Board of Health

July 09, 2015 Present were: Ian Murray, Chairman; John Bogdasarian, M.D. Member; Sandra Knipe, R.N. B.S.N. Member; Stephen D. Curry, Director; Neil Gorman, David E. Ross Associates; Patrick Roy, Home Owner Minutes of Last Meeting: Minutes of June 04, 2015 meeting were accepted as presented. Staff & Annual Reports: Presented were reports from the Sanitary Code Inspectors. In 2014, the BOH had two full time inspectors as well as two part time inspectors. Full time inspectors have a different focus than the part time inspectors. Both part time inspectors are now full time employees. In May of 2014, Jean F. Leblanc became the Recycle Coordinator, as the department received a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Leblanc has submitted a report from May 2014 to present for the Board’s review. Since the inception of the cart system in 2012 to present, trash has decreased and recycle has increased. The City has saving about $150,000 annually in disposal costs as a result of the cart system. The statistics for Code Inspectors as well as for the Recycle coordinator will be compiled into the 2014 Annual Report. Our Director discussed the recycle rate as well as trash and recycle tonnage. Twenty five percent of our waste is recycled which does not include yard waste. The State DEP goal is thirty percent. Fitchburg has obtained the States goal of thirty percent with recycled materials as well as yard waste. In 2011, the City was under ten per cent. Under the landfill contract since 1992, we do not pay for curbside recycling services so the city does not benefit financially on market returns of recycling. The city has received multiple awards for reaching the goal of 30% waste reduction. The Recycling Coordinator also created a six page calendar that each participating household received. It explains how to dispose of items curbside as well as at the Landfill disposal options. It shows yard waste collections, hazardous waste dates and medication and sharps disposal options. Stickers were also issued to residents to apply on city issued recycling carts with instructions on how to recycle and what items can and cannot be placed into the recycling cart. The Recycle Coordinator’s report from May to July was accepted as presented. The Food & Milk Inspector’s numbers for the 2014 Annual Report are not yet completed. Our Director went over the Food & Milk report from January to April, 2014 with the board members. As mandated by State Law, our inspector visits food establishments at least twice a year. The Food & Milk Inspector’s report was accepted as presented. Mr. Curry briefly went over the 2014 annual nursing report. It includes communicable diseases that the nurse investigated throughout the year as well as Body Art Establishment and other inspections. Lyme disease is now reportable; numbers are down from last year while mosquito borne illnesses are on the rise. Dr. Bogdasarian asked about the number of opioid overdoses. Our Director responded that the current tracking method is terrible. The Board of Health can only track opioid overdoses through the cause of death on burial permits issued in the City. These reports usually come back as pending toxicology and can take much time to actually receive the final determination which makes reporting difficult. The 2014 report for the Public Health Nurse was accepted as presented. Local Upgrade Approvals for Title V: Neil Gorman, David E. Ross Associates is presenting plans for 560 High Rock Road. The septic system is failing with two active wells in the front yard. Extensive soil testing was done on the property to find a replacement area. The property is a long narrow lot just under an acre of land. There is a bordering vegetative wetland system running down the southerly property line. The slopes are steep, the land area is limited which also includes wetlands and wells. Soil testing was started in the side yard next to the existing system just outside the wells. There was very shallow depth to the ledge as they kept walking down the hill. They didn’t find enough soil depth until they got down into the rear of the property near the wetlands. The area is limited. To meet Title V with a variance, two feet of naturally occurring material must be present. Jeff Stephens and Mr. Gorman evaluated the area and found a couple of holes with depth. A percolation test was run and the material perked well with a five minute percolation rate. The first variance is because the system is less that fifty feet from the wetlands. The nearest portion of the leach field is thirty five feet. Mr. Gorman has tried to maximize that as much as possible by using the Presby Enviroseptic System. The advantage of using this system is to reduce the footprint size by up to forty percent. It helps reduce the impact to the area. The other major advantage of using the Presby System is how the breakout grading works. With this system the bottom of the leaching area is used. The Conservation Commission has also issued them an order of conditions as part of their approval. The first variance is thirty five feet versus fifty feet from the system to the wetlands. The second variance which is a Title V variance is to use an area that has less than four feet of naturally occurring pervious materials. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the local upgrade from fifty feet to thirty five feet from the system to the wetlands. Dr. Bogdasarian seconded the motion. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the Title V variance from four feet to two feet of naturally occurring pervious material. According to Mr. Curry, by code for a Title V variance, all abutters should be notified by certified mail ten days before the meeting. Mr. Gorman will notify all abutters of the variance. A meeting will be scheduled on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 5p.m. for approval. Ms. Knipe reneged on the motion to approve the Title V variance. 1453 Rindge Road which was on the agenda for a local upgrade approval was not necessary. Sandra Knipe wanted to follow up with Mike Burns and the Public Hearing of June 04, 2015 regarding 229 Rollstone Street. The BOH did not hear anything from the tenant or interpreter. The violations at this property were corrected. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Respectively Submitted, Tina M. Kreidler Principal Clerk/Stenographer