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 January 11, 2018 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, Jean-Francois Leblanc, Sanitary Inspector; Jason Dulmaine, Sanitary Inspector. Meeting Minutes Review & Approval: Ian Murray made a motion to approve the November 20, 2017 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Sandra Knipe. All were in favor. Motion carries. Council Petition #318-17, Petition to Ban Plastic Bags: Mr. Curry stated Councilor Joel Kaddy filed a Petition to the City Council to ban plastic bags in the City of Fitchburg. This petition will go to a subcommittee of the Council likely, Legislature Affairs Committee and the Council is looking for the Board of Health to write the Ordinance and support a version of it. Mr. Leblanc put together a regulation to present and discuss. Mr. Leblanc stated 20% of cities and towns in Massachusetts have adopted the plastic bag reduction measure. It would entail any and all retail establishments, food establishments and any business that gives out a plastic carryout bag with a handle at the point of sale would be replaced by a recyclable paper bag with handles, compostable bags with handles or a reusable bags that are durable plastic at least 3.0 mils in thickness. Mr. Dulmaine stated the point of contention is charging the constituents for the reusable bags. Mr. Leblanc proposes ($0.05) and all monies collected pursuant to the Ordinance would be retained by the store. Mr. Leblanc stated that for the haulers who handle recycling, plastic bags are clogging the recycling equipment at recycling facilities and they would like to find a way to control the contamination of the recycling going to the facilities. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the Health Department shall issue a warning notice to the retail establishment for the initial violation. There will be a phase in period of a year for establishments to draw down an existing inventory of single use plastic check out bags but stores would not be able to buy new ones. There would also be a report on inventory reduction and remaining stock. Sandra Knipe made a motion that the Board of Health support this regulation for Reduction of Checkout Bags by Retail Establishments. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Private Well Regulations: Mr. Leblanc stated MADEP developed a model BOH Regulation for Private Wells for the use by Boards of Health in adopting a municipal regulation governing private wells, water testing and water quality within their borders. Statewide it is understood that well regulations are only from local BOH’s. The state doesn’t have any regulation or laws pertaining to well drilling aside from well drillers being registered with the state and being permitted by DEP to drill wells. It is highly recommended that the Board develop standardized forms for information requested of private well owners. Such forms may include the following; Well Construction Permit Application, Pumping Test Reports, Water Quality Report and/or Water Supply Certificate Application. These regulations would entail Well Drillers to be permitted in the city along with fees associated with it. The well drillers would have to follow the Board’s regulation as to how a well has to be drilled and where a well can be drilled. This regulation would force the well driller to perform a water test once the well is drilled. These regulations would apply to new well drilled. Mr. Curry stated there will be training and more information available. Ms. Knipe motioned to table the matter until after the training to resume the discussion and proposed regulations. This motion was seconded by Ian Murray, all were in favor. Landfill Expansion Discussion and update: Mr. Curry stated the City Council recently adopted a Resolution endorsing the Westminster Home Rule Petition to the General Court Titled “An Act Authorizing the Town of Westminster to exchange land for the continuation of solid waste management and disposal services”. In short, the Resolution is to support a land swap for the purposes of a landfill expansion. There is another petition before the Council to authorize a Memorandum of Understanding which basically states that Fitchburg would continue to receive all the benefits it currently receives as part of the Amended and Restated Solid Waste Disposal Agreement. The petition also authorizes the Mayor to execute and deliver any and all documents necessary to facilitate the intent of the Council’s approval of the Resolution #296-17. This MOU is an agreement involving the Town of Westminster, City of Fitchburg and Waste Management. Mr. Curry stated that it would be good for this Board to show support for the expansion and to keep the current agreement that is in place and to take whatever steps are necessary to move the expansion forward. Sandra Knipe made a motion that this Board supports the continuation of the Landfill as proposed in this meeting tonight. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Staff Reporting: Mr. Curry presented the Housing Inspectors Reports, Nurse’s Report, and Food and Milk Inspectors Reports for 2017. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the 2017 Housing Inspectors for 2017. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Sandra Knipe made a motion to accept the Food and Milk Inspectors 2017 Annual Report. Motion was seconded by Ian Murry. All were in favor. Motion carries Sandra Knipe made a motion to accept the December 2017 Nurse’s Report. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Sandra Knipe made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm.