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, October 1, 2014
Chilmark Town Hall
5:00 pm
Present: Katie Carroll, Jan Buhrman, Matt Poole
Also Present: John Early, Shakti Reynolds, Reid Silva
Crisis Stabilization Center Jan Buhrman updated the Board on exciting new developments in community efforts, led by Community Services, to develop a Crisis Stabilization Center that could potentially enable a number of patients experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis to remain on the Island to receive supportive care and services. She reported that the Hospital has provided the “Red House” on the MVH campus, which currently houses hospital administration services, to serve as a crisis stabilization center with two beds. She described how the lack of crisis stabilitzation services leads to a dramatically high rate of off-Island hospitalization out of our Emergency Room—this is not in the patient’s best interest, and is a glaring gap in service.
The Crisis Stabilization Center will not undertake medical stabilization or detox, which will be addressed in a hospital setting. But for medically stable patients in crisis, the center will provide time in a safe and controlled environment to work out an on-Island solution that will support the patient’s recovery going forward. A Community Services-led committee has worked with State officials to address the complex and challenging regulatory requirements that make a center with our comparatively tiny volume of patients so very difficult to create. In its first year of operation, the crisis stabilization center will admit only adults, after that, services can be extended to teens and children. Grant funding through the Tower Foundation has been secured for the needed renovations to the building, and the Center could begin operations as early as July 2015. She asked the Board to assist by planning to contribute financial support for this critical
initiative in our 2016 FY budget. The Board discussed funding a clear, discrete part of the work, for example, publicity and advertising. These discussions will continue at upcoming meetings of the Board.
Cook, 12 Heath Hen Way (18-47.2) The Board reviewed a well construction permit application prepared by John Clarke for a new well to serve a proposed 3-bedroom house. The plan does not require variances, and was approved.
Finkelstein, 4 South Abel’s Hill Road (24-219) The Board approved a septic construction plan revision presented by Reid Silva for relocation of the septic tank.
McGrath, 11 Little Sandy Road (10-3.1) Reid Silva presented a septic system construction permit application and plan for a proposed septic system for an existing three-bedroom house and proposed two-bedroom Guest House which does not require variances. The Board approved the permit on the condition that a plan showing two fully-compliant systems is provided for the file, and added the stipulation that alarms for the pump chamber must be installed in both dwellings to the permit.
Yaffe, 41Tabor House Road (13-27.1) Reid Silva presented a 5-bedroom Enviro-septic Presby septic system construction permit. The Board approved the permit with the condition that the installer must be Presby-certified prior to installation.
Public Hearing: 5:37
Morelli, 30 Shadbush Hollow (11-3,4,5) The Board opened the hearing on a proposed septic system construction permit application which requires a variance of the separation from the leaching field to the property line from 30’ to 11’. Marina Lent reported that the Board of Health office has not received any communication with regards to this hearing; as the engineer was not present, the Board continued the hearing to 5:30pm at its next regularly scheduled meeting on October 15, 2014.
Early/Reynolds, 20 Blackberry Lane (7-3.2) John Early and Shakti Reynolds came before the Board with a septic system upgrade permit application for a 4-bedroom system. The plan is identical to a plan designed by Doug Dowling that had originally been presented and approved in 1998 but was never installed. The Board approved the permit with the requirement to confirm the extent of excavation/fill foreseen in the design prior to release of the construction permit.
The Galley Frank Fenner came before the Board to report on measures being undertaken to address significant frozen dessert standard plate count exceedances on 9/19/2014 and 9/25/2014. The Board reviewed the cleaning and sanitation procedures undertaken, as well as the consistently excellent practices and test results of the establishment. Matt Poole pointed out that Standard Plate Count violations tend to indicate an issue with the product, while positive coliform readings tend to indicate a problem with sanitation. He noted that an establishment in Edgartown has recently had similar problems. A “split test” using multiple labs is sometimes helpful in identifying the test results. Frank Fenner said that he has sent off a follow up sample and is awaiting results by the
end of the week.
