Town of Concord
Board of Health
Minutes from the Meeting
Tuesday, June 15, 2008
PRESENT: Ann M. Snow, Chairperson
David J. Burgess
John H. Henderson
Dr. Susanna Bedell
Brent L. Reagor, Public Health Administrator
Karen M. Byrne, Administrative Assistant
OTHERS: Judith Quanrud, FINCOM; Alan Cathcart, Water & Sewer; Marcia Rasmussen, Director Planning & Land Management; Dan Sack, Concord Municipal Light; Michael Webster, Geo Insight; Meghan Gavagan, BU School of Public Health Intern
1. MINUTES & BOARD CALENDAR
The Board reviewed and discussed the minutes from Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Jack Henderson moved to accept the minutes as submitted. David Burgess seconded it. All VOTED in favor.
The Board reviewed the calendar for July 2008. After a discussion, the Board agreed to change the July meeting to the 22nd to accommodate vacation schedules. The Board will discuss whether an August meeting is necessary at that meeting.
2. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT & REPORTS FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS
There were none.
3. REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR
The Public Health Administrator (PHA) presented the Board with his monthly update outlining the activities undertaken by the Health Department since the last meeting.
Funding and Budgets
The PHA advised the Board that the Health Division had been working hard this past month to utilize the budget surplus in fiscal year 2008 to further develop its capacity to respond to public health emergencies. Purchases include a new vehicle for the department (Pontiac Vibe), additional two-way radios, safety equipment for staff, vests, hard hats and goggles, gloves, and Medical Reserve Corps supplies.
Nashawtuc Golf Classic
The Health Division inspectors have been working closely with Prom Catering and the management of the Golf Classic to insure that all of their food service events and facilities will be operating in full compliance with applicable state and local regulations. This year, they expanded the operations to include celebrity chef demonstrations and these areas will also be inspected by the Health Division. He noted that Gabrielle White, Stan Sosnicki, and the PHA will be onsite during the staggered startup of all food operations.
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
The PHA informed the Board that he represented all of the local public health officials in the State at a Joint Summit hosted by the Commissioners of DEP and DPH discussing pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and by-products in the environment. He advised the Board that the primary purpose of the gathering was to develop a comprehensive statewide approach for the detection, treatment, source control, and public education of these compounds and their affects on humans and the environment. A follow up meeting will be scheduled in the fall.
Intern Projects
Mr. Reagor introduced Meghan Gavaghan, one of our interns from the BU School of Public Health who is working in conjunction with the Council on Aging to obtain a grant and develop a healthy eating and active living program (HEAL – Healthy Eating, Active Living) in the Town of Concord. She has also met with the Recreation Department in hopes to incorporate some of their established programs into this effort (for example, creating a walking club).
Ms. Gavaghan outlined the program stating that there would be a series of classes detailing topics such as creating a healthy green home, shopping organic in Concord; learning how to properly read a food label; healthy shopping for healthy shopping with a field trip to Crosby’s Supermarket. She noted that her hope was that either before or after each class, some type of health screening would be available at that time. For example, following the “Walking the Streets of Concord Class”, there would be nurses available to take blood pressure and pulses and to teach people how to utilize that information.
Board members were very encouraged by this public health initiative and congratulated both Ms. Gavaghan and Mr. Reagor for their efforts.
4. PUBLIC HEARING – MOBILE POULTRY PROCESSING UNIT
At the last meeting, the Board heard a request from Jen Hashley and Peter Lowy, owners of Pete & Jen’s Backyard Birds located at Verrill Farm regarding the temporary citing of a mobile chicken slaughtering unit. Mr. Reagor explained that one of the requirements for permitting by the Department of Public Health Food Protection Program is that the owner of the business (occupant) where the unit is located receives written approval from the local Board of Health in accordance with MGL, Ch. 111, Section 115.
The PHA informed the Board that he, Stanley Sosnicki, and Gabrielle White attended a meeting held in conjunction with MDPH, the Department of Agriculture, DEP and the FDA where the parties involved reviewed the process, exchanged information and reviewed the process via video. They also inspected the unit which was set up at Verrill Farm.
Following a brief discussion, Jack Henderson moved that the Board approve the operation of the Mobile Poultry Processing Unit with the following conditions:
1) The unit, to be provided by the New England Small Farm Institute, is to be set up at a site to be approved by the Concord Health Division.
2) After the unit is set up for the first processing event, but prior to commencement of operation, the Concord Health Division shall inspect the unit.
3) The unit shall only process chickens raised and owned by Peter and Jen’s Backyard Birds, 159 Wheeler Road, Concord.
