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TOWN OF MILLIS
BOARD OF HEALTH
Minutes of Meeting December 14, 2015
A meeting of the Board of Health was held on Monday, December 14, 2015, at the Veterans Memorial Building, Room #213, Millis, Massachusetts. Present were Barbara Thissell, Director; Bonnie Hilton, Chair; Kathleen Lannon and Brian Hoell, Board Members; and Vickie Philben, Administrative Assistant.
Also present: Dan Merrikin, PE, Merrikin Engineering, LLP; representing
Hickory Hills Subdivision
George Sgourakes, 41 Bullard Street; Well issue
Sophia Sgourakes, 41 Bullard Lane
Nora Quadros, 34 Bullard Lane
Alex Stathos, 79 Ridge Street
Seth Lajoie, RS; representing variance request, 3 Ironwood
Lane
Mr. Hoell moved to open the Millis Board of Health meeting at 7:00 p.m.
It was seconded by Ms. Hilton. It was voted 3-0 to open the meeting.
Administrative Business:
Approval of Minutes:
November 9, 2015 – It was moved by Ms. Hilton and seconded by Mr. Hoell to approve the November 9, 2015 minutes. Mr. Hoell, Mrs. Lannon, and Ms. Hilton voted unanimously to approve the draft minutes.
Nurse’s Report: The monthly report of the Public Health Nurse was reviewed.
New Business:
- Food Recalls – see attached.
- Food Inspections – The following had been inspected since November 9, 2015:
- 12/1 Kitchen Millie - pre-opening inspection
- 11/19 Jalapa’s Mexican Grill
- 11/19 Willowbrook Manor
- 11/19 Subway
- 11/30 Subway
- Temporary Food Event Permits
- Senior Citizens Holiday Luncheon @ Millis High School on December 13, 2015.
- Septic Improvements – Ms. Thissell summarized ongoing septic system improvements and/or inspections completed since November 9, 2015:
- 347 Village Street – December 3, 2015
- George Avenue – December 7, 2015
- 15 Dyer Road – December 8, 2015
- 140 Causeway Street – Passed 10/21/15
- 142 Causeway Street – Passed 10/21/15
- 144 Causeway Street – Passed 10/21/15
- 14 Walnut Street – Passed 11/23/15
- 39 Spencer Street – Passed Innovative/Alternative inspection 10/8/15
- Various Complaints Received:
- 128 Curve Street: outdoor air quality – An abutter complained that much dust was being created by stonecutters working at 128 Curve Street. The Director visited the job site and spoke with the job foreman. It was agreed that the stonecutters would use water to minimize dust during work effort.
- 45 Stoneybrook #9; lack of heat – Heat was repaired on November 30, 2015
- 205 Orchard Street; indoor air quality concerns – A detailed work plan was emailed to the Director on December 12, 2015.
- 80 Meadow Cartway; various housing concerns – Property owner described detail work plan to the Director on November 20, 2015.
- 14B Exchange Street; lack of heat control and inadequate housekeeping – Ongoing monitoring is required.
Other:
- Kitchen Millie – Michelle Wax is the founder of Kitchen Millie located at 18 Key Street in Millis. Kitchen Millie is a bakery that mails baked goods to the public. The Food Inspector, Mr. DeLuca, conducted a pre-opening inspection on December 1, 2015.
- Quail Hill Condominium; Irrigation well – An application for the installation of an irrigation well was submitted for Quail Hill Condominium. The Board expressed concerned that non-potable, irrigation well water may someday be used to fill the swimming pool. The use of non-potable water in a swimming pool could have adverse health impacts. The Board recommended that once installed, the irrigation well water must be tested for conformance with potable water standards and that the applicant must install signage stating that the irrigation well water must not be used to fill the swimming pool. It was agreed that the Director would contact the applicant, confirm that the two conditions are acceptable and that the permit would be issued subject to the conditions.
- Lumpy’s Liquors – Lumpy’s Liquors opened today, December 14, 2015 at their new location at 979 Main Street.
- Tobacco Compliance checks – The new tobacco regulations went into effect on November 1, 2015. On November 11, 2015, Ms. LeRoux, Control Agent for the MetroWest Tobacco Control Coalition, conducted inspections at several tobacco retail establishments in Millis. Ms. LeRoux reported that Tedeschi Food Shop sold underpriced ($4.77) tobacco product to an under-age (17-year old) patron. The Board agreed that a written warning would be issued to the tobacco retailer. The warning will note that any subsequent offense will be treated as a second offense.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training – Using Region 4A Emergency Planning Funds, a CPR/ Basic Life Support training class was held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 for the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) volunteers. Seven MRC volunteers attended the training session which was conducted by Borough’s CPR, LP.
- Mini-grant from Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB) – MAHB is currently accepting mini-grant applications. The Director stated that she has been working with the Millis school nurses to develop a grant application that requests funding to start a yoga program at the three Millis schools.
- Emergency Management Planning Committee – On Thursday, December 10, 2015, the Emergency Management Planning Committee met and discussed their budget. Items to be purchased must be ordered prior to February 16, 2016.
Scheduled Public Hearings & Discussions:
7:15 p.m. Hickory Hills Subdivision; Mr. Daniel Merrikin, P.E., Merrikin Engineering, LLP represented the developer, 400 Old Post, LLC. Mr. Merrikin stated that the developer seeks approval from the Board to allow construction of an alternative roof runoff system on each of the 37 house lots permitted in the ‘Board of Health Permit’ endorsed by the Millis Board of Health on July 14, 2014.
Mr. Merrikin requested approval from the Board to allow construction of the above-ground bioretention area described in the ‘Board of Health Permit’ or construction of a 36-foot by 36-foot underground roof runoff infiltration area on each lot of the Hickory Hills Residential Subdivision.
Mr. Merrikin presented a plan entitled, “Hickory Hills Def. Subdivision, Detail Plan of Land in Millis, MA”, prepared by Merrikin Engineering, LLP as revised November 1, 2015 and an updated Operations & Management (O&M) plan for Hickory Hills also dated November 1, 2015. The Director stated that the revised plan and updated O&M plan are consistent with the prior approval.
Mr. Hoell made a motion to accept the O&M plan with revisions dated November 1, 2015 and with the option of the underground infiltration system or a rain garden. Mrs. Lannon seconded the motion. Mr. Hoell, Mrs. Lannon, and Ms. Hilton voted unanimously, 3-0.
7:30 p.m. Farm Street Lot 5A; Merrikin Engineering –Mr. Daniel Merrikin, P.E., Merrikin Engineering, LLP represented the developer, Roche’s Building Company, Inc. The developer seeks approval from the Board to allow several minor modifications to a ‘Board of Health Permit’ encumbering the property.
On September 19, 2006, the Millis Board of Health issued a ‘Board of Health Permit’ allowing the development of five residential house lots on a 5.2-acre property located at 79 Cedar Street and Farm Street. This development is known as the Cedar Farm Subdivision. Lot 5A Farm Street is one of the lots permitted. Lot 5A remains undeveloped.
Mr. Merrikin requested that the Board allow development of the lot as depicted in a plan entitled “Lot 5A Farm Street, Site Plan of Land in Millis, MA” prepared by Merrikin Engineering, LLP as revised December 5, 2015. The revised plan proposes the following modifications to the 2006 Permit:
- The revised building square footage is 1,935 SF.
- Impermeable pavement is proposed.
- A catch basin and piping are proposed to capture and convey runoff from the driveway to the proposed subsurface stormwater system.
- It is proposed to construct the subsurface stormwater system east of the dwelling.
- It is proposed to enlarge the subsurface stormwater system volume to accommodate the additional runoff anticipated from the proposed dwelling and pavement area.
The Health Director had reviewed the plan and stated that the revised stormwater management system is consistent with the 2006 permit.
Mrs. Lannon made a motion to accept the proposed modifications for Lot 5A on Farm Street as shown on the revised plan dated December 5, 2015.
7:45 p.m. Discussion - 41 Bullard Lane; private well concern – Present was George and Sophia Sgourakes, owners of 41 Bullard Lane; Alex Stathos, 79 Ridge Street; and Nora Quadros, 34 Bullard Lane. Mr. Sgourakes stated that despite the fact that he has attended many Board of Health meetings over the past 15-month period, he still has unanswered questions concerning health risks to his well.
Mr. Sgourakes stated that the Board should find out the cause of death of one of the neighboring horses. The Board stated that if the cause of the horse’s death was communicable the Board would have been informed by the attending veterinarian.
Mr. Sgourakes stated that he has had a professional well company assess his well and that it was determined to be in pristine condition.
Mr. Sgourakes requested that the Board require the abutting property relocate its horse paddock 12-feet to provide a 100-foot separation from his well. The Board stated that there are no health regulations regarding the location of the horse paddock.
Mr. Sgourakes stated that he believes that the Board should order the paddock relocation under the General Nuisance Law. The Board stated that it did not agree. Mr. Sgourakes submitted a letter dated December 14, 2015 that describes his disappointment with the Millis Board of Health.
8:00 p.m. 3 Ironwood Lane; local septic upgrade request – Mr. Seth Lajoie, R.S. of Seth Lajoie and Associates, Inc. represented James Hastie, property owner of 3 Ironwood Lane. Mr. Lajoie stated that the existing septic system recently failed a Title 5 inspection and needed to be replaced.
Mr. Lajoie requested a local septic upgrade approval to allow construction of a soil absorption system 3-feet above groundwater in lieu of providing the required 4-foot separation. The Director stated that she supports the proposed request. As indicated on the proposed sewage disposal system plan dated December 4, 2015, existing house, driveway, utilities and environmental resource locations necessitate construction of the septic system in the proposed location. High groundwater and topography necessitate the requested local upgrade approval.
Mrs. Lannon made a motion to accept the septic system plan for 3 Ironwood Lane, dated December 4, 2015 with the local upgrade request of 3-foot separation from the soil absorption system to high groundwater in lieu of the required 4-foot separation. Mr. Hoell seconded the motion. Mrs. Lannon, Mr. Hoell, and Ms. Hilton voted unanimously, 3-0.
Ms. Hilton moved to adjourn the December 14, 2015 Board of Health meeting. The Board voted unanimously to close the meeting, 3-0.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Monday, January 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 213
Respectfully Submitted,
Vickie L. Philben
Millis Board of Health
Administrative Assistant
Documents and Submittals of Meeting:
- Meeting attendance sheet dated December 14, 2015
- Detail Discussion created by Health Dept. staff dated December 14, 2015
- Food Recalls dated November 9 to December 14, 2015
- Public Health Nursing Report dated November 5 to December 8, 2015
- Mass Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, “Environmental Health Public Health Tracking”
- Commonwealth of Mass, Executive Office of Health and Human Services re Cancer Incidence in Massachusetts, 2007-2011
- The Arc dated December 2, 2015
- Tobacco Compliance Check Form – Tedeschi’s violation, November 11, 2015
- Letter dated December 14, 2015 from Mr. Sgourakes, 41 Bullard Lane.
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