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 Minutes for Board of Health meeting held on Monday, April 23, 2018 __________________________________________________________________________________ 5:05 Meeting called to order 5:06 Plumbing Code variance request: Gardner High School, Watkins Field. Present for the School department; Wayne Anderson, Facilities director for the school department, Roland Jean Building Commissioner. Wayne and Roland have come before the board for a variance request seeking relief for the Watkins Field House from Section 10.10 #18 minimum facilities for buildings other than residential. The Watkins field house can seat approximately 1,500 seats, table 1 in section 1010 requires 25 water closets and 5 lavatories for men and 13 water closets and 5 lavatories for women. The City is proposing the following fixtures, the men’s room to have 3 water closets and 3 urinals with 3 lavatory sinks, the women’s room will consist of 6 water closets and 3 lavatories. There will also be a gender neutral family bathroom consisting of 1 water closet and 1 lavatory. In addition to the new bathrooms, Gardner High School will be open and available for use, and will have an additional 4 water closets and 3 lavatories in the women’s room and 3 water closets, 5 urinals and 3 lavatories in the men’s room. Letter submitted by Michael J Guida Sr., The City of Gardner Plumbing and Gas Inspector, is in full support of the variance. The board of Health members approved the variance 2-0 vote. Atty. Geoffrey Tobia was not present. Jennifer will have a letter for Wayne Anderson, Facility Manager of Gardner Public Schools, stating that the Board Members found that what was proposed to be adequate to meet everyone’s needs. 5:15 Minutes from February 26, 2018 to review change and signed. Minutes from March 26, 2018 reviewed and signed. 5:20 Funeral Home Directors permits to be signed. All were signed. 5:25 Old Business: Jennifer has paperwork from the cannabis seminar to give all board members. Basically, there is no regulatory authority at the local level. They do not consider edibles a food as long as they are not preparing the edibles on site. Jennifer went to the Doyle Conservatory for a seminar, K P Law was there, as well as Jen Flannigan and Kay Doyle, Kay is the chair of Cannabis Control Commission. There still seems to be many questions unanswered regarding the new cannabis law going into effect on April 1st. As of April 1st Medicinal facilities can request their permits at the state level. As of July 1st people will be able to apply for permits to sell recreationally. If someone would like to open a medicinal facility they have to meet all requirements at the state level before going to the local level. Right now Gardner has one “host agreement” for a medicinal facility to be located on Pearson Blvd. Jennifer does not believe that recreational facilities will have to have a “host agreement”, but they  do have to meet all the requirements on the state level before they go to the local level. Recreational facilities would then have to go through the zoning process for a special permit. If there are any issues, violations or if someone has complaints they will have to reach out to the Cannabis Control Commission. Jennifer has concerns that the CCC will not be able to keep up with issues that may arise from all the communities that the CCC will have to cover. The City has to have at least two recreational facilities. Although many communities are putting a cap on how many recreational facilities they have, the webinar Jennifer listened to suggested that the communities should not cap the amount of recreational facilities because of possible demographic changes. The board wanted to know who decides how many facilities are allowed in a community. Jennifer said that it is the council that does the capping. At this point there is nothing that the Board of Health needs to do unless someone is making edibles. Jennifer let the board know that she is going to court for the 142 Pleasant Street regarding the receivership on the property. Jennifer is getting calls to do percs. Lauren has been very busy with housing and grass issues. Geoffrey asked about Chestnut Street. Jennifer said that there have been no complaints at this point. 5:40 Set next meeting for June 4, 2018, adjourn. ________________________ _______________________ _________________________ Dr. Mulqueen MD, Chairperson Susan Avallone, Member Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member All conversations are documented on recording identified as B.O.H April 23, 2018