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, February 16, 2010
Chilmark Town Hall
5:00 pm
Present: Katie Carroll, Mike Renahan, Jan Buhrman
Also Present: Marina Lent, Chris Alley (Schofield, Barbini & Hoehn)
Minutes of February 9, 2011 adopted.
Zoia, 18 Point Inner Way (33-114).Chris Alley presented a plan showing the FAST tank moved downgrade of the basement of the proposed building, in order to enable a gravity feed from the building to the FAST tank. Approved separations for the system are not affected by this change. The Board agreed to the revision.
Clivus Composting Toilets at the Beaches: Jan Buhrman stated that the Board does not have sufficient information on the Beach Committee’s proposal to install composting toilets at Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket beaches to approve the proposal; nor does the Beach Committee require Board of Health approval to put this proposal to Town Meeting. The Board remains willing to review a detailed proposal when one is presented to it.
Chilmark Community Center Public Water System: The Board has sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen and Library Trustees regarding recent total coliform positive drinking water samples from the CCC/Library well. While the coliform found in the water is not an immediate threat to public health, it indicates that there is a breach or source of coliform in the system that could potentially lead to a health issue with the drinking water. The well was chlorinated on Monday, February 14th, flushed clean and placed back into service on February 16th.
The Board’s letter also delineates those tasks that can be performed by the Board of Health employee, who is the Drinking Water Operator for the system, and lists tasks that need to be performed by others. It is intended to alert the responsible parties to decisions and actions that will need to be taken in the near future to address these questions.
Marina Lent described her meeting of 2/15/2011 with DEP officials regarding the total coliform positive water samples at the CCC/Library well. Among other measures, the DEP recommends that the town carry out a formal cross-connection survey and leak detection survey, rule out any cross-connection to defunct wells at the Community Center, and install a concrete apron around the wellhead to protect the aquifer from surface water drainage around the well casing.
Katie Carroll stated that she will take this matter up with the Selectmen immediately.
Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder Jan Buhrman reported on a recent public event addressing problems experience by bee colonies in the United States and worldwide in recent years. She reported that Island beekeepers have not seen the Colony Collapse Disorder on Martha’s Vineyard. It was felt by many at the meeting that the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides by industrial-scale agriculture, combined with the unnatural beekeeping practices where truckloads of beehives are transported from field to field and kept working year-round, has probably led to the colony collapse.
She suggested that the use of pesticides and herbicides on the Island should be scrutinized to ensure that our bee population is not subjected to chemical stresses. She noted that such vigilance, for example, by working with landscaping companies, could be a valuable contribution by Boards of Health on Martha’s Vineyard and urged to the Board to begin looking into this important matter.
The meeting adjourned at 18:00 hours.
_______________________ _______________________ _______________________
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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