Board of Health

July 23, 2015 An organizational meeting was held at the Board of Health at 5:00 p.m. Present were: Ian Murray, Chairman; John Bogdasarian, M.D. Member; Sandra Knipe, R.N. B.S.N. Member; Stephen Curry, Director; Jeffrey Stephens, Sanitary Inspector; Neil Gorman, David E. Ross Associates. Accept Minutes of Meeting: Minutes of July 09, 2015 meeting were accepted as presented. Staffing and Annual Report: Jeffrey Stephens has been with the City of Fitchburg for fifteen years. He will be taking over as Director of Environmental Operations in the town of Westford effective August 03. He leaves with mixed emotions but feels it will give him a chance to grow. The Board as well as the Director thanked him and wished him well. Mr. Gorman was at the July 09, board meeting regarding a Title V variance as well as a local upgrade approval for 560 High Rock Road. Abutters were not notified of the variance at that time. The Title 5 variance that he is seeking is 310 CMR 15.415 (2), which is for upgrade systems for increase of flow to existing systems. No variance from the minimum requirement of four feet of naturally occurring pervious material set forth in 310 CMR 15.241, shall be granted unless the applicant demonstrates that alternatives for siting and on site systems with four feet of naturally occurring pervious material or connection to a sanitary sewer or connection to a shared system are not feasible. The lot is long and narrow with wetlands along one side. There are also two private wells at the front of the property. The existing system is in the middle of the property. Numerous test holes were performed downhill of the system; not even two feet of naturally occurring pervious material could be found. A couple of holes were dug in the rear of the property with at least two feet but they could not meet the four feet of natural occurring pervious material. The leaching area was designed using a Presby Enviroseptic System. It’s a gravity fed system. The tank will go approximately where the existing tank is and downhill to the new leach field. The nearest well is over 300 feet away from the leach field. Conservation has approved the plan and issued an order of conditions for the work within the buffer zone. Abutters have since been notified by certified mail. Sandra Knipe made a motion to accept the local upgrade approval for the reduction of the required offset from wetlands to leaching area from 50 feet to 35 feet. Ian Murray seconded the motion. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to approve the Title 5 variance at 560 High Rock Road. Sandra Knipe seconded the motion. Local Upgrade Approval: 70 Scott Road is a failed septic system that is across the street from Saima Park. The water table in this neighborhood is high. A reasonable PERC test could not be obtained. A hole was dug approximately eight to nine feet but it was quite wet. The original ground water was found under about four or five feet of fill. To construct the new system, the five feet of fill has to be removed. The local upgrade approval presently is to allow a sieve analysis in lieu of a percolation test. The soil was sent to a lab to identify the types and class of soil present. The soil was Class 1 sand and loamy sand which for a perc rate we would use the worst possible scenario with this type of soil; an 8 minute percolation test. According to the sieve analysis the system will be designed using an 8 minute per inch rate. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to accept the sieve analysis for 70 Scott Road. Sandra Knipe seconded the motion. New Business: Bill H.1950 is in the House, sponsored by Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner, Paul Frost of Auburn, and Kimberly Ferguson of Holden. Basically the bill restricts Boards of Health from the power to ban community wide sales of any legal consumer product by stores or establishments. This was definitely brought on by Westminster’s proposed ban to prohibit tobacco sales in the town. Sandra Knipe made it clear that the Board does not want to see this bill pass. The Board would need Council approval if we enacted a ban. Ian Murray does not think it’s a good idea to put Public Health in the hands of politicians. The bill will basically restrict the Board of Health’s authority. Cheryl Sbarra, lawyer for MAHB has voiced her concerns with the legislature. Mr. Curry suggested writing a letter from the Board and direct it to the appropriate party. The next meeting date is Thursday, September 03, 2015 at 5 p.m. Sandra Knipe made a motion to adjourn. Ian Murray seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m. Respectively Submitted, Tina M. Kreidler, Principal Clerk/Stenographer