Board of Health

CITY OF GARDNER OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH ROOM 29, CITY HALL GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS 01440 (978) 630-4013 FAX (978) 632-4682 To: Jennifer A. Susen-Roy, BA. - Health Director Dr. John Mulqueen, Chairperson Susan Avallone, Member Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member Board of Health meeting held on Monday, January 23, 2017 __________________________________________________________________________________ 5:00 Meeting called to order 5:02 Meeting Minutes dated December 5th, 2016 to be signed. Meeting Minutes dated December 19th, 2016 to be signed. 5:05 Jennifer reported that during the month of December there were some issues with Waste Management picking up the trash and recycling throughout the city. Jennifer scheduled a meeting with Mike Wall, Public Sector Solutions, Waste Management, Dan Shea, district manager, and Mike Freeman, route supervisor. They were able to identify some issues as to why there were so many misses as well as the houses that were repeatedly missed. Some of the identified reasons causing the problems were; new drivers, broken down trucks, and driver errors. Another meeting has been planned in February with the truck drivers, and plans to meet quarterly as well. Jennifer wanted the board to know that as a rule, Waste Management does a great job. 5:15 Jennifer updated the board on the food permits status. Three ceases and desist orders were posted in the city which stated that they would not be able to open on January 1, 2017 if they did not get their paperwork in to renew their food permit. At this time, there is only one of the three that has not completed and was not able to open January 1 2017. Susan Avallone wanted to know who did not submit paperwork. Jennifer informed the board it was Holy Spirit Church. 5:20 Joan Hamlett, the tobacco agent, will hand deliver the regulations for the Flavored tobacco ban to the stores and advise them the effective date is March 1st 2017. Jennifer let the board know that no one has contacted this office with complaints at this time. 5:25 Unattended Box Donation regulations, Jennifer reported that the applications are coming in slowly. There have been some questions but no issues or complaints about the new regulation. 5:30 Jennifer applied for four Administrated search warrants for the Attorney Generals Housing Initiative. This puts receivers in place for abandoned and vacant properties that have been sitting in the foreclosure process with nothing being done with them. Jennifer and Lauren along with Detective Crockett, from the police department, as well as the Attorney General’s office executed the warrants on the four properties on January 23rd, 2017. The houses were secure and no one was living in them. Jennifer will process all the paperwork and submit it to the Attorney General’s office and the Attorney General’s office will then set up a court date. Dr. Mulqueen wanted to know how the houses are identified. Jennifer explained the Housing Development Authority identifies the properties that have been sitting abandoned and vacant and in foreclosure for a long period of time which need to be addressed. 5:45 Jennifer reported to the board that there have been many percs coming in for her to do. Jennifer explained how the perc test is done and that she needs to stay throughout the process to witness and document the time it takes the water to absorb into the ground. Susan asked if there is a fee  for the percs to be done. It cost $300 for a perc to be done and that money goes into the general fund. 5:50 The city is taking down the old Cinema on Parker Street. The company that has the contract to take down the building has to supply the Board of Health Department with pest control and asbestos certificates. The pest report is to verify that there are no signs of rodents living in the building. They are also responsible with keeping the dust down, they do this with water. This will prove to be a challenge in February with the freezing temperatures. 5:55 Old Business: Dr. Mulqueen asked about 273-275 Central Street, he wanted to know if there has been an update on the old Horrigan Cleaners issue. Jennifer reported that there has not been anything from the DEP since the HVAC Positive Air System was installed and the levels had gone from 240 micro grams to 9.6 micro grams. 6:00 Jennifer and Bernie had responded to a house in the city a couple of years ago, it was reported that there were a large amount of cats living in the house. At the time they found no violation to the sanitary code. At the same house, last week, a party reported that his neighbor has 30 to 40 cats inside and that someone is burning animal feces inside the house. Animal control was notified of the complaint. Lauren went to this house to do an inspection. She knocked on the door and no one would answer the door, she could see a cat in the window but smelled nothing burning. A plan was made to call the MSPCA as well as the Police. The Police will meet Lauren at the house and knock on the door, at which time, if access was gained, she would ask if she could do an inspection. No one responded. Jennifer had spoken with Attorney Flick in the meantime. Lauren went back another day with Detective Crocket from the Gardner Police department, still no answer. Some discussion with the board members on what was visible from the outside of the house, and if they could get a warrant to enter and do an inspection. 6:05 Next Meeting set up for February 27, 2017 @ 5:00 pm. Meeting adjourn. Recording proceedings were preserved and are available upon request. ________________________ _______________________ _________________________ Dr. Mulqueen MD, Chairperson Susan Avallone, Member Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member All conversations are documented on recording identified as B.O.H January 23, 2017