Town of Mashpee
16 Great Neck Road North
Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649
BOARD OF HEALTH – EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mashpee Town Hall – OCKWAY MEETING ROOM
Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, February 5, 2015
Board Members Present: Also Present:
Lucy Burton, Chair Glen Harrington, Health Agent
Burton Kaplan, Co-Chairman
Kalliope Egloff, Clerk
Chair Lucy Burton called the Executive Session Meeting to order at 7:40 PM.
394 Cotuit Road.
Glen Harrington commented that the Cape Cod Hoarding Task Force has established a Buried in Treasures Training. Mr. Harrington attended the previous training in Dennis where 4 women were present at the program. This 15-week long program greatly helped these women. When these women witnessed others with a similar problem, the progress they were able to achieve was amazing. These women set goals for themselves and returned to share this accomplishment with the other women at the Buried in Treasures Training. Having those with hoarding issues attend this training program would be very effective.
Mr. Harrington would like Darlene Perkins, the Outreach Coordinator at the Council on Aging, to speak with Vickie McFarland Richter at 394 Cotuit Road. Since Ms. Richter has been dealing with the loss of her husband, perhaps Ms. Perkins may be able to convince Ms. Richter to speak to the grief counselor at the Senior Center.
Kalliope Egloff suggested to offer incentives to have people attend the Buried in Treasures program such as transportation, tax abatements, light refreshments at the Senior Center, and passes to the Transfer Station to recycle or dispose of items. Also, Ms. Egloff suggested, if possible, to have the program filmed, without recording the attendees, and shown on Community Access Television in Mashpee for viewers to have an understanding of the program.
Mr. Harrington remarked that the house at 394 Cotuit Road has a standing order of a condemnable offense against the dwelling. This took place because it met the criteria. Mr. Harrington does not know if the Board has the right to enforce treatment for hoarding. However, the alternative would be that the dwelling would be condemned, and the occupants would be forced to leave their home.
Glen Harrington commented that the disease needs to be treated as well as the sanitary improvement of the property. There has never been a resource or training such as this to help the chronic collector. Since this is now recognized as a medical disease, medical insurance companies may be forced to cover the treatments.
Burton Kaplan made a motion that the Board of Health adjourn the Executive Session Meeting of February 5, 2015. Kalliope Egloff seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Roll Call Vote: Burton Kaplan, yes; Lucy Burton, yes; Kalliope Egloff, yes.
The Executive Session Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances Boulos
Administrative Assistant
Mashpee Board of Health
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