Provincetown Board of Health

Caucus Hall

April 26, 2007

5:00 p.m.

 

 

 Members Present:        Jerry Anathan, Tom Gaudreau,

and Duane Gregory.

 

Members Absent:                   Ken Janson and John Livingstone

                                                   (both excused)           

 

Health Agent:                Jane Evans

 

Health Inspector:          Brian Carlson

 

AGENDA

Public Comments

There were none

New Business

Mark Birnbaum – Mojo’s

Appeal Health Inspectors Decision

Brian Carlson received a complaint from an abutter, Adam Sherman  - 283 Commercial St. regarding trash storage at 5 Ryder St. Ext.; Mojo’s Restaurant on August 21, 2006. Brian examined the premises at the time and it was well cleaned –it was noticed however that the trash storage area needed some repair so to keep refuse materials secured and an Order to Correct was issued on September 20, 2006.  The Order to Correct was extended on October 4, 2006 to Spring of 2007 at the request of Mr. Birnbaum because he stated he would be undergoing major renovations and would address the Order to Correct at that time.  Mr. Birnbaum requested a hearing before the Board of Health to appeal the Health Inspectors Order to Correct on March 3, 2007.   Photos were shown and both Duane and Tom went by and looked over the area. 

 

Brian Carlson looked at the problem and made the following recommendations:  He recommended that accommodations be made to allow Mr. Birnbaum to bring his food service establishment into compliance with Federal and State Sanitary Codes within a reasonable timeframe and that the following per­formance standards be met:  1) no public health hazard is created, 2) no nuisance is created, 3) that the storage area does not create the inability of cleaning of adjacent space(s), 4) that the present storage area be made impermeable, i.e. plastic trash bins, liner, or other type materials, and 5) that the present storage area be inaccessible to insects and rodents.

 

The pictures submitted along with the appeal were studied and discussed.  It was noted that the doors housing the trash were badly warped and the addition of a lip added to this area would help cure the problem.

Motion:  Instruct Mark Birmbaum to accomplish the following within 7 days from today’s date:  Attach a lip to the garbage area with 2 X 6s and repair and/or replace the doors of the garbage bin so that they close without gaps. 

Motion:  Jerry Anathan      Seconded:  Duane Gregory       Vote:  3-0-0.

 

46 Nelson Avenue

Title 5 variance

Duane Gregory disclosed that she has a real estate associate who is involved in this property.  No one had any objections to having Duane sit on the case.  Jason Ellis presented the plan to the BoH.  The two septic system plans are recom­mended for this location as the best choice. 

The present septic system has failed.

Motion:  Approve the Title 5 plan for 46 Nelson Avenue with the following conditions:

1.     A deed restriction is to be signed by the four condominium owners restricting the number of bedrooms on the property to the existing nine.

2.     This document must be recorded at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds and proof of recording provided to the Health Agent prior to issuance of the Septic System Installation Permit.

Motion:  Tom Gaudreau       Seconded:  Jerry Anathan       Vote:  3-0-0.

 

Richard Godfrey

New massage therapist

Brian said that all Mr. Godfrey’s paper work was in order and he will be working at Pradera Spa located at 386 Commercial St.

Motion:  Approve the new massage therapist license for Richard Godfrey.

Motion:  Jerry Anathan       Seconded:  Tom Gaudreau       Vote:  3-0-0.

 

Mark Meehan

New massage therapist

Brian recommended approval as all his paper work is in order.  Once again, Duane would like to see all letters of recommendations be in standard business format including the name, full address and telephone number of the sender.  

Motion:  Approve the new massage therapist license for Mark Meehan pending letters of recommendation from the two he had submitted be resubmitted with the previously discussed requisites within 5 days.

Motion:  Duane Gregory     Seconded:  Jerry Anathan       Vote:  3-0-0.

 

Edward DiStasio

New massage therapist

The case was unheard since the applicant was unable to be here tonight.

