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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBoard of Health -- 2021-04-07 Minutes Town of Brewster vk E W 2198 MAfN STREET Health Department BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS 026314898 0 4,f 0 Amy L . von Hone, R. S . , C . H . O . Nil J Director PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 FAX : 5080896 ,4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S . i�� brhealth Ctvbrewster�ma. gov Assistant Director WWW,BREWSTER"MA. GOV Tammi Mason P Rpoftl A160 Senior Department Assistant x\\0 Board of Health Meeting Wednesday April 7, 2021 , at 7 :OOPM Remote Participation Meeting Board members on rernotelly* Carmen Scherzo, DVM , Chair; Penny Holeman, MPH , MA, MS, Vice Chair; Annette Graczewski, MT (ASCP) and Jeannie Kampas Others on remotely& Amy von Hone, R. S ., C . H . 0, Health Director; Sherrie McCullough, R . S ., Assistant Health Director; Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant; Joshua Schiff, Chatham Bars Inn manager; Emily Michele Olmsted & George Heufelder, Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment Dr. Scherzo stated that for anyone wanting to listen to the meeting can do so via the Town of Brewster livestrearn at http ://video . brewster - ma . gov//cablecastPublicSite/? channel = l or on Channel 18 and anyone that has a question or comment could email them tobea Ith board meeting@ b rewster- ma . go 10 Call to order Meeting was called to order at 7 :OOPM 2o Chairman 's announcements In February 2021 , the Town was notified by Eversource that they plan to apply herbicide along the power line rights - of- way within Brewster. At their March 29, 2021 , meeting, the Selectboard voted to issue the following public statement: The Brewster Selectboard has actively opposed the granting of pesticide spray authority by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to Eversource since 2015 . Since that time, the Town has not been subject to pesticide spraying within the utility right� of-way. The Town vigorously opposed the granting of pesticide spray authority by MDAR to Eversource for the five -year 2018 - 2022 Vegetation Management Plan and, although MDAR granted Eversource such authority, the Town was not named as a spray site in subsequent Yearly Operational Plans (YOP) until 2021 . In anticipation of pesticides potentially being applied in Brewster in 2021 , the Town notified MDAR that doing so would result in formal litigation being instituted by Brewster against MDAR . Brewster expects to file that litigation in Spring 2021 . Further, the Town will provide written comments to MDAR objecting to Eversource' s Yearly Operational Plan to apply herbicides in Brewster in 2021 by the April 9, 2021 deadline , F Dr. Scherzo stated that he attended an excellent zoom meeting on March 30, 2021 , " Modern Challenges to Onsite Wastewater Systems and Responses Through Title 5 if i This 3 � hour seminar presented information on ground water rise due to climate change, coastal storms and flooding, Mass DEP regulations, and septic system inspections . The one BOH 4/7/21 Minutes Page 2 comment that stuck in his mind was that even if a house is elevated on posts, the septic system at ground level is still at risk for flooding . Dr. Scherzo stated that State officials responding to a local outbreak of Covid - 19 have detected 68 cases of variants of concern on Cape Cod as of April 3 , 2021 , including nearly 90% of the State' s P1 cases, the highly contagious Brazilian variant . In Massachusetts, the largest number of new Covid - 19 infections in the last 2 weeks was among children and teens . The best way to protect children at this time is for adults who are eligible, to be vaccinated . As of March 31 , 2021 , 82 % of Brewster residents over 75 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 45 % of all Brewster residents have received at least one dose of vaccine . As of April 5, 2021 , individuals 55 and older and residents with one medical condition are eligible to be vaccinated . As of April 19, 2021 , the general public over the age of 16 is eligible to be vaccinated . Mrs . von Hone stated that there are approximately 25 active cases in Brewster right now. She is still doing weekly totals . Of the 25 active cases, there are approximately 17 households . We are still seeing multiple family members in the same household being infected . There was a significant jump in cases a few weeks ago . The numbers are starting to come back down again, however, Brewster remains in the " high risk" category because of the total number of cases we have had over the last 14 - day period . Cases in schools and long -term care facilities are remaining very low. The variants that we have been hearing about, the B117, which is the United Kingdom variant is now the dominant strain in Massachusetts . So far, per updates by the Department of Public Health, the UK variant is not showing evidence of re - infection in those that have already been infected with Covid . The other strain, which is the P1 Brazilian variant is one of more concern because you are more likely to be re - infected with Covid if you are exposed to this one . There was a recent cluster in the mid cape area where a significant number of positives were the Brazilian variant. The takeaway from this is that masks and social distancing are still the primary methods for prevention on any of the Covid infections, no matter which strain it is . The other important thing to keep in mind is that the vaccines, for the most part are effective on Covid still and everyone who can, should get vaccinated . 