Town of Mashpee
16 Great Neck Road North
Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649
BOARD OF HEALTH – PUBLIC SESSION
Minutes of the Meeting of October 23, 2013
Board Members Present: Member Absent: Also Present:
Kalliope Egloff, Chair Lucy Burton, Co-Chair Glen Harrington, Health Agent
Burton Kaplan, Clerk
Chair Kalliope Egloff called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
APPOINTMENTS
7:15 PM – Doug Karson – AFCEE Annual MMR IRP Update.
Doug Karson, of the Air Force Environmental Clean-up Program at Joint Base Cape Cod, introduced himself to the Board and provided a thorough update on the clean-up efforts being provided by his agency in Mashpee including updates on the chemical and fuel spills affecting the local ponds and cranberry bogs. Mr. Karson provided maps, charts, and hand-outs to the Board and to Mr. Harrington for the Board of Health office. Progress continues to be made in the clean-up of the plumes from the Base affecting Mashpee.
7:30 PM – David Holt, Today Real Estate – Variance Request – 17 Weather Crescent.
Jane McCann, a member of Team 300 Realty Group, representing 17 Weather Crescent, introduced herself to the Board.
Glen Harrington commented that a septic inspection was performed on December 17, 2012, at 17 Weather Crescent that identified the septic tank to be greater than 30 years of age. The Title V Inspection Report did not indicate whether the tank is structurally sound. A variance was requested to leave that tank in service since the Board has revised the regulation and no longer has the 30-year rule. The inspection criteria for the septic tank has changed. At this point, if the Board wishes to grant the variance, they should do so with the conditions that the septic tank is pumped and evaluated according to the new amended regulation.
Burton Kaplan made a motion that the Board of Health approve the variance requested for 17 Weather Crescent subject to a satisfactory Title V Inspection Report which includes the Mashpee Title V Inspection Checklist. Kalliope Egloff seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Sign Expense Warrants. The Board members signed the expense warrant.
2. Review/Approve BOH Public Session Minutes: October 9, 2013.
Approval of the Board of Health October 9, 2013, Public Session minutes was continued until the next Board of Health meeting with a full Board in attendance.
ADDITIONAL TOPICS
1. Flu Clinic.
Glen Harrington commented that the Flu Clinic was very successful with 228 participants. Kalliope Egloff suggested distributing the potassium iodide tablets to the residents at the next flu clinic.
2. Board of Health Calendar of Scheduled Follow-ups.
Burton Kaplan stated that there are items during a Board of Health meeting that have been continued to a later date. Kalliope Egloff recommended that the Clerk of the Board of Health coordinate with the Health Agent all items that need to be addressed in a timely manner.
DISCUSSION
- Michael Talbot – CCC Nitrogen Regulation.
Kalliope Egloff commented that since a full Board would not be present, Michael Talbot, a local landscaper with a strong opinion on the topic, was asked to attend the next meeting to give his presentation on the Nitrogen Regulation.
Tim Panzino of Bartlett Tree Experts introduced himself to the Board. Mr. Panzino was interested in Mashpee’s interpretation on the Nitrogen Regulation since it is a town-by-town basis.
Ms. Egloff stated that there are documents to be reviewed. One is the draft final report of the Cape Cod Pesticide and Fertilizer Use Report published by Horsley Witten. Another is review of the final Model #10.21.13 that was comprised by the Cape Cod Commission which is slightly different than the previous document. An additional method for the Board is to study A Cost Savings for Fertilizer Management Control published by the Cape Cod Commission. Lastly, the Board would like to invite some of the public officials from the Cape Cod Commission and Mashpee Representative, Marcia King.
Ms. Egloff remarked that a public hearing will be held so that members of the public can attend and offer their comments. The Board will need to vote on the Nitrogen Regulation before January 1, 2014.
Tom Gonzalski, a resident of Mashpee and owner of a lawn care business on Cape Cod, introduced himself to the Board.
Mr. Gonzalski suggested contacting the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and Bill Clark from the Barnstable County Extension Program since they have more facts to offer. A group of experts from the Chesapeake Bay study stated that less than 50% of the properties around the Bay have maintained lawns. The result of their study is that a good maintained lawn acts as a good filter system which is beneficial for the Bay. Erosion and runoff will cause nutrients to enter into the groundwater. Mr. Gonzalski would like to see a unified regulation for each town to adopt.
Glen Harrington commented that Brian Bjorklund from the USDA has placed about 58 rabies baiting stations throughout Mashpee. In previous years the rabies baits were hand thrown in most of Mashpee’s fire lanes and many of the Conservation lands. It is believed that there is a higher percentage of raccoons, which is the target animal. The fishmeal bait is a block that contains the rabies vaccine in the center and to be consumed by the animal.
The baiting stations are tracked through GPS. These baiting stations will be removed the week of November 18, 2013, and the results will be forwarded to the Health Department. The effectiveness of the baiting stations will be determined by collecting animals either by harvesting the animal or road kill that is in decent condition to perform laboratory testing of the brain.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Board of Health is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at 7:00 PM. As there was no further business, Kalliope Egloff made a motion to adjourn the Public Session of the Board of Health at 8:00 PM. Burton Kaplan seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances Boulos
Administrative Assistant
Mashpee Board of Health
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