Public Meeting

July 9, 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                         Health Inspector

                                      Jane Evans                             Health Agent

                                                                David Gardner                                   Asst. Town Manager

 

                                     

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

 

AGENDA

Public Comments

Michael Leger, Chair of the Recycling Committee, wanted to comment on BoH regs as well as a couple of other subjects.

Motion:  Move to take up M. Leger’s under Discussion section.

Motion:  Ken Janson    Seconded:  John Livingstone  Vote:  5-0-0.

 

New Business

247 Commercial Street

Federal Food Code Variance Request

Motion:  DG, second KJ. Table 247 Commercial Street since the proponents hadn’t arrived as yet.

 

 

 

 

Discussion

Michael Leger proposed passing out copies of recycling rules and regulations with the purpose of encouraging more recycling in the town.  He’s about ready to go to print but wanted the BoH’s input.  He would like the BoH web link to be standardized and corrected to show the correct days for recycling pick up. 

 

Mr. Leger was asked to come in for the next meeting on July 23 and he and the Board can work together to straighten out inconsistencies.

 

The discussion concluded with Duane Gregory thanking Michael Leger for watching out for the planet.

 

247 Commercial

Bill Dougal and Rick Murray arrived at 5:25 p.m. and their case was heard at that time.  Jane Evans said that she had a signed letter from the restaurant manager requesting a variance to allow dogs into the outdoor dining area.  She also said that she had called to verify that the facility had been properly appointed with hand sanitizers, signage, etc. and asked the manager to call her for an inspection.  He hasn’t called.

 

Rick M., one of the owners, said that all dogs would be only able to accompany owners in the outdoor facility section.  All the managers are pet friendly and the dining area has plastic chairs and tables.  They will also be taking donations for the dog park.  He further promised signs labeling the area pet friendly so that if anyone didn’t want to chance having a dog near them, they have only to choose another dining area. 

Motion:  Move to approve the variance request pending an inspection by the health agent and a notarized letter requesting the variance.

Motion:  Jerry Anathan                   Seconded:  John Livingstone           Vote:  5-0-0

 

Approval of Minutes for June 25, 2009

Move to approve the minutes of the June 25th meeting as amended.

Motion:  Ken Janson    Seconded:  John Livingstone  Vote: 3-0-1 ab (JA)

 

Mark Phillips did the minutes for the emergency meeting regarding the sewer and All wanted to read them thoroughly before approving them.  It was decided to vote on them at the next meeting.

 

Any other business that shall properly come before the Board

David Gardner said that Mr. Donovan of 202B Bradford Street requested a meeting with Jane Evans and David.

 

Duane G. asked if the members had any further thoughts regarding our sewer problems?

 

Jerry Anathan said that she thought each & every one of the BoH members should have been notified of the crisis.  The big lack was notification. 

 

Duane said that they admitted that there was a definite error in communication.

 

Jane Evans said that we could have used the BoH and all of you should have been notified earlier.

 

A meeting of the BoS will be convened on Friday, July 10th on the second floor of the COA to discuss the failures of the July 4th sewerage problem. 

 

Jane said that the recommendations of the sewer team were followed for disinfections.  She and Brian Carlson began working at 4:00 a.m. in order to disinfect the areas of spillage.

 

John Livingstone said that they were caught up in trying to locate the problem and it was really a health issue.  The BoH should have been called and he feels that the BoH is an under-utilized resource. 

 

Everyone decided that there should definitely be a chain of command beginning with the notification of the town manager who would then have a team available to notify everyone. 

 

David G. said that  it appears that clearly there was a breakdown in protocol – there was a failure of a proper response.  There are many meetings being conducted now on proper protocol. 

 

Part of the problem was that David Guertin, head of the DPW, was out on his boat and incommunicado and Rob Adams, AECOM representative, was on a lake in New Hampshire and also unreachable.  It was thought that on any four day absence, someone should be left “tending the store.”  At the very least by beeper.

 

Jane would like flagpoles installed to let people know if beaches are closed.  Many people who swam in the harbor over the week-end called to ask what they could do and were they in any danger.  The bottom line:  it seemed as though it was an unnecessary problem without any definite protocol being followed. 

 

Brian Carlson handed out a “Synopsis of Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan” developed by Jane Swift in 2001.  It details what should have been done but wasn’t.

 

Health Agent’s Report

Jane met with Harriet Hobbs today and she signed the ACO for her property.

 

Health Inspector’s Report

Brian covered most of his report during the meeting.

 

Board Members’ Statements

John Livingstone wanted to have the BoH integrated into any health affairs of the town.

 

Duane Gregory thanked the DPW and the health department for all their efforts during the weekend crisis. 

 

Ken Janson agreed with the statements.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

E. Rogers Gaudiano

 

Approved by the Board of Health on ______________________,2009

 

 

                                Duane Gregory, Chair