HARWICH BOARD OF HEALTH
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007 AT 7:00 PM
SMALL HEARING ROOM – TOWN HALL
MINUTES
BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: CHAIRMAN DR. STANLEY KOCOT, MIMI WATSON, DR. AL HURST, DR. ROBERT INSLEY, PAMELA HOWELL, HEALTH DIRECTOR PAULA J. CHAMPAGNE.
OTHERS: ATTORNEY JAMES HINSON, MR. NELSON, JOHN PRESTON, FAITH PRESTON.
I CALL TO ORDER
II MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING—May 22, 2007—Motion Dr. Hurst moved to approve the minutes of May 22, 2007 with corrections noted; Dr. Insley seconding; motion passed. Corrections: p. 2, first paragraph: “these” to this and p. 4, line 7, change “that” to than.
III 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. BOARD OF HEALTH WORK SESSION (times corrected for accuracy)-None
IV 7:30 p.m. OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A – Continued from 12/19/06, Preston, Queen Anne Road, return to compliance plan for an expansion in a Water Recharge Area---Attorney James Hinson: since last here we have modified the larger floor space over the garage intended as an office, but meeting the definition of a bedroom, by not casing the opening and using sheetrock at the top of the stairs, so it is not a separate room. We would also take the remaining walls back 4’ to the eave wall. Health Director: design plans were not followed, which has resulted in a lot of time and dollars being wasted. Had the original plans been followed through, there would have been no problem. This is an already constructed room;
it would have been easier to amend if we were at the design stage. Plans called for an unfinished space; it would have required a permit to finish the room and renegotiate the space. The decision was made during construction to finish the room and inspector for final approval couldn’t give it. Both have learned. If accept along with a deed restriction may be the best option other than dismantling the room. Mr. Nelson, Chatham Building and Design: we took the alternative of opening the room to the downstairs. Another option: a railing with a baluster looking up the stairs wouldn’t allow a door there and heat loss would have been prohibitive. Finished, they would have eave storage with the finished walls; I consider it unfinished as has no carpet, no trim. I did sheet rock the walls and insulate it. Attorney Hinson: it is an issue of permitting and compliance—could record at the registry there is not supposed to be a door there. Motion Dr. Hurst moved to approve the
plan verbally submitted June 12, 2007 with a deed restriction with structural modifications as permit modification; Ms Watson seconding; motion passed with 3 voting for and 1 against. Dr. Insley: this Board has no way of monitoring; the next owners may not want an office. Health Director: we did not grant a permit to finish that room; it was an unfinished room over the garage. We found improvements during the walk-through and I insisted that they stop it now and not leave it hanging. We needed enforcement upfront and expectations spelled out. It had the hallmark of deception. An unfinished garage room is where most violations are seen, either during construction or after sign off. Heat made it a habitable space.
V NEW BUSINESS
A – Discussion – Wequassett Inn – request before Planning Board – Special Permit/site plan – to add second story, four additional units—postponed at request of participants until July 10 meeting.
B – Hearing – Variance request – Town of Harwich to MA Dept. of Public Health – to reclassify beaches to Tier 3 for the following inspection sanitary survey: Red River – middle, Pleasant Bay at Route 28, Red River, east, Snow Inn/Merkel Beach, Bayview Road, Bank Street, Atlantic Avenue, Seabreeze, Pleasant Road, Gray Neck Road, Earle Road, Brook Road, Wa-Wah-Tay-See Road—Health Director: the purpose of this hearing is to have the Board of Health accept the sanitary surveys which would allow application for Tier 3 status for these 13 beaches as they meet the three requirements to be reclassified as such:
1) have had at least 3 years of substantially care-free samples,
2) they have been sampled 10 to 15 weeks each of those years, and
3) a shoreline survey has been done: walking, photographing and identifying any sources of contamination. Low purity means scores less than 30 points. The scores for these beaches have been in the 6 to 16 range from May to Labor Day, pretty pristine beaches. Queries: are dog droppings such as allowing them in the parking lot at Red River Beach considered a possible source of contamination? Is this a cost savings? What is rack? Monthly rather than weekly sample testing is a time savings; but if there is an overage, we would go back to weekly testing. The surveys required a lot of legwork. We will add in presence of dogs on Red River Beach as a contaminant source. Motion Dr. Hurst moved to accept the sanitary surveys and allow reclassification of the listed beaches to Tier 3; Ms Watson seconding; motion
passed unanimously.