Tea Lane Caterer: The Board asked Marina Lent to follow up with the Tea Lane Caterer on submitting a proposal to the Board for ware washing at the establishment.
Basin Road Food Establishments: The Board reviewed the list of products approved by Parks & Rec for Basin Road lease lot food establishments. The Board feels that it is time to conduct a more systematic review, not only of the food served, but of the volume and nature of the food establishments. The fish stores in Menemsha are licensed as retail seafood stores, not restaurants. However, the nature of the public demand seems to be pushing the product offerings more and more towards pre-prepared, ready-to-eat, to-order meals rather than the sale of retail seafood for home preparation. While the Board of Health is not responsible for enforcing the terms of the lease with the Town, the Board is charged with ensuring the adequacy of the facilities for the nature and
amount of food service conducted there. The Board asked Marina Lent to thoroughly review the product offerings, the terms of the retail food establishment permit under the Food Code, current practices and the recent inspections of the facilities for further review at upcoming Board meetings.
Homeport Restaurant The Board reviewed two requests for use of the Homeport kitchen to service two off-season, off-site events: Living Local on October 4th, in West Tisbury) and Wild Food Challenge on October 13th in Edgartown. Marina Lent reported on a kitchen inspection done with a view to the proposed food preparation for these two events. In light of the fact that the Homeport Restaurant is still open, albeit on a reduced schedule, all the equipment and storage is still available for food prep. Josh reported that the food preparation for restaurant meals is strictly separated in time from prep for temporary events, and that the food to be used is also stored separately. Matt Poole pointed out that the Food Truck will need to be separately permitted and
inspected in order to be acceptable for use at these events; Marina Lent stated she believes the Food Truck will not be used for the Living Local event, but may be contemplated for Wild Food Challenge, but that the issue of a separate Chilmark Food Establishment Permit for the Food Truck had not been discussed with Josh. Marina Lent will follow up with Josh to make sure that, if the Food Truck is to be used for the Wild Food Challenge, it is properly inspected and permitted for the proposed event.
Marina Lent reported that the discussions with Josh on permitting food events specifically separated these upcoming Temporary Food Events, which take place prior to the close of the Homeport Restaurant season, from the inspection and licensing process which will be undertaken to evaluate any future proposal to run a regular “Food Truck” out of the Homeport kitchen during the off-season.
Beach Plum Inn: The Board then discussed activities at the Beach Plum Inn. While the Board had provided a provisional caterer’s permit for the remainder of the 2014 season, one of the stipulations was that catered events need to be reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis. The Board felt that, in all likelihood, food events have been taking place which, under the current agreement should have been presented to the Board for review. The Board feels that, in light of this and anecdotal/social media evidence of food practices and events at or in connection with the Beach Plum kitchen, a more in-depth review of the establishment is warranted. The Board asked Marina Lent to do a thorough review of the existing requirements and terms of the license as issued to the
establishment, for consideration at upcoming meetings.
Nab’s Corner Homesite Lots The Board noted receipt of well completion reports and potability test results for wells newly-drilled on the four Nab’s Corner Homsite lots that show full compliance with Chilmark Board of Health requirements, and asked Marina Lent to record this in a memo for each property.
Temporary Food Event 10/6 Chilmark School Island Grown Schools tasting: cranberry relish
North Star Realty, 4 Tucker Trail (33-55) The Board noted receipt of a septic construction permit revised plan from Reid Silva showing well location, with pump and water quality test included.
Bernstein, 16 Tilton Road, (4-12) Title 5 Official Inspection Report – passes
Toll, 18 Peaked Hill Road (25-13) Title 5 Official Inspection Report – passes
Strang, 7 Black Point Road (22-12) Title 5 Official Inspection Report – passes
Khedouri, 14 Yardarm Lane (24-227) as-built received, Certificate of Compliance issued
Residential Kitchen Permit: Morsels, 24 Lake Road: non-PHF products.
Invoices: The following invoices were approved for payment:
- CC-VNA public nursing contract, August 2014 $680
The meeting adjourned at 19:15 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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