MINUTES

BOARD OF HEALTH

September 20, 2007

 

 

 

OPENING:  The regular scheduled meeting of the Board of Health opened at 7:00 p.m.  The following members were in attendance:

Dr. Jerome Azia

Sue Brzoska

Casimir Tryba

 

Mr. Tom FitzGerald, Health Agent, was also in attendance.

 

MINUTES

 

1.             Ms. Brzoska made a motion to accept the minutes of 09/06/07.  Mr. Tryba seconded the motion and the vote of the Board was unanimous in favor.

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Mike Pease, Youth Tobacco Prevention Program Coordinator, attended the meeting to discuss compliance issues relative to tobacco control regulations.  Mr. Pease is responsible for educating businesses and doing compliance checks for Western Mass.  Compliance checks are conducted twice a year and the results are emailed to Boards of Health and State officials within two weeks.  Mr. Pease works with youth volunteers who are not put in a difficult or dangerous position.  They merely go to businesses and attempt to purchase tobacco products.  If a business does sell to the youths, Mr. Pease complies a detailed report and saves the evidence for a period of one year.  However, Mr. Pease is not an enforcement agent.  Any fines levied on businesses for violations are the responsibility of enforcement agents within the Town.  Mr. Pease stated that his primary focus is on educating businesses of the existing laws and providing materials such as mandated signs at no charge.  There were some violations during Mr. Pease’s last compliance check, most of which were businesses not having a permit for selling tobacco products or lacking a Department of Revenue license.  Mr. FitzGerald will contact all violators noted on Mr. Pease’s report for corrective action.   Mr. Pease did note that the license to sell tobacco products in Southwick was $10.00.  The average permit costs in Western Mass is $50.00.   The Board members did discuss their fees and will issue a letter to the Board of Selectmen stating an increase of fees prior to re-issuing the licenses.  The Board thanked Mr. Pease for his presentation and asked that he continue to focus his efforts on educating the businesses in Southwick relative to the sale of tobacco products.  Mr. Pease will continue to do compliance checks and report his findings to the Board. 

 

MR. FITZGERALD’S REPORT

 

1.               Mr. FitzGerald reported that there has been no new information on the proposed Floor Drain  By-Law.

 

2.               Mr. FitzGerald was absent from his duties for one and one half days due to attendance for jury duty.

 

3.               Mr. FitzGerald conducted a food service inspection at GiGi’s II.  The business is take-out only.

 

4.               Mr. FitzGerald reported that King Yen Too has completed the repair of their septic system.

 

5.               Mr. FitzGerald conducted a food service inspection at Herefords.

 

6.               Mr. FitzGerald stated that Arrow Oil is in the process of moving the business from Feeding Hills Road to a location across from the Post Office.

 

7.               Mr. FitzGerald conducted a housing inspection at 9 Maple Street concerning asbestos.  The asbestos on the dwelling was being covered with vinyl siding, which does conform to the current laws.

 

8.               Mr. FitzGerald conducted a housing inspection at 25 Lakeview Street.  The new owner of the property is clearing the debris.

 

9.               Mr. FitzGerald conducted a housing inspection at 109 North Lake Avenue and requested that the owners remove debris.  Mr. FitzGerald will conduct a follow-up inspection.

 

10.          Mr. FitzGerald issued a violation notice for debris at 107 North Lake Avenue, 137 Berkshire Avenue and 17 White Street.

 

11.          Mr. FitzGerald conducted a site inspection at 256 College Highway.  The property was formally Haas Dairy.  There are several vehicles in various conditions.  Mr. Fitzgerald issued a violation notice to the property owner.

 

12.          Mr. FitzGerald stated that 100 does of flu shots are now available.  Ms. Brzoska made a motion to have the flu shots available to Town employees including the Police and Fire Departments at a cost of $15.00 per inoculation.  The cost of the inoculation would be to cover the cost of the vaccine.  Mr. Tryba seconded the motion and the vote of the Board was unanimous in favor.

 

13.          Mr. FitzGerald attended an MRC meeting with Ed Mello, Charles Dunlap and Dr. Nielson.  Mr. FitzGerald also advised the Board that the signs for the Emergency Dispensing Sites (EDS) have been received.  Mr. FitzGerald also attended a Department Head Meeting.

 

14.          Mr. FitzGerald will attend a MHOA conference from October 24 through the 26th.

 

15.          Mr. FitzGerald witnessed percolation tests at the following locations:

1)     Sunnyside Road (Bannish property) 2 sets of tests

2)     6 Mockingbird Lane

3)     196 Vining Hill

4)     9 Depot Street

5)     294 Granville Road

 

16.          Mr. FitzGerald signed Disposal Works Construction Permits for 11 Fred Jackson Road and 154 Hillside Road.

 

17.          Mr. FitzGerald conducted the final inspection of septic system installations at 34 South Loomis Street and a lot on Rising Corner.

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.          Mr. FitzGerald asked if the Board members had made a decision on the appointment of Jeff Sheltra as a Special Agent.  Ms. Brzoska suggested that the Board meet Mr. Sheltra prior to making a decision. 

 

2.          The Board discussed how to proceed with monitoring the grease traps in restaurants as mandated by Title 5.  Dr. Azia suggested that a letter be issued to all restaurant owners stating that they would need to provide pumping records prior to receiving their 2008 Food Service license.  If the letters were issued soon, each establishment would have time to have at least one record prior to the issuance of the 2008 licenses.  Mr. Tryba made a motion to have a letter composed and send certified mail requiring the latest grease trap pumping records be submitted prior to the issuance of the January 2008 license.  Dr. Azia seconded the motion.  Ms. Brzoska was of the opinion that the restaurants should be notified, in a letter with their January 2008 Food Service license, of the regulation noting that grease traps must be pumped at 25% capacity or every three months.  Those restaurants that do not comply with the regulation will then not receive their January 2009 Food Service license.  The vote of the Board was two in favor of Mr. Tryba’s motion, and one opposed.

 

3.          Mr. Tryba made a motion to grant a variance to Southwick Florist with the same conditions as the King Brothers.  Ms. Brzoska did request a Title 5 inspection be preformed prior to granting the variance.  Dr. Azia seconded the motion and the vote of the Board was 2 to 1. 

 

4.          The Board reviewed emails from Mr. Neece and Mr. Grannells concerning the drain pipe under King Brothers.  Mr. Grannells, in an email dated May 31, 2006, indicated that King Brothers had “a major storm water drainage issue”, subsequently, Mr. Neece issued an email on September 11, 2007 stating, “It really is not a storm drain problem”.  Mr. Tryba stated that he had no problem in granting a variance to King Brothers, as he did vote to grant them a variance when they originally came before the Board.  However, Mr. Tryba was under the impression that the Board agreed not to grant any more variances for public sewer connection to anyone.  Mr. FitzGerald suggested that a Title 5 inspection be done to ensure that the septic system is functioning properly.  Mr. Tryba made a motion to grant the variance for a period of five (5) years.  However, the variance will expire in the event the septic system fails, the business building at 615 College Highway is sold, or the drainage issue is resolved.  Dr. Azia seconded the motion.  Ms. Brzoska opposed the motion, as her opinion was that a Title 5 inspection should be done and more restrictions should be noted prior to granting the five (5) year variance.  The motion passed by a vote of 2 to 1.

 

 

 

 

As there was no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Jean Nilsson, secretary

 

 

______________________________                 ____________________________________

Dr. Jerome Azia                                                        Casimir Tryba                       

 

     

 

______________________________                 ____________________________________

Sue Brzoska                                                              Tom FitzGerald, Health Agent                                                  

 

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