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July 2015
TOWN OF MILLIS
BOARD OF HEALTH
Minutes of Meeting July 20, 2015

         A meeting of the Board of Health was held on Monday, July 20, 2015, at the Veterans Memorial Building, Room #229, Millis, Massachusetts.  Present were Barbara Thissell, Director; Bonnie Hilton, Chair; Kathleen Lannon and Brian Hoell, Board Members; and Vickie Philben, Administrative Assistant.

        Also present:  Sarah McColgan, Mass Health Officers Association
                         Jim Moriarty
Paul Rowley, Millis Monitor
Dr. Lester Hartman, Tobacco 21
Dola Ilyas, Millis resident interested in Tobacco 21
James White, 5 Brookview Road, Millis, Metrowest Tobacco                       Coalition, and Natick Health Director
 Freya Messias, Millis resident interested in Tobacco 21
Karen D’Angelo, Public Health Nurse
Rick Grady, P.E. of Grady Consulting, LLC, representing 38 Dover       Road.
                         Phyllis McGuinness, representing 38 Dover Road
                          
        Ms. Hilton moved to open the Millis Board of Health meeting at 7:05 p.m.  
        It was seconded by Mrs. Lannon.  It was voted 3-0 to open the meeting.                                



Administrative Business:


Approval of Minutes:

June 15, 2015 – It was moved by Mrs. Lannon and seconded by Mr. Hoell to approve the June 15, 2015 minutes.  Mrs. Lannon, Ms. Hilton, and Mr. Hoell voted affirmative, 0 negative.

Nurse’s Report:  The monthly report of the Public Health Nurse was reviewed.  


New Business:  

  • Food Recalls – see attached.
  • Food Inspections – Ms. Thissell summarized food establishment inspections completed since June 15, 2015:
  • 6/17 Millis Food Pantry
  • 6/23 Millis Council on Aging
  • 7/6 Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm
  • 7/7 & 7/13 Millis Shop’n’Go
  • 7/13 Eastside Cafe
  • Temporary Food Event Permits
  • Millis Library Fun Fair 6/22/15.
  • Millis Carnival – Hot Dog Stand 6/25-6/28
  • Millis Carnival – Food Stand 6/25-6/28
  • Septic Improvements – Ms. Thissell summarized ongoing septic system improvements and/or inspections completed since June 15, 2015:
  • Title 5s:
  • 7 Himelfarb Street, conditional pass 6/11/15
  • 45 Pleasant Street, passed 6/16/15
  • 22 Baltimore Street, passed 6/22/15
  • Soil Test:
  • 19 Forest Road 6/18/15
  • 211 Pleasant Street 6/24/15
  • Septic System Construction:
  • 17 Bogastow Circle – d-box replaced, Certificate of Compliance (COC) 6/17/15.
  • 19 Forest Road – Disposal System Construction Permit (DSCP) 7/6/15
  • 38 Dover Road – 6/30 revisions required
  • 7 Himelfarb Street – D-Box replaced, COC 7/20/15
  • 148 Orchard Street – Innovative Alternative (I/A) inspection report 6/1/15.
  • Rockville Meadows – pump station inspection passed on 6/19/15.
  • 30 Forest Road – I/A inspection report 6/29/15.
  • Various Complaints Received:
  • 6/18 – 54 Stoney Brook #10 – former tenant reported bugs.
  • 6/25 – 71 Union Street, Willowbrook Manor, various complaints from employee.
  • 6/29 – 172 Pleasant Street, tenant complained that electricity shut off and washing machine is inoperable.
  • 7/1 – 172 Pleasant Street, owner complained about tenants’ housekeeping.
  • 7/7 – Millis Shop’n’Go, selling food past expiration date.
  • 7/9 – Magic Nail Salon, reuse of equipment.
  • 7/13 – 11 Meadowbrook, chlorine smelling water.
  • License Received/Issued:
  • Tiki Tattoo – issued
  • Donald Howe, Tattoo Artist – issued
  • Joseph Peters, Tattoo Artist – issued.
  • Residential Pool, 43 Grove Street – issued
  • Camp Permit, FAST Athletics – issued for July 13-17.
  • Pool Inspections:
  • Quail Hill – 6/17/15
  • Stoney Brook Apartments – 6/17/15
  • Glen Ellen Country Club – 6/17/15




Other:  

  • The Massachusetts Health Officers Association (MHOA) has awarded the Health Department funding for a summer intern to set up a Facebook Page and/or webpage.  The Town Administrator and Finance Director have been notified for authorization.
  • Lyme Disease Committee
  • Mrs. Lannon informed the Board that a questionnaire will be mailed to all Millis residents with their water bills.  The brief questionnaire will be used to approximate the number of Millis residents affected by Lyme disease.  The questionnaire will also be made available on the website.  
  • Mrs. Lannon informed the Board that the television program, “Chronicle”, on channel 5, aired a Lyme disease presentation.
  • Shingles Vaccine Grant – Ms. Hilton had requested that the Town Nurse research the need and feasibility of providing shingles vaccines to the people of Millis.  Ms. Hilton requested the department work with the Council of Aging to find out if there is a need for the vaccine among the senior population.  Mrs. Lannon expressed concern that the shingles vaccine is not currently covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program of the Dept. of Health and Human Services.  Flu and pneumococcal vaccines that the Millis Board of Health currently provides under the auspices of the Mass. Department of Public Health are covered.  Mr. James White, Director of Public Health in Natick, was present and said that the Natick Board of Health provides shingles vaccines to Natick residents and said they were able to provide the service because they had an Medical Doctor who is an appointed Health Agent, their vaccine fund (generated from annual flu vaccine administration revenues) can be between $15,000 to $25,000 and they were able to purchase the required refrigerator for the vaccine at a price of $3,000.  It was agreed that the Millis Board of Health does not have the resources at present to institute such a program.  The Board of Health department will investigate if grants are available through the Metrowest Foundation.
  • The Board of Health is planning to update the list of Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) members.  A first aid/CPR class has been scheduled tentatively for the fall.  Ms. Thissell recruited Millis Lions Club President, Debbie Hayes, into the MRC.
  • Ms. Thissell is scheduled to inspect Tiki Tattoo with Ms. Cheryl Labonte on July 30, 2015.
  • Drinking Water Committee – The Director informed the Board that the Millis Drinking Water Committee will be meeting on August 10, 2015 to discuss the possibility of selling water to Exelon Corporation.  The water would be used as a coolant in a proposed power plant.  Ms. Lannon will not be able to attend the Drinking Water Committee, but will summarize her questions and concerns for the Director to share with the committee on August 10, 2015.
  • Ms. Hilton would like the Department to work with other Town organizations to discuss the growing opioid epidemic.