 

Cyndi Welsh

New massage therapist

Duane gave Cyndi the same suggestion regarding letters of recommendation. 

Morion:  Approve the new massage therapist license for Cyndi Welsh pending letters of recommendation from the ones already submitted in order that they might be resubmitted with proper letterhead, etc. within 5 days.

Motion:  Jerry Anathan     Seconded:  Duane Gregory     Vote:  3-0-0.

 

Motion:  Amend regulations Article 1., Part IV, Appendix 1: #7 by stating that letters of recommendation be in standard business format containing full name, address and telephone number of the sender, reference the applicant and be addressed to "The Board of Health".

Motion:  Duane Gregory      Seconded:  Jerry Anathan       Vote:  3-0-0.

 

Discussion

Brian wanted to discuss what the dedicated area for massage is.  He also had two possible new definitions for G. and H. of Article 1, Part IV, Section 2 – as follows:

G.     Outdoor chair massage shall mean the administering of therapeutic massage to the public at a location licensed to conduct massage which has been inspected and has access to running water, sanitation materials, and equipment.  Patrons of outdoor chair massage shall be clothed for the duration of the treatment.

H.     Dedicated area shall mean an area that is solely and strictly for the administering of massage therapy.  No food products, retail services, or any other retail or food related activity shall be conducted or contained in the area dedicated to massage therapy.

 

Also joining in the discussion was Larry Meilleur, a local masseuse who feels he’s losing money with the BoH’s stringent restrictions.  After quite a lengthy discussion it was decided that Larry would first go to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to see if they would allow his proposed front yard massage area – and based on their decision – he could come back and plead his case again if ZBA’s response was favorable.

 

Jane said that the regs have to be cleaned up.  Tom said times change and that at one time you couldn’t even have tattoo parlors in Massachusetts

 

Approval of Minutes for March 22, 2007

Motion:  Approve the minutes of the March 22, 2007.

Motion:  Jerry Anathan      Seconded:  Tom Gaudreau       Vote:   3-0-0.

 

Any other business that shall properly come before the Board

Jerry Anathan wondered if the Atlantic House was going to be fined and if so – for how much. Jane

explained they were very cooperative throughout the entire oredeal.

 

Health Agent’s Report

Grease Traps:

Jane talked about the licensing of restaurants and their responsibility for mandatory grease trap pump-outs.  She has been working with Darlene, the Licensing Agent, and they now will have to show proof of compliance for their license renewal.  Also, Jane has set up a mandatory education process.  It is urgent that grease traps are properly maintained for the sewer to function properly.

 

Agenda Deadlines:

Our regulations on deadlines for getting on an agenda state that they have to have a two week window.  After discussing it was decided that the two weeks is necessary in the case of Title V variances so that abutters can be notified but perhaps a one week window is time enough for massage licenses and/or perhaps discussions.  Jane offered to go in and change the dates for notifications since she is the gate keeper for the agenda.

 

Duane went one step further and said that any last minute requests that come in should go to Jane for openers and then Jane’s response has to be “I’ll check with the chair to see if we are able to accommodate you.”  Thus Duane is the last word on additions and Duane feels that this takes the onus off both the Health Inspector and the Health Agent since it puts the final decision on the Chair of the BoH.

Health Inspector’s Report

I)                  Potassium Iodide:

II)               Brian gave a quick update on the Potassium Iodide pills.  There have been 215 doses given to the Schools, 104 doses given to the Cape End Manor, and the COA has given out 80 doses.  The Police Department will be getting doses as well.

III)           Rabies:

IV)            On Friday, May 4, 2007the third installment of the wild rabies vaccine program will be administered throughout the Town with support given by Dr. Janet Martin of Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

V)               Board Members’ Statements

There were none.

 

Adjournment happened at 6:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Gaudiano

E. Rogers Gaudiano

 

Approved by _____________________________ on ____________, 2007.

                             Duane Gregory, Chair