BOH
January 21, 2015
Regular meeting of the Monson Board of Health was called to order at 6:06 p.m.
Members present were Carrie Payne, Beau Schneider and Vicki Alfano. Lorri McCool was in attendance.
New potential Board members, Wayne Yee and Joanna Sorreiro present.
Monson resident Betty Holmes and Deborah Mahar present.
Beau Schneider made motion to accept the minutes from the January 07, 2015 meeting and seconded by Vicki Alfano. All in favor. The minutes of March 20, 2013 cannot be accepted at this time and were tabled. Lorri McCool retaining #6 from Jan. 8, 2014 meeting.
Bill schedules, abatements and payroll were signed.
Lorri McCool advised the Board that she is going to start attending Department head meetings held on the third Wednesday of the month beginning, Feb. 18th at 9am. She will be the representative from the BOH. Claire Forgues will advise Town Administrator, Evan Brassard via e-mail.
Lorri McCool addressed Betty Holmes and asked her for an update on the no running water situation at her home at 36 King St. Betty explained that being disabled, she has been very fortunate to have gallons of water provided from individuals and help from her PCA who does her laundry off site for her. Betty manages to do her dishes, flush her toilet, maintain her home and personal hygiene needs. However, with this being said, the well needs to be located and the problem fixed since she has been without water since Oct. 2014. Betty has currently been in contact with the housing authority and should be notified within two weeks, if she can temporarily re-locate to the village in an appropriate, handicap accessible apartment. Through her PCP, she has made another contact with an individual that possibly can help with the well problem.
She also has the name of the owner of the adjacent lot that her well is on, Heriberto Flores. Betty will contact her lawyer to draft a letter, so that possibly the well can be located. Vicki Alfano questioned what the source of heat was at the home. Betty said, she uses oil/ forced warm air and that it was checked not too long ago and operational. Vicki Alfano asked about the cats, if they had been spayed/neutered and Betty said, “no”. Vicki Alfano advised, she will help take care of that problem. Lorri McCool informed the Board, that State and local rules and regulations still apply in these circumstances regarding residential water, but the Board is willing to work with Ms. Holmes and they don’t want to see her displaced. Carrie Payne asked for some sort of timeline and Ms. Holmes said, she will call her atty. tomorrow and also the PCP that is helping her. The Board determined that Ms. Holmes could remain in her home until appropriate handicap housing was identified. Once
the housing becomes available, she will immediately move into the temporary housing while the well issue is addressed. The senior center has offered, with the BOH’S approval, to bring her to her home daily from the village, she can tend to her cats and whatever else she needs to do at her home and then the van will bring her back to the apt. The house will not be posted “unfit for human habitation”, but a required timeline for repair will have to be met. There will be no overnights once Ms. Holmes has vacated the residence until running water is re-established. She will stay in contact with Lorri McCool with all updates as they develop.
Lorri McCool updated the Board on the High St. resident. The resident has looked at an apartment complex in East Longmeadow and is in the process of submitting an application.
Lorri McCool has been completing the restaurant inspections for town. All have been ok and she needs to finish up with Adam’s IGA. Lorri was most impressed with Monson Pizza Shop and Subway. Lorri advised the Board that Tee Jay’s had been temporarily closed to the public for code violations by both Building and the Fire departments. The Magic Spoon which operates the kitchen there is not up and operational until all necessary violations have been addressed. Both The Magic Spoon and Tee Jay’s hold current licenses with the BOH for operation. Lorri also informed the Board of an inspection that she and the building inspector went out on with violations that will be handled through the Building dept.
Lorri McCool was informed by Ed Miga, Wilbraham DPW, that John Morrell called him requesting information regarding their beaver control program. With Lorri, the health agent in Wilbraham and Hampden also, she called and advised John who Wilbraham uses for their program and they have been most successful. Joanna Sorreiro asked general information about the trappers and who issues the permits? Joanna also inquired, if that was the same procedure, when there was a problem on residential property? Lorri McCool answered that the BOH issues the permits, but the resident has to hire a licensed trapper, if it’s determined a problem exists posing a threat to a septic system or well. Chair Person, Carrie Payne suggested that with the new season coming upon us with potential beaver problems that Claire Forgues, Adm. Assistant to BOH, place
a call to John Morrell, Highway Dept. and ask for he and his men to monitor the (4) potentially “hot spots” that present problems. If a problem can be identified early, it would allow the board time to have a meeting before the permit was signed. Then Carrie suggested, the BOH, Highway and possibly Conservation could meet and once again to discuss more permanent, viable solutions. The goal being that all three departments work together to find a long term solution that best serves the public.
Lorri McCool gave the Board the newest information about the ongoing problem at 17 Thompson St. House a total loss.
Re-wording the language and broadening the usage for funds in our recycling account has been tabled for the next meeting. Vicki Alfano to present the contest plans for the schools to the superintendant with an April projection date.
Suggestions for the 2014 revisions to the Town report tabled for the next meeting.
Correspondence was reviewed. Lorri McCool still has #6 from Jan. 8, 2014 meeting.
Wayne Yee, new potential Board member has now attended three board meetings and tonight submitted his application. Unanimously, by the Boards approval, his letter of recommendation will be submitted to the Selectman for appointment.
Next meetings are scheduled for Wednesday February 04, 2015 and February 18, 2015 at 6:00 pm.
Carrie Payne made motion to adjourn at 8:09 pm, seconded by Vicki Alfano.
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