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, November 17, 2010
Chilmark Town Hall
5:00 pm
Present: Katie Carroll, Mike Renahan,
Absent: Jan Buhrman
Also Present: Marina Lent (Administrator, BOH), Kent Healy (PE), Reid Silva (Vineyard Land Surveying and Engineering), Elise Elliston (Town Affairs Council)
Minutes of October 20th and November 3rd 2010 approved.
Chilmark Community Center Art Shack renovation Elise Elliston presented her proposal, prepared at the request of the Town Affairs Council, for renovation of the Chilmark Community Center Art Shack, including installation of a cold-water sink inside (instead of the existing external pipe/drinking water fountain located on the outside wall of the shack). She emphasized that this sink will be for handwashing and paintbrush washing only, and will not be made accessible for warewashing or other kitchen-related activities. The Board noted that all art supplies used in the art shack are non-toxic, since the shack is part of the summer camp for children, and therefore would pose minimal pollution hazards. Kent Healy suggested a small greywater system for the sink, with water to be taken up into
planters alongside the shed. This would obviate the need for constructing a new tie-in to the sewage disposal leaching system. The Board agreed that this would be a good solution, especially as the art shack is only used in the summer.
Flanders, 26 Harbor Hill Road (27.1-107) Kent Healy presented a sewage treatment and disposal system construction permit application for a septic system upgrade. The current system pumps leachate from the two Keene shacks on the adjacent property to a leaching pit on Lorna Flander’s land. Katie Carroll inquired as to the legal status of the easement for Keene shacks’ disposal. The Board noted that there are no drinking water wells in the area, since all properties are now connected to the Menemsha Water Company. The proposal will require a public hearing, however, and the Board agreed to hold the hearing on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010.
Elbow, 55 Hammet Lane (8-38) Kent Healy presented a renewal of the sewage treatment and disposal system construction permit approved in 2004. The Board approved the application.
Mackey, 40 Shadbush Hollow (11-6) Kent Healy inquired as to whether a new soil evaluation would be required for construction of septic system expansion into the approved reserve area of the 1986 system. He noted that the property owner was using more water than the current system could comfortably handle. The Board noted that the existing soil evaluation is still valid, but stressed the importance of Kent Healy’s soil observations at the site during construction. Kent Healy confirmed that he will be present prior to installation of the components, and will present a permit to the Board for its approval.
Tight Tank Oversight On the basis of her consultations with Kent Healy, Marina Lent proposed to the Board that, instead of adding to existing Title 5 regulations on the operation and maintenance of tight tanks, the Board could instead review the existing tanks to determine which ones are in particularly sensitive locations meriting special attention. Mike Renahan cautioned that Marina Lent is not to undertake actual tank inspections, but will review location and surroundings of the tanks only. The Board confirmed that its regulations, as drafted, fully incorporate Title 5.
Bradley, 1 Oak Grove, (13-43.6) The Board reviewed the floor plan for the Middle Line Road homesite of Matthew Bradley. The Board affirmed that, so long as the proposed building is within the indicated building envelope, it is in compliance with the approved sewage treatment and disposal system plan.
Grin Acres, 15 Nickerson Farm Lane (21-10,13,14) Reid Silva spoke to the Board about the installation by DeSorcy Company, Inc. of the approved sewage treatment and disposal system plan for this property. He noted that separations had been hard to meet at this property. Consequently, the building envelope is congruent with the footprint of the leaching system.
He had not been notified prior to placement of components or covering of the system. Apparently, the system was built in a location other than that indicated on the plan and approved by the Board. The location of the system as installed no longer meets the required separations. Therefore, he is not able to conduct the final inspection and issue an “as-built” letter.
The Board noted that neither the DeSorcy Company, nor Tony Rebello, who did the work, is a licensed installer with Chilmark in 2010. The Board felt that this matter should be discussed by a full Board in order to determine how to proceed.
Grin Acres, 15 Nickerson Farm Lane (21-10,13,14) The Board approved the well permit application for a replacement well on this property, as discussed with John Clarke at its November 2nd meeting.
Grin Acres, 15 Nickerson Farm Lane (21-10,13,14) The Board held off consideration of a well permit application for geothermal injection wells until such time as the sewage disposal system placement and installation issue discussed above has been resolved.
Mayhew, 15 Clam Point Cove Road (33-93) The Board considered whether a hearing will be required in order to consider a proposed sewage treatment and disposal upgrade prepared by Reid Silva. The Board noted that documentation from the existing septic system is missing from the file, and is probably contained in another file. Marina Lent will attempt to locate the missing paperwork. The Board determined that no Title 5 variances are requested, and that therefore, a public hearing will not be required.
Haskell, 15 Stonewall Road, (32-54) Title 5 inspection report: main and guest house systems pass
CCC total coliform positive, 11/9/2010 Marina Lent reported on negative total coliform results for repeat samples taken since the repairs to the public water system well at the Chilmark Community Center were made. She also reported on observations by David Schwoch of Island Water Systems that the distribution system is unnecessarily complex due to incremental additions and changes over the years; numerous small pipes, closed off and abandoned many years ago, provide pockets of “dead space” in the system where water circulation is minimal and where bacteria can collect and multiply. The Board asked Marina Lent to write a letter to the Board of Selectmen outlining the problem and suggesting that it be corrected before commencement of the 2011 summer season.
Water quality testing for streams into Chilmark Pond. Marina Lent proposed that the Board consider testing the stream adjacent to the Allen Farm’s pigsty, which was mentioned by Mike Renahan at a previous meeting as a possible source of bacterial contamination of the Chilmark Pond. She proposed testing upstream and downstream of the pigs, both immediately following heavy rain and during a dry spell, and noted that the bacterial testing available to the Board will not enable us to distinguish porcine from avian intestinal bacteria. The Board approved the proposal, and noted that Mitch Posin and Clarissa Allen will likely be glad to accommodate this request from the Board of Health.
Invoices: The following invoices were approved for payment/reimbursement:
- VNA October 2010 $748
- Food Inspection study guides: $156.20 plus shipping
- Barnstable County Health Lab 2x e coli, 2x total coliform $24
- Cape & Islands Air Freight (water testing in Barnstable) $12.50
- Wampanoag Environmental Lab, CCC water testing $180
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
_______________________ _______________________ _______________________
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.
| 