4) The sale of all chickens processed shall be in full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
5) At any time, should the Massachusetts Department of Public Health revoke or not issue a meat and poultry license to Pete & Jen’s Backyard Birds, this approval shall be null and void.
6) The kitchen facilities used to package the processed chickens shall be inspected by the Concord Health Division.
David Burgess seconded the motion. All VOTED in favor.
5. Discussion/Presentation
WR Grace, Acton, MA (Summary & Status), Superfund Site, Acton, MA
Mr. Reagor introduced Michael Webster from Geo Insight who is conducting a comprehensive review of the former WR Grace site in Acton and Concord. He explained that the Town of Concord received a Brownfields Grant from DEP to use for consulting services to look at the potential environmental and public health risks associated with the WR Grace site that may affect Concord.
Mr. Webster and his team provided the Board with a power point presentation covering the following:
· Technical and regulatory review of hazardous waste remediation activities related to the W.R. Grace site.
· Summarize major cleanup activities completed to date;
· Evaluate cleanup activities that will occur in the future; and
· Communicate and provide information to assist the Town in promoting awareness of the WR Grace site.
Board members thanked Mr. Webster and his associates, Joel Trifilo and Jarrod Yoder for the information and looked forward with dealing with them in the future. Mr. Reagor said that the information provided tonight would allow the Town of Concord to come up with the “next set of questions” to see where it could go from here in utilizing that land.
6. Septic Betterment Loan Program
Karen Byrne updated the Board on the status of the Water Pollution Abatement Trust Program (WPAT) (also known as the Septic Betterment Program).
In April 2005, she explained that Town Meeting authorized the borrowing of one million dollars for the purpose of being loaned out to assist homeowners to replace their failing septic systems. Septic Betterment Loans of up to $20,000 have been available to Concord residents at a 2% interest rate to be paid back over 10 years since that time. She noted that to date, the Health Department had processed (and/or committed) $848, 704.89 dollars of the original one million; leaving a balance of $151,295.11.
During previous discussions, she said that it was thought that this account had been set up as a revolving account and that if a loan had been “repaid”, then the Town could “re-loan” the funds as long as the repayment for individual homeowner loans did not extend beyond the time the Town needed to repay the money borrowed.
She spoke to the Town Accountant and confirmed that this was not the case. Once the funds have been committed they are not available to be re-loaned. In order to continue this program, the Board of Health would have to go back to Town Meeting for approval to borrow additional funds. As it stands, she said that the Health Department could process 7 more loans at the $20,000 maximum, plus a smaller $11,000 for a smaller loan. Then, the program will have to put on hold until after Town Meeting approval.
Ms. Byrne said that she and the Public Health Administrator both agree that this program has been very successful and helpful to Concord homeowners. If the Board agreed, she suggested that she and Mr. Reagor verify what steps need to be taken to move forward with bringing the issue back to Town Meeting in April 2009 or earlier and come back to the Board for an official vote at a later date.
Following a brief discussion, the consensus of the Board was that the Health Division moves forward so that a warrant article could be brought to Town Meeting in April. Jack Henderson asked if it was possible to approve loans retroactively so that residents who are in need of the funds when the money “runs out” could still benefit from betterment program. It said it didn’t seem fair to penalize people, particularly if the funds are available from the State.
Mr. Reagor said that he and Karen would be reviewing the program and then discussing the possible options with the Finance Department. Although the program itself has been very successful, he said there are a few areas where it could be tweaked and that he and Ms. Byrne would bring those items back to the Board.
Preliminary Approval for Betterment Liens
Karen Byrne processed a loan application for the following property in June. Stanley Sosnicki, Environmental Health Inspector reviewed the Title V inspection report and confirmed that the system was in failure:
· 142 Chestnut Street ($20,000) – Haas
David Burgess moved that the Board VOTE to find the onsite sewage disposal systems on the above noted property to be a public health nuisance per MGL, Ch 111, s., 127B ½ and to authorize the initial betterment lien assessment not to exceed $20,000 to be filed at the Registry of Deeds. Jack Henderson seconded it. All VOTED in favor.
Final Betterment Lien Assessments
The onsite sewage disposal systems for the following properties have been completed and all invoices processed by the Health Division:
· 61 Black Duck Road ($20,000) – Bercel
· 1409 Monument Street ($20,000) – Lesneski
Jack Henderson moved that the Board issue the Order to Assess the Betterment for the above listed properties. Such order shall be forwarded to the Town Collector. David Burgess seconded it. All VOTED in favor.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.
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