C h i l m a r k B o a r d o f H e a l t h
M i n u t e s
Wednesday, September 30th 2009
Chilmark Town Hall
5pm
Present: Katie Carroll (Chair), Mike Renahan, Jan Buhrman, Marina Lent (Secretary)
Also Present: John Clarke (Island Water Source), George Sourati (Sourati Engineering), Chris Alley (Schofield, Barbini & Hoehn), Reid Silva (Vineyard Land Surveying ), Debbie Hancock (Hancock Real Estate), James Weisman (Terrain Architects)
Minutes of August 19 and September 2, 2009 were adopted as written.
Poole (27.1-123) Mike Renahan informed the Board of the determination made during a site visit that he and Marina Lent had made. He noted that the house, which is 100 years old, was clearly intended as a three-bedroom house, and is set up that way today. A letter stating the finding of the Board, that the house has three (3) bedrooms, was handed to Debbie Hancock.
Startzell (27.1-33) George Sourati reported on an out-of-season test hole witnessed by Marina Lent at the property on Larsen Lane. The hole was dug to a depth of 10’2”, and soil was medium sand throughout, very even, red, and very clean. This will allow for >5’ separation to groundwater. George Sourati presented a plan to relocate the septic tank. Mike Renahan pointed out that this relocation would require multiple bends in the distribution system. George Sourati replied that the resulting system was up to code.
Mike Renahan also felt that the well should be abandoned. Katie Carroll asked why such extraordinary measures were being contemplated to preserve the existing leaching trench. George Sourati replied that the location of the existing trench was the only possible location on the very restricted space available.
The Board approved the plan under the following conditions:
- The existing well is to be abandoned;
- The trench must be covered during construction to protect it from damage.
Marina Lent was asked to draft a letter to this effect to George Sourati and Stanley Startzell.
Nab’s Corner John Clarke presented four well permit applications and the accompanying plans to demonstrate that there are four viable site on the property; this is required in order for the land transaction to be completed. The wells are to be staked by Reid Silva. The Board approved the well permit applications.
Klemperer (25-85) A well completion report was received by the BOH; an initial positive total coliform test from the sink on August 28 was followed by a subsequent clean water sample from the wellhead on September 14 2009.
Steiner(20-24) Chris Alley presented a revised disposal system construction plan: the tank will be moved to make way for a swimming pool.
Scheuer (33-4.6) The Board approved a well permit application for the property. The well permit application had originally been filed in August 2008, but implementation was delayed; the well in on previously unbuilt land.
Freedman (25-17) Reid Silva and architect James Wiseman came before the Board to discuss options under consideration for the house at 16 Tilton Cove Road. There is an existing well, septic tank and leaching pit. The owner is considering options for expansion of the house, but it is not yet decided whether the expansion will involve an increase in the number of bedrooms. Nor is it clear whether the existing house will be incorporated or replaced in the new design.
It was noted that there is wetland on either side of the road, and that the existing septic system is located where an expanded house would end up being: options for expansion do not allow for vertical expansion, so any additional living space will perforce be horizontal.
Mike Renahan noted that another resident of the immediate area had been required to put in a nitrogen-reducing system, and that this seemed reasonable for any proposed expansion of capacity, given the environmental sensitivity of the area.
Jan Buhrman suggested that a composting toilet and greywater system would be very desirable, and that the existing cesspool could be used for the greywater.
The Board approved a well permit application which had been previously approved in July, but is now being transferred to Island Water Source.
Grin Acres (21-10,13,14) The Board approved a well permit application, with the stipulation that the existing well must be properly abandoned.
Milch (18-63) The Board approved the well permit application with the stipulation that the existing well is to be abandoned if the proposed well proves functional.
Shalhope (26-48) The current well for the property is extremely close to a pond—so close, in fact, that there is a likelihood that pond water intrudes into the well during high water season. The owners would therefore like to try to drill a well further away from the pond, close to the road. The Board approved the well permit application, and granted a variance from 30’ to 20’ separation from the property line (the land borders on North Road), with the condition that the existing well be properly abandoned.
Trash Discussion at Living Local Day The Board noted with interest the forum on waste disposal issues planned for Living Local Day on Saturday, October 3rd. Unfortunately, none of the Board members will be able to attend the discussion to be led by Chilmark Selectman Warren Doty. The Board asked Marina Lent to contact Warren Doty to inform him that the BOH is keenly interested in being kept abreast of developments regarding waste disposal on Martha’s Vineyard, and would welcome initiatives to reduce the amount of waste shipped off-Island.
Employee Measures for Flu Pandemic Marina Lent presented draft measures to guide the Town’s response to the current H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic, which will be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration.
Menemsha Bath House Water Use The Board reviewed data collected over the past weeks by the staff of the Menemsha Texaco. The Board asked Marina Lent to review the history with Kent Healy and write a report to the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Board of Selectmen detailing the issue and pointing out that continued intensive use of the Bath House water/sewage disposal system on the scale noted this past summer briefly caused the system to back up this past August, and will require system expansion or replacement, and that further water-sparing measures, such as water-free urinals, should be considered.
Chilmark School e-coli finding The Board requested further information on what had transpired with the Public Water System servicing the Chilmark School, and noted that a series of negative samples have enabled resumed water use. The Board asked Marina Lent to speak to PWS Operator Alan Wilder to determine what caused the positive reading, and whether any further remedial actions are advised to prevent a recurrence.
Mike Goldsmith’s recommendation for BOH well regulations BOH counsel Michael Goldsmith had recommended that the Board “consider an amendment to its regulations so that it is clear that, absent a waiver, every lot needs to establish a water source within its four corners or from an approved shared source BEFORE a septic permit (new or upgrade) is issued…” Mike Renahan noted that very many properties in Chilmark do not have a well within their lot lines, and that such a regulation may not work for the Town. The meeting adjourned at 6:40pm.
_______________________ _______________________ _______________________
Katherine L. Carroll, Chair Michael A. Renahan Janet L. Buhrman
Chilmark Board of Health Chilmark Board of Health Chilmark Board of Health
A recording of this meeting is on file at the Board of Health office and available for on-site review.
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