3 . Citizen 's forum None . 4. Chatham Bars Inn — Retail Food Permit application Josh Schiff, Farm Manager and Anthony Cole, Chef were present. Mrs . McCullough stated that Mr. Cole will be the Certified Food Manager and will be handling the food and any issues that may arise . They are applying for a restrictive food service permit to sell jams, pies, breads, etc . as well as their farm stand items . They have all the required equipment, and a pre - operational inspection has been done . Mr. Schiff stated that they are ready to go . Motion : Approve the Food Establishment permit application pending any outstanding items that need to be taken care of. BOH 4/7/21 Minutes Page 3 Motion : Joe Ford Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman — yes Action : Motion passed Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo - yes S . Chad Simmons — Annual report for Brewster Landing Mr. Simmons stated that usually quarterly visits are required but they bumped it to monthly because they were seeing a lot of wipes in the system , and it was causing issues with the Zabel filter. All lab and field testing passed with no issues . Everything was within the required parameters . There was no equipment failure, and no pumping was needed . The system is scheduled for pumping every 18 months . The last pumpings were done in August of 2019 and February of 2021 . 6. Phosphorus presentation & discussion — Emily Michele Olmstead & George Heufelder Ms . Olmstead shared a power point presentation on " Phosphorus & Brewster" with the Board . She went through what I/A systems were and how they get approval from the State . She stated that phosphorus removal is chemical and physical . Systems that aim to remove phosphorus do so by adding other chemicals and/or creating conditions to have the phosphorus that occurs in sewage to react (usually with aluminum or iron) . Phosphorus in this new form , bound to aluminum or iron is no longer soluble, so it stays put and does not travel through water. There is currently 1 system in Brewster that provides the capability to remove phosphorus . It is called the Waterloo EC - P . This system uses iron electrodes along with a small electrical current installed in either the septic tank or pump chamber. Phosphorus in the influent reacts with iron electrodes to form insoluble iron phosphate minerals . Samples have shown that for the most part, total phosphorus in the leaching field has been below 1 mg , which is what is spelled out in the pilot use approval of the Waterloo EC - P . There is currently a grant approved to install more of these systems around the Cape . Dr. Scherzo asked about the iron plates and if they have needed to be replaced . Ms . Olmstead stated that they will be going back to the site in May and will examine the plates to see if they need replacements . Mrs . Graczewski asked if there were any other of these systems on the Cape . Ms . Olmstead stated that she is. not aware of any. Mr. Heufelder stated that these systems were tested for 3 years at MASSTC before going to market . Mrs . Graczewski asked Mr. Heufelder to describe the piloting to provisional phase . Ms . Olmstead stated that pilot use systems can have up to 12 or 15 systems in the whole state . There is a very vigorous testing schedule during the piloting phase . To move to the next step, enough systems have to be installed to prove that it is working . Mr. Heufelder stated that once it moves from piloting to provisional , 50 can be installed in the state and then 80% of those have to meet what they claim they can meet in order to move to " general " approval Mr. Heufelder stated that this technology has a very sound principle for it working but it is a matter of getting people to want to install these systems . Mrs . Graczewski asked what the cost of these systems were . Mr. Heufelder stated that the unit itself is around $ 5 , 000 and the O & M contract cost is dependent on who is around to service it. It would probably cost a lot of money if there was only 1 company that could do it . Things move at a snail ' s pace unless there is regulatory pressure to install them . BOH 4/7/21 Minutes Page 4 Dr. Scherzo asked if either Ms . Olmstead or Mr. Heufelder would be hesitant to recommend this system to homeowners . Mr. Heufelder stated that while they cannot recommend what type of system to put in, if someone asked about this type of system , they would have no hesitation in agreeing that it is a worthwhile choice . Mrs . von Hone stated that septic systems are just a, small piece of the problem with phosphorus in the ponds . Dr. Scherzo had some comments to read to the Board . He stated that for the last 7 years as a member of the Brewster Board of Health he has had an interest in septic system source phosphorus causing eutrophication in Brewster' s ponds . He has had discussions about this issue with many people, including Mass DEP and especially George Heufelder. He discovered the Phosphorus Breakthrough Analysis required by the States of Montana and Idaho on the web . The 8 - page letter, " Phosphorus : What is known " that he asked Mrs . von . Hone to distribute, represents his collective thoughts and opinions and not those of the Brewster Board of Health . He has tried to highlight the effect of the 2008 Massachusetts law limiting phosphorus to less than 0 . 