Public Meeting
May 21, 2009
Grace Gouveia – Room 10
5:00 p.m.
Members Present: Jerry
Anathan, Duane Gregory, Ken Janson,
John Livingstone, and Mark Phillips.
Members Absent:
none
Staff: Brian Carlson(excused) Health Inspector
Jane Evans Health
Agent
The meeting was called to
order at 5:00 p.m.
AGENDA
Public Comments
There were none.
New Business
Jeremiah Heid
New Tattoo Artist
Brian Carlson wasn’t in
attendance but submitted all the necessary paper work. Jane Evans assured everyone that everything
is in order.
Motion: Move to approve the new tattoo artist license
for Jeremiah Heid.
Motion: John Livingstone Seconded: Ken Janson Vote:
5-0-0.
Board of Health 2010 Goals and Objectives
There were a few changes
which Jane Evans made note of, i.e., the previous #7 will now become #1 under
the Department-specific Objectives: – to review, revise and update Board of
Health Regulations as necessary. Mark
Phillips will oversee the process for the Board and make valuable inputs.
#2. remains as is.
#3. changes slightly –
“Continue to support the existence of a full time Health Agent and Inspector
.......................
#4 & 4a.– stet
#5. Already being done by Brian Carlson.
#6. Plan for a future health based regulation to
protect the public from hearing loss due to excessive noise. Much discussion was held because it was
deemed a wasted effort to encourage a bylaw which didn’t have a means of
implementation since it had no enforcement mechanism.
Mark then said that we know
we’re understaffed and he would like to just develop an assessment of staffing
needs which should be included in #4. Mark feels an assessment is essential to
determine future staffing and budget needs.
John Livingstone said that we
need to know how much money we actually have.
The only thing in our budget is for secretarial. We could always go to Alex if, for example,
we wanted more signs. John just wants an
assessment of our needs.
John would like to have as a
goal a plan for the implementation of health based regulations which may not
have an enforcement mechanism. Duane
doesn’t feel this is a goal. She thinks
it should be discussed as we go along.
Duane is not in favor of having regs that are not enforceable. Duane said that we can make recommendations
to the town and she’s o.k. dealing with
this but she’s against regs that we cannot enforce.
John L. felt that we should
work on a mechanism for protecting the public health issues which may not
currently have an enforceable mechanism.
This could become the new #7 under department-specific objectives.
Jane said that she has to
submit the goals proposals to Vernon on Tuesday.
Motion: Move to accept the changes to our BoH goals
as discussed.
Motion: Ken Janson Seconded: Jerry Anathan Vote: 5-0-0.
Discussion
Federal Food Code Variance to Allow Dogs in Outside
Dining Areas
Candace
Nagle has submitted a model and she hopes the
BoH will report so that her dog group can weigh in. John Giorgio, the town counsel, said that there
was no liability on the part of the town if they allowed a variance permitting
dogs in outdoor dining area at the request of the owner of the
establishment. John Edwards, owner of
the Governor Bradford, was the only business person interested. Jane told him that his request could be put on
the next schedule of a BoH meeting and he could attend.
Duane doesn’t have a problem
allowing this and wonders why we don’t wait and see how well or
enthusiastically it is received.
Mark P. wondered how outdoors
is specified. Candace said that a dog
cannot go through a restaurant to access outdoor seating.
Duane and Jane felt there
should be part of the variance which reads - “assumes full liability” - the
wording will be taken from a former permit.
Jane will look it up - also “all other pets are excluded” should be part
of the variance. Ken said that he has
real issues with allowing dogs in outdoor eating places and feels it will be a
real nuisance and a health hazard.
Candace quoting something or
other said “no one can bring in more than 3 dogs” - beyond that it’s hard to
pay attention to so many dogs. Jane said
that we could limit it to 2 dogs.
This was just a discussion
and not a vote. The board will review
any applications on a case by case
basis.
Administrative Issue
The administrative issue
referred to John’s meeting with Michele Couture where the main thing he
discussed was the manner of enforcement if the BoH decided to pass a bylaw
regarding excessive noise. The Chair
doesn’t want any regulation in place that doesn’t have an enforcement
mechanism. Perhaps just a recommendation
would be all the BoH could do.
Motion: Move to have John Livingstone become a
liaison to the BoS to express public health concerns for which there is no
robust enforcement regarding excessive noise.
Motion: Jerry Anathan Seconded: Ken Janson Vote:..........
No one wanted to vote and the
motion was withdrawn because most of the members were reticent about the
motion.
John felt that we need to
study the actual problems with hearing loss and he’s tried to make a draft of a
recommendation. He’s really not
presenting the motorcycle issue – specifically - as a problem. The discussion was tabled and it will be an
agenda item at a future meeting.
Approval of Minutes for
May 7, 2009
Motion: Move to approve the minutes as written.
Motion: Ken Janson Seconded: John Livingstone Vote: 4-0-1 ab(JA)
Any other business that
shall properly come before the Board
There was none.
Health Agent’s Report
Jane reported on an ongoing
legal issue that was about to be resolved.
Board Members’ Statements
John Livingstone thanked the
Board members for all their input.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
E.
Rogers Gaudiano
Approved by the Board of Health on ______________________,2009
Duane Gregory, Chair