Town of Mashpee
16 Great Neck Road North
Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649
BOARD OF HEALTH – EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mashpee Town Hall – WAQUOIT CONFERENCE ROOM
Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, May 21, 2015
Board Members Present: Member Absent: Also Present:
Lucy Burton, Chair Burton Kaplan, Co-Chairman Glen Harrington, Health Agent
Kalliope Egloff, Clerk
Chair Lucy Burton called the Executive Session Meeting to order at 7:45 PM.
Roll Call Vote: Lucy Burton, yes; Kalliope Egloff, yes.
1. Housing/Condemnation Hearing: 394 Cotuit Road.
Glen Harrington commented that the condemnation letter was generated because a housing inspection prompted a violation to be documented because of the condition of the property located at 394 Cotuit Road. Some of the violations were addressed, but cooperation to clean the rest of the house has been difficult. Mr. Harrington contacted other Town Departments to help Ms. McFarland-Richter and the other occupants. They were not able to gain access into the house.
Erika Woods of the Cape Cod Hoarding Task Force contacted the Health Agent and arranged for Dr. Susan Greeley Murati, Psy.D., M.P.H. to attend the meeting. Ms. Woods is willing to set up a meeting to discuss the situation in the home. Mr. Harrington remarked that he is in favor of this, and his recommendation to the Board is to allow a 30-day extension to have any and all progress made on a non-enforcement basis to increase the quality of life on the house.
Jamie Sacchetti, Vickie McFarland-Richter’s daughter, stated that she and her husband moved into the house and corrected most of the violations, cleaned the living room, the stairwell, and the upstairs except for one bedroom. A dumpster was rented, and a great deal of clutter was removed. Yard sales are planned to take place during the summer months to clean out the basement.
Dr. Murati, from the Cape Cod Hoarding Task Force and a clinical therapist at Child and Family Services in Hyannis, introduced herself to the Board. Dr. Murati has been seeing Ms. McFarland-Richter since March on a weekly basis. Dr. Murati commented that Ms. McFarland-Richter is not able to attend the meetings for the support groups because she is working during the hours that the meetings are held. Dr. Murati did visit the house and noticed the same issues as the Health Agent had observed. Dr. Murati wants to prevent Ms. McFarland-Richter from being vacated from the house.
Kalliope Egloff commented that the Board of Health has been dealing with the housing issue for a number of meetings. The letter was sent because of a lack of communication. This is a situation that needs to be handled in the best way possible. The Board’s goal is to improve the situation, and it is encouraging to see that progress is being made.
Mr. Harrington stated that the Board should revisit this situation in 30 days. It appears that progress has been made in the cleaning of the property. Mr. Harrington will have Veronica Warden inspect the property and document the progress.
Ms. Sacchetti commented that there are 4 dogs in the house. Ms. McFarland-Richter owns three dogs, and Mr. and Ms. Sacchetti have a service dog.
Lucy Burton commented that there is a state law that 4 or more dogs requires a Kennel License. There are 4 dogs on the property, one of which is a service dog. Service dogs are exempt from the Kennel License Law. Therefore, a Kennel License may not be required.
Lucy Burton made a motion that the Board of Health revisit the issue at 394 Cotuit Road at the first scheduled meeting to be held in July 2015, and the Assistant Health Agent is to inspect the property prior to that meeting. Kalliope Egloff seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Roll Call Vote: Lucy Burton, yes; Kalliope Egloff, yes.
Lucy Burton made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session Meeting of the Board of Health at 8:03 PM. Kalliope Egloff seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Roll Call Vote: Lucy Burton, yes; Kalliope Egloff, yes.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances Boulos
Administrative Assistant
Mashpee Board of Health
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