Board of Health

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 15 2024 12:27 pm Office of the Board of Health City Hall 718 Main Street Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 978-829-1870 This was a regular meeting of the Board of Health held in the Legislative Building at 700 Main Street and recorded by FATV Studios, Thursday, February 15, 2024. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Bogdasarian. Present: Stephen Curry, Director, Dr. John Bogdasarian, Chair, Ian Murray, BOH- Member, Diane Tousignant-BOH Member, Karen Membrino, Clerk Stenographer, Evan Carloni, (Petitioner). Public Forum: There was no speaker in the public forum. Annual Appointment of Chair-Vote: Dr. Bogdasarian stated a vote was needed for the annual appointment of chairperson for the Fitchburg Board of Health. Mrs. Tousignant made a motion nominating Dr. Bogdasarian to continue as chairperson for the Fitchburg Board of Health. Motion was 2nd by Mr. Murray. All were in favor, motion carried. Hearing Requests: a. Royal Fuel Smoke Shop, 880 Water Street- Haji Ahmad- 105 CMR 665.000. Tobacco Sale Dr. Bogdasarian stated item was postponed due to unavailability of the owner. b. Local Upgrade Approval – Title 5 – 60 Scott Road • Requesting 2’ offset to groundwater (IA remedial use system) Mr. Evan Carloni stated he has plans for both properties and proceeds to present them online. Mr. Carloni stated 60 Scott Rd is a single-family home which has some wetland on both sides. Mr. Carloni proceeded to explain he is presenting a GeoMat system, a patented system similar to the Presby Elgin, which is being used in the offset to the high ground water table. 1 The two-foot offset is being requested to reduce mounding and to also lessen any impact from that mounding of runoff towards the dwelling. Mr. Carloni stated that they don’t want to create an issue where they have a system too high that will be dumping all the runoff water onto the foundation. Dr. Bogdasarian asked where the runoff would be directed to. Mr. Carloni stated that the runoff would be directed towards the back of the lot where they would redirect it with a swale towards the rear of the property which would stay out of the wetlands. Further questions were asked about the size of the house by Dr. Bogdasarian and Mrs. Tousignant regarding nearby properties who may be affected by the runoff. The Petitioner stated that the house was a 3-bedroom house and stated that neither house would be affected because properties are elevated above this property. Dr. Bogdasarian asked for further clarification on the difference the runoff would make compared to the conditions existing. Mr. Carloni stated that the usual system would be a pipe and stone which would make the system at least two and a half feet taller, or a mounded system. This would mean that they either would have to deal with a more aggressive runoff or require a retaining wall and a larger sized system resulting in a retaining wall box about three or four feet out of the ground. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to allow the two-foot offset for 60 Scott Road. Motion was 2nd by Mrs. Tousignant. All were in favor, motion carried. c. Local Upgrade Approval – Title 5 – 112 Sheldon Road • Requesting 2’ offset to groundwater (I/A remedial use system) Mr. Carloni stated that 112 Sheldon is a single-family home with three bedrooms. The Petitioner stated there is a well in the front of the property which dictates where the system can be placed. Previous designs where done, but because of lots being subdivided and new construction homes going up on the road, the design would go right through other properties which limited those designs. The Petitioner explained the new plan which will be outside of the well radius requirements and away from the house. The system is called Presby Enviro Septic System which is similar to the GeoMat system. The Petitioner explained the system is a patented sand filter which receives a two-foot reduction from the remedial use approval letter for the technology. The system would still be mounded but will reduce mounding and bring the sizing down slightly compared to a pipe and stone system. Mr. Carloni stated that the request for the two-foot offset reduction would be to avoid a pump chamber. The Petitioner further explained that the pump chamber would have had to be a bit down slope which would mean they have to trench back all the way with an electric line which they are trying to avoid using the pump chamber. The request would be a two-foot reduction via the approval letter for the Presby Enviro Septic System. 2 Mr. Murray asked further clarification on the elevation of the terrain and whether everything will be done away from the well. Petitioner clarified both. Dr. Bogdasarian asked how long the pump chamber system would function without the pump in the event of a power outage. Mr. Carloni states that Title 5 says they have to achieve 24 hours of storage within the pump chamber itself, in case of an emergency they would need a backup generator wired into the pump. The Petitioner further explained how much water the pump chamber would need to hold to meet the requirements. Dr. Bogdasarian made motion to approve petition of the two-foot offset to groundwater at 112 Sheldon Road. Motion was 2nd by Mr. Murray. All were in favor, motion carried. Food Establishment Permits: Dr. Bogdasarian stated that there is a number of food purveyors that are operating without a permit as they expired as of December 31st, 2023. Director Curry stated he would submit the list to the Legal Department, and they would be in charge of sending the establishments a letter which could begin the process of closure if ignored. He also stated that those establishments have already received three letters from the Health Department, as well as emails regarding this issue. If the establishments don’t apply and pay for a permit, Director Curry stated they would take steps to close the operation. Dr. Bogdasarian stated there is a total of 15 establishments on the list. Dr. Bogdasarian further noted that the permit entailed them the permission to serve food and further asked what the process was for the application permits. Director Curry explains this is an application process which is required by the code and the establishment would have to pay a permit fee which is designed to cover the cost of providing an inspection service for the year. Director Curry seeks the Boards approval to hand the list over to the Legal Department to let them continue the process. Mr. Murray made a motion to request the Legal Department of the City of Fitchburg to send a letter to the establishments that are operating without a permit. Motion was 2nd by Mrs. Tousignant. All were in favor, motion carried. Meeting Minutes: Mrs. Tousignant made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from November 2, 2023. Dr. Bogdasarian 2nd the motion. All were in favor, motion carried. 3 Announcements: Director Curry stated that Wednesday March 6th the Prevention and Outreach team would be partnering with the Community Health Connections (CHC) to do a Substance Use Disorder Resource Fair. This would take place in the lobby at Community Health Connections at 326 Nichols Rd from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Here there would be the opportunity to learn about detox facilities, medication assisted treatment, peer recovery center, family support groups, various housing agencies, 12 step groups, and more. Subsequently at 5 PM there will be a free Narcan Training on the second floor. Participants would receive a free training as well as Narcan (Naloxone). This would be free, and no pre-registration is required. Additionally, refreshments will be provided for those who join. For more information, contact Sue Christensen, who is the Outreach and Prevention Coordinator, at 978-829-1854. Mrs. Tousignant encourage people who may know someone that may have a substance use disorder or may have taken Narcan in the past to participate in these opportunities. Mrs. Tousignant also states that there are a lot of opportunities in Fitchburg to get these supplies and have the trainings. Dr. Bogdasarian stated that he wants to encourage people to get there COVID vaccination. Even though COVID is less of a threat than in the past, it is still around together with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and by also being in Flu season, Dr. Bogdasarian encourages individuals to get vaccinated against those conditions. Dr. Bogdasarian made motion to adjourn meeting. Motion was 2nd by Mr. Murray. All were in favor, motion carried. Meeting Adjourned at 4:45pm. 4