Wednesday
November 15, 2006
Regular meeting of the Monson Board of Health was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Gary Allard. Members present: Dr. Richard Smith, Jane Jacobs, Robert Bator and Phyllis Klick. Also present: William Belanger, Lorri McCool and Craig Jalbert.
The Board met early to discuss pandemic planning. Lorri McCool, Health Inspector, informed the Board that Hampden County Coalition is now the financial judiciary for Monson. A representative from each town must attend their coalition meetings. Any mutual aid agreements need to be reviewed by Town Counsel and go before town meetings. Ms. McCool presented the Board with a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding by and between Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Hampden County Health Coalition. A copy will be made of this for the next Board of Health meeting.
The Board of Health will need to present a plan to the Board of Selectmen. Each group/department will need to respond with their own personal coop. Jeremy Bedson, Emergency Management Director, will coordinate all the departments. A local resident, Catherine Mitchell, (see correspondence #7) would like to volunteer her services. Ms. McCool and the Board were impressed with her training; Ms. McCool would like Ms. Mitchell to take on a role in the Medical Reserve Corp. (MRC).
A meeting has been scheduled between the Monson Developmental Center and the Board of Health for Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss a dispensing site/staging area. The Board of Health meeting will be held immediately following the MDC meeting. Ms. Mitchell will be asked if she would like to attend the December 6th meeting at the MDC. Ms. Mitchell, if she volunteers her time, will be asked to seek grants. Many times when grants are given, there is money in the grant to pay for a position. Alternate Health Inspectors, Jill Cafarelli and Robert Bracci, will also be utilized.
Leaflets for residents can be printed up and provided to the public on how to prepare for a pandemic flu. They can be left at the library, supermarket, senior center, etc. Ms. McCool stated that the template for the Board of Health is pretty much completed, and she will ask for it on disc. Mr. Bedson is the overseer of all the departments when the departments have immediately completed their coop. The next meeting of the Emergency Planning Committee is November 22nd at 10:00 a.m. immediately following the Department Heads meeting.
Mr. William Belanger of the Norcross House Restaurant and Craig Jalbert, Water/Sewer Superintendent, signed in.
Mr. Belanger and Mr. Jalbert were asked to the meeting to discuss the grease/sewer lines at 125 Main Street. Mr. Belanger stated that he is very concerned with the situation. The line is packed with grease and the trap has been cleaned as far as they can go. Harmony Environmental jet cleans from the trap to the main line. The company has informed him that the trap is adequate for the restaurant; the trouble is the main line was never jet cleaned. E.W.S. was also contacted and it was recommended that the restaurant jet clean the lines twice a year with a quarterly check/report. Mr. Belanger stated that he wants to comply with all regulations. He will have the quarterly checks performed and the line jet cleaned twice a year, as the past owners did not ever clean the lines.
This should solve all problems.
Mr. Jalbert spoke next and informed the Board that a camera inspection was performed a few weeks after the main line was cleaned and already he witnessed a problem developing. New grease is forming after two weeks of the cleaning. The Golden Leaf Restaurant cleans their trap every two weeks. Mr. Belanger responded that if necessary, he would clean the traps every day or twice a week – whatever it takes. It will be professionally cleaned twice a year by Fletcher/Harmony Environmental with quarterly reports from the company. Vacuum jets will be used where the grease is sucked up rather than pushed into the town lines.
November 15, 2006 Page 2.
Mr. Jalbert did not know whether this would work. Mr. Belanger stated he would clean the trap twice a week and jet the line. Mr. Jalbert asked if Mr. Belanger would write a letter to the Board of Health with a copy to Mr. Jalbert stating this would work. Mr. Belanger stated he would draft a letter and call Harmony. He will have the line jetted and have Mr. Jalbert check the line. Mr. Belanger promised this would be taken care of.
The minutes of November 1, 2006, were read and reviewed. Mr. Bator moved to accept the minutes of this date, seconded by Ms. Klick and passed unanimously.
The secretary was asked to check with Ms. McCool in regard to an issue of iron in well water at 169 Butler Road.
The Board next discussed the trash contract with Allied Waste Services. The amount of the bond will be increased and the minutes of October 18, 2006 will be changed to read: “The Board of Health will oversee the contract (instead of sign the contract). In regard to Bulky Day, it was suggested that the Board ask for (4) “free” roll-off containers, instead of the present (3), and perhaps (2) compactors. Mr. Klick stated that she feels the compactors can slow things down. After discussion, it was determined that (4) roll-off containers and (1) additional compactor will be asked for. Dr. Smith will upgrade the contract and email the final draft to Ms. Taft to make copies for Board members for the next meeting on December 6th.
Update of responsibilities followed:
Beavers – Ms. Klick informed the Board that Betty Faichney from Paradise Lake area wanted to know what the Board will do in regard to a beaver situation she has. The beavers are endangering her dogs. Mr. Allard stated the Board would do nothing because there is no public health risk involved. This is open season to trap. No sign of beaver were present when he and Ms. McCool investigated in the spring. The Board directed Ms. Taft to send a letter to Ms. Faichney stating that the trapper must use state-sanctioned traps and informing her the dam cannot be breached. A copy will be sent to Conservation Commission.
Body Art Regulations – Mr. Bator had nothing to report.
Bulky Day/Hazardous Waste Day – Ms. Taft had been asked to contact PSC Environmental Services for their fees/charges and availability. The Board is awaiting a response.
Communicable Diseases – Ms. Jacobs stated that a case of Lyme was reported. Mr. Allard asked Ms. Jacobs if the two cases of Whooping Cough were reported and she informed him they had not been. She will contact the school nurses for the information.
Finances - Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
Floor Drains – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
Food Safety – Mr. Bator had nothing to report.
Health Fair – Ms. Jacobs had nothing to report.
Housing Safety – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
Massage Licenses – Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
Press Relations – Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
Recycling – Ms. Klick mentioned that a resident called in regard to a crushed trash barrel cover.
Tobacco – Dr. Smith stated that the web page should reflect that one of his duties is tobacco. Another change will involve adding housing to Mr. Allard’s responsibilities and remove it from Mr. Bator’s responsibilities.
Trash – Ms. Klick had nothing to report.
Wells – already discussed.
November 15, 2006 Page 3.
Ms. Jacobs informed the Board members that in the past Wing Memorial Hospital had ordered the flu vaccine for Monson. They no longer are doing so; therefore, the Senior Center, under the auspicious of the Board of Health, will order the vaccine. Ms. Jacobs asked the Board if anyone had any objections to the Senior Center using the refrigerator the Board has in their office to store the vaccine. No one objected to this use.
Ms. Jacobs also asked the Board if the United Universalist Church could have a year round license for food. She has spoken to Ms. McCool, who did not have a problem with this. The Board was in agreement and granted the request.
The Board briefly reviewed the regulations for outdoor wood burning boilers for the Town of Hardwick, which were submitted by Ms. Taft. These could provide guidelines.
The correspondence was reviewed and read.
At 9:22 p.m. Ms. Jacobs moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dr. Smith and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Monson Board of Health
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