Board of Health

Office of the Board of Health City Hall 166 Boulder Drive – Suite 108 Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 978-829-1870 An organizational meeting was held on November 20, 2017 at 5:00 pm. Present: Ian Murray, Chairman; Stephen Curry, Director; Sandra Knipe, R.N.B.S.N., Member; Dr. John Bogdasarian, M.D, Member, Chris McKenzie, Whitman and Bingham. Title 5 - Local Upgrade Approval Request for 520 Marshall Road: Mr. McKenzie stated this is an existing 4 bedroom house built in 2005 with a Title 5 septic system designed and installed at this location. The system there now is an Infiltrator System and owners are having trouble with it and over time they had the system pumped out and was fine for a while but then filled and back up again. An inspection was conducted and found the Infiltrators were completely full of sewerage. After doing research it was found that this property wasn’t being used as a 4 bedroom home but being used as a 4 bed nursing home. A report from the water department showed they were using upwards of 600 gallons a day on average. This system was only designed for a 4 bedroom house which is 440 gallons. After discussion with Mr. Leblanc and Mr. Curry it was decided an upgrade to the existing system was necessary. Based on the original testing that was done on the property he designed a new system with conventional stone and pipe trenches not using Infiltrators and he sized the system for 750 gallons a day. The purpose of the variance they are requesting is that Title 5 doesn’t allow to qualify as an upgrade if you are increasing the flow to a facility, they are not increasing the flow they are accounting for the fact that this is the flow that is going there already. This variance they are asking is to get the property up to where it’s being used as. Mr. Curry stated the variance requires the neighbors be notified. All neighbors did receive the request and all return receipt requested green cards were signed by the abutters showing evidence they were notified. Ms. Knipe asked if this is a group home. Mr. Curry said there are Lodging House Regulations that states if there is more than 3 people they have to be licensed in the city however if they are licensed by another facility, which needs to be determined they would need a Lodging House License and Inspected twice a year. Mr. Curry stated most likely they are licensed through the state but there is not a definite answer yet and suggests to make that part of the conditions that it gets rectified. Ms. Knipe made a motion to grant this variance to create a 750 gallon per day system upgrade from a 440 gallon per day system so that it makes a sufficiently size leach area with the conditions that there will be a deed restriction recorded that limits the property to a four bedroom dwelling, and to satisfy the Lodging House Regulations if applicable. Mr. Murray 2nd the motion. All were in favor. Motion carries. Variance Request: Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments and Practitioners: Dennis Bradley, Practitioner; Request was withdrawn by the Petitioner. Meeting Minutes Review & Approval: Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the November 2, 2017 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Mr. Murray. All were in favor. Motion carries. Next meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Sandra Knipe made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5.40 pm. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm.