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Home My Public Portal AboutBoard of Health -- 2021-07-07 Minutes \\\�\�\�l�ltllulllurrJiiii�i��i Town Of Brewster 0 ` \\\� t VIV,R � BREWSTER9MASSACHU8 MAIN SETTS 02631 - 1898 ET Health Department 4 ° �� ' Amy L . von Hone, R. S . , C .H. O . Director OX PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 r Q K FAX : 508 . 896 .4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S . brhealth@brewster-ma. gov Assistant Director 00 k RPO� A�0� �\\`` WWW.BREWSTER-MA. GOV Tammi Mason Senior Department Assistant Board of Health Meeting Wednesday July 7, 2021 , at 7 :OOPM Hybrid Meeting Board members attending in person : Penny Holeman, MPH, MA, MS, Chair and Kimberley Crocker Pearson, MS, MD, MPH Board members attending remotely: Jeannie Kampas Board members absent: Annette Graczewski, MT (ASCP) and Joe Ford Others attending in person : Amy von Hone, R. S ., C . H . O., Health Director Others attending remotely: Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant; Jeff Prall, owner of 40 Daisy Lane Anyone wishing to listen to the meeting can do so via Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18) or by Livestream at www livestream . brewster- ma . gov or video recording (www.tv. brewster- ma . gov) 1 . Call to order Meeting was called to order at 7 :OOPM 2 . Chairman 's announcements On June 101h, the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment announced that a rabies positive racoon was discovered through routine testing following a sick animal call in Hyannis . There was no known human contact with the racoon . This is the first know case of non - bat rabies on Cape Cod in 8 years . Rabies in wildlife, primarily racoons, skunks, and foxes, has been effectively managed in Barnstable County due in part to oral rabies vaccine distribution conducted by the Cape Cod & Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force each spring and fall . It is important for the public to keep themselves, children, and pets away from wild and stray animals. Pet owners are also reminded to keep their pets' rabies vaccines up to date. Remember, you cannot tell if an animal has rabies just by looking at it. If you do see an animal behaving strangely, please call the Brewster Police Department to speak with the Animal Control Officer. In the upcoming weeks, additional oral rabies vaccine is expected to be distributed by air over Brewster. Please keep your pets on a leash during this time, so vaccine is ingested by wildlife and not domestic pets. On July 15t, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The 2019 and 2020 mosquito seasons were active for Eastern Equine Encephalitis . The presence of EEE last year, a relatively mild winter, and historical patterns suggest an active season this year. To reduce your potential exposure to mosquito bites: • Drain standing water in and around your house and yard to prevent mosquito breeding • Repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home • Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA- registered ingredient, according to the directions BOH 7/7/21 Minutes Page 2 • Wear clothing to reduce exposed skin when weather permits Also starting on July 11t, fully vaccinated residents 18 years and older now have the opportunity to enter to win five $ 1 million cash prizes. Fully vaccinated residents between 12 - 17 years of age may enter for the chance to win one of five $ 300, 000 scholarship grants. You can find vaccine locations at vaxfinder. mass. com . You can enter the drawing at vaxmillionsgiveaway. com . Drawings will be held once a week for five weeks beginning the week of July 261h and continuing through the week ending August 27th 3 . Citizen 's forum None. 4. Jeff Prall — Leaching Facility Setback Regulation variance request — 40 Daisy Lane Mr. Prall stated that he was planning a garage and family room addition to the existing home . There will be no additional load to the system , A septic inspection revealed that the SAS ( pre - 1995) was located within 300 feet of Schoolhouse Pond . It was noted that the lawn is not fertilized and is kept in its natural state. The entire lot is within 300 feet of the pond, so there is no other place that would keep it further away. Dr. Pearson asked if any thought was given to installing an I/A system . Mr. Prall stated that his engineer, John O ' Reilly didn 't think it was necessary because the current system is in such good shape . Mrs. von Hone stated that the system was upgradient of the pond and was flowing towards it and that the system as it is meets the Title 5 Code, The 3 members present thought it would be a better idea to wait for a full Board to be present to hear this request. Motion : Continue for 2 weeks and bring back at the July 21St meeting . Motion : Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second : Jeannie Kampas Vote: Kimberley Crocker Pearson — yes Action : Motion carried Jeannie Kampas — yes Penny Holeman - yes 5 . Public Hearing — Tobacco Regulations The Board used the State template and incorporated local requirements . No one was present with any questions . The Board talked about the effective date and agreed on September 15, 2021 . Motion: Approve regulations effective September 15, 2021 , Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: Jeannie Kampas Vote: Kimberley Crocker Pearson -yes Action : Motion carried Jeannie Kampas — yes Penny Holeman — yes 6. Beach/pond water quality update Mrs. von Hone explained to the Board that Towns are mandated to do weekly sampling of marine swimming beaches for swimming water quality. The Town works with the Barnstable County Department of Health, who hire beach samplers for the summer season that work with most of the Cape towns . The Brewster sampler tests semi - public (owned by neighborhood associations) beaches 1 time per week between Memorial Day and Labor Day, The Department of Natural Resources tests all the Brewster Public beaches, including freshwater ponds. The APCC (Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod) started a Cyanobacteria testing process a few years ago and Brewster has been very active with that program . The APCC works very closely with the Brewster Ponds Coalition and the Department of Natural BOH 7/7/2021 Minutes Page 3 BOH 7/7/21 Minutes Page 3 Resources . A good number of freshwater ponds in Brewster (up to 16- 18) are tested during the Cyanobacteria season . Usually, an outbreak happens towards the end of the summer. Mrs. von Hone stated that there was an incident last week at Ellis Landing Beach with an elevated level of enterococci (species of bacteria that is tested for) on a routine sampling day (which is Monday) . The way the State standards are written, we must test 1 time per week and in Brewster there has to be 2 consecutive high counts before we are mandated to close the beach to swimming . That is what happened at Ellis Landing Beach . It was retested within 24 hours and still came back high so the beach was closed to swimming . After the 31d test came back lower, the beach was re- opened to swimming . At the same time that was going on, there was a very strong foul odor in that neighborhood . The Health Department and Natural Resources Department as well as an agent from the Division of Marine Fisheries and an aquacultural specialist from the Cooperative Extension investigated and it was determined to be a decaying mat of seaweed/algae . 7. Consent Agenda: A. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Retail Food Permit Be 181 Timberlane Drive — in - house septic variance C. Cafe Alfresco — Food Service Permit Motion : Approve the consent agenda for food permits for CCMNH and Cafe Alfresco and septic variance for 181 Timberlane Drive Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second : Jeannie Kampas Vote: Kimberley Crocker Pearson — yes Action : Motion carried Jeannie Kampas — yes Penny Holeman - yes 8. Liaison reports None. 9. Matters not reasonable anticipated by the Chair None. 10. Next meeting: July 21 , 2021 Noted . Informational items were noted . Meeting adjourned at 7 : 50PM