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, August 21, 2013
Chilmark Town Hall
5:00 pm
Present: Katie Carroll, Matt Poole, Jan Buhrman
Also Present: Reid Silva (Vineyard Land Surveying & Engineering), Chris Alley (Schofield, Barbini &Hoehn), Louis Cossutta, Matthew Flanders
Minutes of August 14, 2013 adopted.
The Board noted that the posted agenda for tonight’s meeting was highly ambiguous as to the timing of the public hearings: the Agenda stated that the Board’s meeting would start at 6pm, but the hearings were indicated to start at 5:15 and 5:30pm, respectively. Apparently, the Town Hall front desk had received inquiries regarding the starting
time of tonight’s meeting and had advised that the meeting would start at 6pm. Therefore, the Board decided to delay the public hearings to ensure that all possible interested parties could properly participate.
Temporary Food Event Permit: Marina Lent reported on work in progress to permit a Temporary Food Event sponsored by Outstanding in the Field and catered by the State Road Restaurant of West Tisbury at the Tea Lane Farm on September 2, 2013. The Board noted that it is unlikely that State Road will be able to cater this event, due to recently-discovered zoning violations.
Banta, 11 South Abel’s Hill Road (24-229) Reid Silva came to the Board to request an emergency septic system repair permit. The system had experienced a sewage backup. In the process of addressing this, a decrepit metal tank was discovered, serving a bathroom and kitchen sink. As a temporary emergency repair, they were able to tie in to an existing cesspool. As the system fully fulfills failure criteria, the owners are now seeking an upgrade. Because the system doesn’t serve a year-round residence, and the area is likely to have perched water tables, the Board felt that an out-of-season perc test is not warranted. The upgrade will have to be completed prior to the 2014 summer season. Reid Silva will write a letter to the owner, informing them of the
Board’s directives.
Preston, 9 Sheep Pen Lane, (33-53) Reid Silva requested permission to conduct an out-of-season soil evaluation at the property, which has a main and guesthouse currently served by a cesspools, probably in groundwater. The owner is eager to sell the property and wishes to carry out a septic upgrade prior to sale. There is a wetland on the property. The Board approved the out-of-season perc, with a monitoring pipe to observe high water in-season.
6:15 Public Hearing
Richardson, 21 East Lane (32-67) The Board opened a public hearing to review a septic system upgrade application presented by Reid Silva. The proposed plan serves the existing five bedrooms and requires the following variances: Leaching facility to leaching facility 300’ 126’; Leaching facility to locus well 200’ 122’. Reid Siva received a call from abutters Oaks, inquiring whether the house was to be expanded. Marina Lent reported receiving a telephone inquiry from abutter Lance Robb, at 14 East Lane (32-65). After discussing the proposed separations, the abutter had no further concerns.
Well and wetlands create constraints on the property. The original system had been permitted for three bedrooms, but the house had been permitted for five bedrooms. The Board inquired how many functioning wells were currently on the property, and whether wells that had been ordered to be decommissioned actually have been. Reid will check on the status of the property’s wells. The Board will require a letter acknowledging a variance to locus well separation from the leaching field.
A geomembrane on the system will prevent breakout. High groundwater requires a shallow system. A geogrid will prevent the shallow system from being pushed into the ground. The Board approved the proposed system upgrade
Flanders, Flanders Lane (26-31.2) Owner Matt Flanders and Chris Alley came to the Board to request permission to conduct an out-of-season soil evaluation, which will include the placement of observation pipes to enable direct measurement of the high-season water table. The Board approved the out-of-season perc test with the notation that, if the soils are straightforward, an observation pipe will suffice for the system plan, but if soils appear complex, addition in-season percs may be required.
Schiller Partners, Inc., 281 South Road (24-163.3) Chris Alley presented a septic system construction permit application for a proposed eight-bedroom system to serve a proposed five-bedroom dwelling, a detached bedroom, and two possible future bedrooms on a 4.36 acre lot. The proposed system does not require variances. The Board approved the proposed plan, contingent on receipt of clarification of requirements for the proposed geothermal wells. Chris Alley noted that John Clarke of Island Water Source will file well permit application, and the Board asked Marina Lent to determine requirements for the permitting of geothermal wells.
17:30 Public Hearing:
Plasse, 33 Ebans Lane (13-23) The Board opened a public hearing on a septic system construction permit application for a proposed 0.55 acre Youth Lot with the following variances: leaching property line 10’ proposed, 30’ required; well to property line: 2’ proposed, 30’ required. Chris Alley also presented an alternative proposal that would obviate the need for variances by switching to a pump system. The soils on the property are uncomplicated. The Board indicated that approval of a system for a non-conforming Youth lot that does not require variances is more likely to be approved. Chris Alley withdrew the gravity-fed proposal which required variances. The Board approved the septic system construction application.
Wall/Sterling, 8 Sheep Pen Lane, (33-92) Marina Lent reported in follow-up regarding a contaminated drinking water well at the property, which is seasonally rented. According to John Clarke of Island Water Source, the well is shallow and located close to a pond; it is also very short, and extends a mere few inches above the surface of the soil. It is therefore highly prone to contamination by surface water. Bacterial samples taken following the chlorination of the well eliminated E coli, but not entirely eliminate Total Coliform. He has since installed a UV filter and sediment filter. The Board felt that this represents at best a temporary solution, and asked Marina Lent to follow up to indicate the Board’s preference that a replacement well be constructed.
SDS LLC, 11 Round Pond Road (35-1.4) The monthly report on the irrigation well at the Schuman property submitted by John Clarke shows that a total of 140,450 gallons were used from July 15 to August 14 . Marina Lent will ask John Clarke to provide salinity test results.
Eliasberg, 11 Tanglevine Road (25-100) Marina Lent reported that a bedroom count at the property shows that there are five bedrooms, although the septic system is only permitted for four bedrooms. Marina Lent will write a letter indicating that this situation must be brought to the attention of prospective buyers of the property.
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Marina Lent reported that there have been a number of cases of Vibrio p on Martha’s Vineyard this summer, including 3 involving Chilmark food establishments. Overall, case rates in Massachusetts have soared this summer, presumably due to heat waves which enable the bacterium, which is common in temperate estuarine waters, to rapidly multiply. Additional precautions to control the temperature of oysters harvested for raw consumption will be required in future in order to control the pathogen.
Feinberg, 10 Allen Farm Road (25-20.11) An as-built letter and plan was received, and the Certificate of Compliance issued for the septic system.
Parkhurst, 38 Post Oak Road (11-28.9) Title 5 Official Inspection Report –passes, maintenance pumping is recommended in the near future. Marina Lent will write a letter to the owner and/or realtor pointing out the need for a pumpout.
The meeting adjourned at 19:10 hours.
_______________________ _______________________ _______________________
Katherine L. Carroll, Chair Matthew Poole 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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