worked with building inspector. Home is now closer to leaching field by approximately 5 feet. Have discussed this issue with conservation agent as well as building inspector, and both have mentioned that should not be a problem with them.
Request by board member to discuss 2.5 feet v 3.5ft of mounding system. Not exactly comfortable with, however, mound is already at 5 feet.
VOTED:( Rosen/Peck) To approve request for variance as submitted. As required by the BOH, all of the same conditions of the 2005 variance will apply. Variance is as follows: to grant variances as requested in the letter from BDO Engineering dated April 17, 2012 and as shown on the revised plan of April 17, 2012 for a 3 bedroom Singulair system for the property located at 105 Beach Street. There will be a deed restriction that the home remain a 3 bedroom home; standard conditions to apply: water conservation devices, including low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads; signed O&M agreement to be provided to the BOH, with the following testing requirements: BOD; TSS; PH; TKN, Ammonia, and Nitrites. System must remain under maintenance agreement, with pumping in accordance wit the manufacturers’ requirements and annual report to the BOH. No mercury switches. In addition, the Board shall be given opportunity to review plans for any reconstruction to ascertain compliance with the 3 bedroom restriction.
Variance is issued with permits and is valid for 12 months. Variance may be extended if applicant applies before permit expires.
AMENDED: (Rosen/Peck) Added stipulation that house can not be occupied until the septic system is upgraded and proof provided to the Department of Health. Vote is unanimous.
Variance Hearing - Lots 19 & 20 Bella Road
Frank Gallagher Engineering
Request is for a variance of the setback requirements of 20 feet to lot line per Board of Health Article #7, to 10 feet to lot line which meets States Title V.
Originally part of 51 unit subdivision for a 55+ housing complex, these 2 lots, along with another parcel, were sold off to another developer and require their own septic systems. Project is considered new construction.
Since Lot 19 & 20 Bella road asking for same variance, and owned by same owner, have combined variance request.
Builder can build homes on both lots but would like to build “like” homes to fit into the development and therefore, to do so would need a variance.
Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2012
Page 4
VOTED: (Peck/Rosen) Board moves to deny request for variance(s) for Lot 19 & Lot 20 Bella Road. It has been determined by the Board that there is no manifest injustice to the project and the variance does not meet existing Article #7 requirement. 5 voted No, Schwab abstained. Decision to grant variance DENIED.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Full time Nurse at Camp Wonderland.
Mr. Schwab spoke with Linda Beadle, Nurse consultant for the camp. Camp is moving forward to comply with Boards request for a full time nurse on premises.
Lake testing discussion has been deferred to next meeting.
Process for application for Health Administrator Position.
Approximately 44 resumes have been received via email to date. Approximately 3 have been received via postal mail. Chair has not reviewed any of the resumes. She has been collecting and will distribute all resumes received to all BOH members on Saturday, May 26th.
Upon retirement notice of Linda Rosen, Chair consulted with Town Administrator Ben Puritz on what the correct procedures were to move forward with hiring a new Health Administrator if job description were to change. Advised to speak with various Town personnel and BOS on their thoughts of what Health Administrator position should be, hold public meetings on crafting the new job description, then present to the Personnel Board for ranking of position and salary range.
Upon ranking of Health Administrator position, it was brought to the Personnel Boards attention that due to nature of the position of Health Administrator, the job description should have been presented to the Managers Association as the salary for this position is subject to and negotiated through collective bargaining. Personnel Board then rescinded ranking back to original MP-1 ranking. BOH will now meet with BOS to request a meeting with representatives of the Managers Association to discuss the job description of the Health Administrator.
Due to the change of the ranking of the Health Administrator position, notices should go out to all applicants informing them of the change in rating of the position, but no change in the job description.
VOTED: (Rosen/Peck) As previously approved by the Personnel Board, the current job description is the one in which the BOH would like to move forward with and would respectfully like to meet with the Managers Association. A letter will be sent to the BOS requesting a meeting with Managers Association. Vote is unanimous.
Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2012
Page 5
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mick Morgans - Ask Bridget to check if Mick Morgans has water. If not, then need to close down. Call Walpole water department to see if bill has been paid. If not, then phone Bridget.
Meeting was adjourned at 9.54pm
Minutes prepared by Linda Callan
Health Department Administrative Assistant