5 % in dishwashing detergents and soaps . He concluded that septic system source phosphorus prior to passage of the law had three times the amount of phosphorus in the effluent. A point to remember when looking at a septic system installed before 2008 . He has tried to quantify the amount of phosphorus that leaves a septic system and the factors at play which increase or decrease septic system source phosphorus amounts reaching a pond , so that BOH members can make science - based decisions regarding limiting septic system source phosphorus . The states of Montana and Idaho designed an excel spreadsheet to determine which septic systems near surface waters needed to be replaced . He modified their PBA to reflect the difference in soils that septic system source phosphorus is in contact with on Cape Cod versus Montana or Idaho . That modified PBA is meant to be a guide to help BOH members use science to make decisions to limit or not limit septic system source phosphorus on individual properties . There were two things that Dr. Scherzo concluded : 1 . Upgradient leach pits are a major source of phosphorus to nearby surface waters . 2 . Any upgradient septic system within 100' of a pond should have phosphorus limiting technology. Dr. Scherzo shared an example on how to make a PBA determination with the Board . The Board thanked Emily Michele Olmstead and George Heufelder for attending the meeting . 7 . Discussion & possible approval of In - House Food Service Permit approval policy Mrs . von Hone stated that this was brought back before the Board again after a member asked for additional language to be included concerning applicants being invited to the Board meetings . Dr. Scherzo would like to add in the policy that the applicants can come before the Board at any meeting to introduce themselves if they would like . Mr. Ford voiced his opinion that In House approvals are unnecessary. There are so few each year that they should come before the Board for approval . BOH 4/7/21 Minutes Page 5 Mrs . Graczewski stated that she does not want the applicants to have to wait for a Board of Health meeting to get approval to open . It could be a month before the Board is meeting again and the applicants may be ready to open within a week. Ms . Holeman and Mrs . Kampas are both in favor of streamlining this process so applicants can move forward quickly. Mrs . McCullough stated that applicants are not mandated to come before the Board , it is only a recommendation . There was talk about having a list of all renewal permits coming to the Board under a consent agenda every year. Motion : Approve the process for approval of In - House Food Establishment License as presented to the Board . Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman — yes Action : Motion passed Joe Ford — no Annette Graczewski — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo - yes 8 . Discuss and vote on Definitive Subdivision plan for 409 & 413 Great Fields Road Mrs . Graczewski asked if there were any recent Title 5 inspection reports . Mrs . von Hone stated that there were not and there would not be a requirement because they are not selling the property. Mrs . Graczewski stated that since the applicants were asking for a zoning change, now might be an appropriate time to look at the systems . Mrs . von Hone stated that the systems are current code from 2002 and are downgradient from the pond . Dr. Scherzo stated that he thinks the well water should be tested . Mrs . von Hone stated that she could put that in the comments to the Planning Board . Motion : Provide recommendations to the Planning Board that the Board of Health supports the subdivision with the request that they consider having the property owners test the well water prior to the transfer. Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman — yes Action : Motion passed Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski -yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo — yes 9 . Liaison reports Mrs . Graczewski stated that the Recycling Commission met last week and mentioned that grocery stores are no longer prohibiting re - usable bags . Dr. Scherzo stated that the Select Board voted 0 -4 - 0 not to back the Citizens Petition to require a 5 -year Operation and Maintenance Plan for a dog park. The current 2020 Operation & Maintenance plan will be posted on the Town website after the Dog Park Committee approves it . BOH 4/7/21 Minutes Page 6 10 . Matters not reasonably anticipated by the Chair None . 11 . Net meeting : April 21 , 2021 Noted . Informational items were noted . Meeting adjourned at 8 : 35 PM