Scheduled Public Hearings & Discussions:

        7:15 p.m. – 38 Dover Road; local variance upgrade requests – Present was Mr. Rick Grady, P.E. of Grady Consulting, L.L.C. and Phyllis McGuiness representing 38 Dover Road.
Mr. Grady presented updated septic plans of 38 Dover Road to the Board with requests to approve the following:  
Local Upgrade Approval Request – 310 CMR 405 (1)(b) – To increase the maximum allowable depth of system components required by 310 CMR 15.221(7), from 36 inches to 72 inches below finish grade, provided that adequate venting and adequate access are provided and H-20 loading is provided.  This local upgrade was requested to allow the installation of three 27-foot long trenches which will allow a 10-foot separation from the proposed septic components to the existing water service.
Local Variance Request – Section 5.G. “Leaching facilities shall be located no closer than twenty (20) feet from the boundary line” to allow a setback of ten (10) feet in accordance with Title 5 requirements.  Approval of this variance request will enable the system to stay in the front yard of this property near the location of the existing system while also maintaining a gravity flow system in full conformance with Title 5.
Ms. Thissell read a letter of support for the variance requests, dated July 10, 2015, from Bob and Joan Allen of 42 Dover Road.

Mrs. Lannon made a motion to approve the septic repair plan revised on July 20, 2015 upon approval of the Health Director with the two variances stated above.  Mr. Hoell seconded the motion. Vote 3-0.


7:30 p.m. – Tobacco 21 Hearing - Present were:  Sarah McColgan, MHOA Tobacco Control; Dr. Lester Hartman, Tobacco 21; James White, Metrowest Tobacco Coalition, Natick Board of Health Director and Millis resident; Dola Ilyas, Millis resident; Jim Moriarty; Paul Rowley, Millis Monitor; Karen D’Angelo, RN, BSN, Public Health Nurse; and Freya Messias, Millis resident.      

                Ms. Hilton moved to open the Tobacco 21 Hearing at 7:35 p.m.  
        It was seconded by Mrs. Lannon and voted 3-0 to open the hearing.                                

Draft copies of the Regulation of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products were available.  
Ms. McColgan and Dr. Hartman voiced support of the proposed draft tobacco regulations.  In addition to raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21, the new draft regulations better define tobacco products, prohibit sales of flavored tobacco, prohibit the sale of single cigars priced less than $2.50, prohibit out-of-package sales, prohibit self-service displays, prohibit vending machines, prohibit roll-your-own machines, prohibit the sale of tobacco products by Health Care Institutions, prohibit the sale of tobacco products in Educational Institutions and place greater restrictions on tobacco product sales permits. The draft regulations also describe possible fines for retail violations.
Mr. White, Mrs. D’Angelo, and Ms. Messias expressed their support of the new regulations.  Mr. White informed the Board that seven out of the nine communities in the Metrowest Tobacco Coalition have already updated their tobacco regulations, and Millis will be the eighth.
It was noted that the Board had discussed potential changes to the tobacco regulations on June 15, 2015 and the July 20, 2015 hearing had been publicized in the Milford Daily News of June 29, 2015 and July 6, 2015; posted on the Town of Millis Board of Health website; and advertised on Millis Cable.  Meeting notifications and draft tobacco regulations were mailed to each tobacco retailer on June 25, 2015.
The Board discussed the following revisions to the draft Regulation of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products:  Page 8:  11(a) change eight (8) Tobacco Product Sales Permits to nine (9) Tobacco Product Sales Permits; Page 10:  Add N to Prohibition of the Sale of Tobacco Products by Health Care Institutions:  No health care institution located in Millis shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products, as defined herein.  No retail establishment that operates or has a health care institution within it, such as a pharmacy, optician/optometrist or drug store, shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products, as defined herein.
Ms. McColgan asked that the Board consider revising its regulations to restrict the use of e-cigarettes in public places.  The Board determined that because public notification had not included the language on the restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes in public places, the Board would consider it as a discussion at the next Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.
Mrs. Lannon made a motion to update the draft Regulation of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products as stated above.  Mr. Hoell seconded the motion.  It was voted 3-0 to update the draft regulations.

Mrs. Lannon made a motion to continue the public hearing regarding the proposed Regulation of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products until the next Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 7:30.  Ms. Hilton seconded the motion.  It was voted 2-1 to continue the Millis Board of Health Hearing.  Ms. Hilton and Mrs. Lannon voted for the continuation and Mr. Hoell voted in the negative.













Next Scheduled Meeting:  Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 229

At 9:15 p.m.  Ms. Hilton moved to close the July 20, 2015 Board of Health meeting.  Mr. Hoell seconded the motion.  The Board voted unanimously to close the hearing, 3-0.

Respectfully Submitted,




Vickie L. Philben
Millis Board of Health
Administrative Assistant