Board of Health

Easthampton Board of Health Meeting Minutes September 8, 2021 50 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027 PRESENT: Maggie Hebert (MH); Aimee Petrosky (AP); Beth Rist (BR), late, Bri Eichstaedt (BE), Health Director, Brian Chaddelaine (BC), Jackie Sienkiewicz (JS), Recorder. Also Present: Mike Czerwiec (MC), Mike O’Neil (MO), Greg Nuttleman (GN), Mark Tanner (MT), Lindsi Mailer (LM), Owen Zaret (OZ), Ryan Feyre (RF). Meeting held on Zoom and recorded. Motions: A motion to open the meeting at 5:30 PM. was made by MH and seconded by AP. All in favor – 2, Opposed – 0. Vote done by roll call. A motion to approve meeting minutes for June 23, 2021 and August 4, 2021 was made by AP and seconded by MH. All in favor – 2, Opposed – 0. Vote done by roll call. A motion to approve meeting minutes for August 31, 2021 was made by BR and seconded by MH. All in favor – 2, Opposed – 0. Vote done by roll call. Public Speak Time: None A motion was made by AP and seconded by MH to continue the Hearing Request: 359 Main St,. Hampton East Condominium Trust Variance request for (2) irrigation wells. All in favor – 2, Opposed – 0. Vote done by roll call. MO stated to the BOH that the property at 359 Main St was 13 acres of land. He stated that the wells would be for irrigation only and not drinking or potable water. He stated again that the wells would not interfere with the aquifer. He also stated that by using the wells to water the landscaping, it would be saving the City’s water supply by not drawing it down. MH asked MO what the cost incurred by the residents on a monthly basis. MO replied $50.00, but added that these residents were on fixed incomes. GN spoke to the BOH about his concerns about approving the variance. GN addressed MO about possible contamination of the groundwater from pesticides used by residents. GN read aloud a letter, attached, written by him about his concerns about approving the well variances. GN cited an example from the 1990s when Easthampton had to pay $2.5 million to build a treatment facility after contamination was found in the aquifer from waste oil on a dirt driveway. GN also noted that all activity occurring over the city’s source water and within the aquifer recharge area has the potential to affect water quality. GN referenced two letters, attached, by a past city engineer and public works director regarding a variance request regarding wells for irrigation by Hampton East in 2014, when that well was denied due to financial reasons. In addition to the previously mentioned concerns, GN also added that he opposed granting the variance solely for financial reasons on the homeowners' part. GN suggested that instead of the wells, perhaps the homeowners could consider alternative, more efficient ways of irrigating the land. GN asked MO if he could guarantee no contamination would occur. GN asked the BOH to deny the request for a variance. MC, Water Quality Programs Coordinator for the City of Easthampton, read a letter written by him, attached, to the BOH stating his opposition to the variance. MC explained that irrigation wells are direct connections from the surface to the aquifer and represent a potential pathway for contamination. He stated withdrawals from irrigation wells could create cones of depressions that could alter the path of the groundwater flow in such a way that could lead to contamination. For example, the plume of TCE moving from Southampton into the Hendrick Street Well Field (where it is removed by treatment) could be induced to flow toward the Brook St. or Nonotuck Park Wells where there is no treatment. Additionally, the irrigation well proposed could affect the amount of water available for municipal use as the state’s New Sustainable Water Management Initiative indicates that groundwater withdrawals from Easthampton’s portion of the Barnes Aquifer may already be near the maximum allowable limit. MC asked the BOH to take these concerns into consideration. A motion was made by AP and seconded by MH to deny the variance request for (2) irrigation wells at 359 Main St. and to close the hearing. All in favor – 2, Opposed – 0, Abstained - 1. Vote done by roll call. ● Discuss City Ordinance titled: Prohibition of Single Use Plastic Bags, Disposable Food Containers and Straws. AP commended the City Council on taking up such an endeavor. AP questioned OZ about concerns about the Hardship Deferment Application, attached, in the ordinance, attached. BE stated some concern that any business could state implementing the ordinance could be a hardship. BE stated that some businesses may consider an extra $5/month a hardship and it would be difficult for the BOH to grant these deferments based on financial factors. BE also explained that typically, public health regulations do not take finances into consideration. OZ stated that the goal of the ordinance is to reduce the use of these items and expects businesses to make a goodwill effort. OZ also said that it was up to the businesses to show the effect of this ordinance as a hardship. The BOH, BE and OZ discussed changes in the terminology of the ordinance to make the ordinance more in line with other BOH regulations. BE stated she would work on a variance language that is more consistent with regulations that the BOH enforces. This language would be ready by the next  BOH meeting. ● Mission Taco: BE discussed with the BOH an email, attached, sent to the office by the owner of Mission Taco, Sam Kochan, about the recent mask mandate approved by the BOH. BE asked Mr. Kochan to attend the BOH meeting and address his concerns with the BOH. Mr. Kochan agreed and asked to be placed on the BOH agenda but emailed BE the day of the meeting and stated he could not make the meeting. BE stated that she addressed all of the concerns brought up in the email. BE also said that the reply also had information from Megan Harvey, an epidemiologist hired by the City to create the weekly dashboards, and the sources of this information used to create the dashboard. BE stated that if there were further questions from the owner, that she would suggest he attend the next meeting. ● General/COVID-19 date update from Health Director: BE stated that Megan Harvey had completed her first dashboard for the Health Department. BE also said that she had a meeting with the mayor to discuss the still unfilled position of Public Health Nurse for the City. Be stated that she would be setting up a table at the concert at the Mill Pond Live event on Saturday to conduct COVID-19 vaccine outreach. BE said that she would be available to help schedule anyone up for a vaccine if they needed help. A motion was made by BR to adjourn the meeting; seconded by AP. All in favor: 3, opposed: 0. Vote done by roll call. Meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM. Next meeting is scheduled for Oct 5, 2021 at 5:30.