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 19, 2014
Chilmark Town Hall
5:00 pm
Present: Katie Carroll, Matt Poole, Jan Buhrman
Also Present: Don Hatch (MVRD), Reid Silva (Vineyard Land Surveying), George Sourati (Sourati Engineering)
Landfill Maintenance: Grazing vs. Mowing: The Board held a discussion with the Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District Don Hatch regarding options for the maintenance of vegetation on the Chilmark landfill. The vegetation on the Chilmark landfill is unusually vigorous, and the Board noted that twice-yearly mowing is probably necessary to properly maintain it in accordance with DEP requirements. This will be reflected in next year’s projected budget. The Board heard some preliminary price estimates for grazing either sheep or goats on the landfill, which were significantly higher than what the Board has paid for mowing in the past. Don Hatch emphasized the importance of addressing growth of brushy material on the fringes of the landfill cap, noting that the need to
keep this vegetation under better control is an issue which is frequently noted in Chilmark’s LDO inspection reports. Goats may be well-suited to these areas, because they are partial to woody vegetation. The Board also asked Marina Lent to look into the solar panel agreement to determine who is responsible for maintaining vegetation between and under the solar panel array. The Board will continue to look into its options for control of vegetation on the landfill.
Lewenberg, 3 Osprey Lane (25-122) The Board approved an emergency well replacement permit application presented by Reid Silva. The proposed well will replace a shallow, failed well with a deeper well located in the immediate vicinity of the existing well. The well is located in the Coastal District, and thus requires a variance. The Board determined that the well can be located at a distance no less than the existing well from the onsite leaching facility. Therefore, approval of the variance will not require a public hearing. The Board approved the application.
Morris, 113 Hammett Road (4-6) George Sourati presented a septic system construction permit application for a proposed two-bedroom guest house. The plan specifies that the engineer shall inspect the bottom of the excavation of the leaching field prior to placement of fill, and does not require variances. The Board approved the application.
McGrath, 11 Little Sandy Road (10-3.1) Reid Silva presented a revised septic plan per BOH requirements showing alarms to be installed in both houses.
Perc Season: The Board decided that the BOH office, in consultation with the Chair, could entertain out-of-season perc test requests. Tests in areas with known uncomplicated soil profile could be approved by the Chair outside of regular Board meetings, others could be reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis.
BOH FY’16 Budget: The Board reviewed changes in the position since 2008. The Board noted that the hours of the position had been cut from 32 ½ to 30, starting with the FY’10 budget. Significant additional responsibilities have been added to the position since that time. The Board asked Marina Lent to produce a report summarizing the added responsibilities and activities undertaken by the BOH office in recent years. The Board will present the need for additional hours to the Finance Committee.
The Board also considered a summary of its Public Nursing Contract, which was awarded to the Cape Cod VNA starting in April 2014. The Board asked Marina Lent to review the first full year of operation of the Cape Cod VNA nursing contract with Island Health Agents at the upcoming Health Agents’ monthly meeting, which will be held in Chilmark in December.
The Board will continue its review of the FY’16 budget at its next scheduled session. The draft budget is due to be submitted to the office of the Selectmen on January 5, 2015.
Tobacco Regulations: The Board noted that one of the three retail stores in Chilmark that sell tobacco products has expressed an interest in regulations prohibiting sale of tobacco products to people under the age of 21. The Board noted that, in order to be effective, such regulatory changes should ideally be undertaken by all island towns, and asked Marina Lent to put this issue on the agenda of the upcoming Health Agents’ meeting for discussion.
Island Youth Collaborative: Jan Buhrman presented a proposal from Community Services for an Island-wide total of $13,500 to support a component of a major initiative to provide crisis stabilization services on Martha’s Vineyard, including to youth. She noted that currently, a very high proportion of young people who find themselves in a behavioral crisis are sent to a psychiatric facility off-Island for treatment. Having more robust preventive and supportive services on the Island could go far towards avoiding an Emergency Room visit altogether, and, where more intensive care is needed, an on-Island crisis stabilization capacity will allow the health care and social service community to build a strong, integrated and ongoing support structure that will improve the effectiveness of treatment
for the patient.
The funding to be provided by municipal public health will enable Community Services to hold outreach and support meetings with parents and families of adolescents. The funding is divided by size of population, with Chilmark being asked to provide $710.10. She noted that a suggestion had been made that this important new public health initiative could be presented to the Island’s voters in the form of a warrant article in each town, giving the Boards the opportunity to more fully describe the initiative and its contribution to the overall health and wellbeing of the island’s population. The Board noted that it is important to be clear with voters that this will be an ongoing initiative worthy of continued municipal support. In future years, it will appear as a line item in Board of
Health budgets, as does the public nursing contract.
Sunrise, 26 Greenhouse Lane (33-34) well completion report received—potability passes
Norton, 12 Mayhew Lane (27.1-194) well completion report received—potability passes
Wilmot, 14 Brickyard Road (9-2.5) well completion report received—potability passes
Mayhew, South Road (30-48.1) well completion report received—potability passes
Wiesner, Boston Hill Road (30-76) well completion report received—potability passes
Wallach, 5 Redwing Lane (25-110) well completion report received—potability passes
The following invoices were approved for payment:
- MV Times, Flu Clinic Advertising $17.10 (Chilmark share)
- CCC PWS#4062006 reimburse Marina Lent for freight to Barnstable Lab for Q4 Nitrate drinking water test $15
- Hotel costs for MHOA Conference, October 22, 2014, $165
_______________________ _______________________ _______________________
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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