VI REPORT OF THE HEALTH DIRECTOR
-Health Fair/Health education—I will be attending two seminars on the same day, June 21, from 9:30 to 12:30 a Fair on Emergency Preparedness—Are You Ready?, where Lee Culver will be speaking on Home Emergency Preparedness. We will display the Board of Health Trifold on Potassium Iodine and the brochures we have prepared for the home emergency kit. On the same day, I have been asked to do an orientation for Life Guards by Jeff Cantor. In particular, I will speak on skin cancer in an occupational setting. I’m doing internet research and finding alarming news about skin cancer in the Life Guard ranks—especially in California. They are eligible for worker’s
compensation if life guarding is paid and you develop skin cancer abnormalities. This is a town exposure, not just for life guards, but for highway workers, animal control officers and outside worker crews. We have not put an emphasis on prevention. Just as not having steel-toed shoes can be written up as an infraction, we may need a policy change on such precautions as insect repellant, sunscreen and sun glasses. We may suggest a policy change to Department Heads. Jeff had a friend die in a local incident. Other concerns I will cover include: ticks, medical waste, sharps disposal at the beach, the sampling programs—questions asked about the numbers for the area and handling people’s anxiety. Dermatologists suggest that applying sunscreen only once in 8 hours is not enough, especially if you are in and out the water. There is a brochure: cancer for California life guards—risk issues, sunscreen and sunblock, # ‘s needed and how to apply properly—coverage
and amount.
-Computer news—web page update—none given.
-Attorney Feurebach—that process still lies with the Cape Cod Commission; the town referred it to them and we have had no update as yet.
-Police Dept.—They failed in their recent inspection by the MA Dept. of Public Health; they lack standard sanitation. The Health Director informed the Town Administrator that this has been a recurring problem and is an embarrassment for the town. A tighter oversight is needed. It is particularly discouraging after all of the time and effort the Health Department spent in the past designing their cleaning manual, schedule for tasks, and cleaning how-to for their building. The employee doesn’t get to work on sanitation; they are pulled in for other odd jobs; sanitation is at the bottom of the list. One year ago they found the lock-ups were dirty and had been left since the
weekend. It is a management issue; there is disorganization. The higher ups are displeased as it gives the town a bad report. Comment: if it’s dirty, close it down. The town administrator has been very effective in other areas. Complaints about the curbing and sidewalks in the center of town, which is a state responsibility, after two calls, they installed the curbing one week later.
-Food Talk—Experienced food handlers know to use gloves and clean hands. We mail this out to the food businesses. Comment: noticed a food handler recently did all of the right steps, but upon getting ready to touch the food, proceeded to adjust his glasses—which loses the sanitary barrier he’s established.
-staff position—it is time for the 6-month review. It has been a very successful probationary period and been mutually beneficial. Full time to part-time is hard; two days only. We have had a lot of new facilities, which require a major time commitment. Plus, after short-staffing, it has been a task getting our old permitters back on track as to what is expected of them. She is now on permanent status.
-Reese—this is a new operation, a high risk one. It requires a written plan, procedures to follow. There is a critical control point. They will be sealing a smoked fish product after using an oxygen process. They utilize one in another state.
-Kopelman & Paige-- they are responding to the complaints of Todd Perry, have compiled the package and sent it to the Superior Court.
VII CORRESPONDENCE
-Mike and Mary J. Metzger to Harwich Harbormaster et al re update on phosphorus legislation
-Assistant Town Planner to Building Inspector re 1914 Belmont subdivision plan
-Pipeline, Winter 2007
-CDC Health Advisory re soft contact lens solution eye infections
--DEP re Harwich Water Dept. certification
-2006 Annual Water Quality Report
--MA Dept of Public Health re meningococcal disease and vaccination for residential students at boarding schools and colleges
-Bennett & O’Reilly re Harwich Police Dept.
-Coastal Engineering re Harwich Middle/Elementary Schools
-Coastal Engineering re Stop & Shop
-Vegetation Control Service, Inc. re NSTAR Electric and Gas herbicide program along power lines
-RI Analytical re Stop & Shop lab analysis
VIII BILLS--None
IX PERMITS
There are three new permits on the list: for Harwich Central Café retail and food seating and an installer who passed the test. Recommend approval. Motion Dr. Insley moved to approve the list of June 12, 2007 as presented; Ms Watson seconding; motion passed.
X OTHER
Note it is the August 21st meeting that will be held at the Community Center; all others will remain in this hearing room.
XI ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. upon a motion by Dr. Insley.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra C. Howard
Next meeting is Tuesday, July 10 at <<< 7:00 p.m.>>> in the lower hearing room.
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