HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180122 - Board of Health - Meeting Minutes
BOH January 22, 2018 Minutes Page 1
Approved February 5, 2018
BOARD OF HEALTH
Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton Senior Center
28 Mayhew-Crafts Room
Monday, January 22, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
MINUTES
Members Present: Chairman Jennifer Flanagan, Vice Chairman Whittemore and Michael King
Also Present: Shaun McAuliffe, Board of Health Director
Absent:
Late Arrival(s): Jennifer Flanagan and Michael King arrived at 5:46 p.m.
Early Dismissal:
The meeting was called to order at 5:47 p.m. by Chairman Flanagan.
Request to Approve Meeting Minutes of January 8, 2018
Mr. McAuliffe requested the Board’s approval of the January 8, 2018 meeting minutes.
Vice Chairman Whittemore motioned to approve the meeting minutes of January 8, 2018, as presented.
Mr. King seconded. Chairman Flanagan, Vice Chairman Whittemore and Mr. King in favor.
Request for Local Upgrade Approval for 34 Lincoln St/Margaret Bacon
Ms. Bacon requested the Board’s approval for the use of a laboratory sieve analysis instead of the traditional on
site percolation test for 34 Lincoln Street due to the depth of fill, 7 feet, for a septic upgrade construction.
Vice Chairman Whittemore motioned to approve the Local Upgrade for the use of a sieve analysis instead of a
site percolation test at 34 Lincoln Street, as presented. Mr. King seconded.
Request for a Deed Restriction at 2 Edge Hill Road Discussion/Michael & Tricia Kozub
Ms. LaRoche informed the Board that Mr. & Mrs. Kozub’s home was renovated in 1998 without pulling
the proper permits from either the Building Department or the Board of Health by their then contractor.
She also indicated that the Health Agent has spoken to Mr. Kozub a few times regarding a resolution to
the room count issue, per Title 5, and was waiting for an updated plan when Mr. Kozub requested to
come before the Board for a 10 Room Deed Restriction.
The Board made Mr. & Mrs. Kozub aware that this meeting is for historical information only and that the
Board will take their request(s) into consideration and will render a decision at their February 5 meeting.
Mr. & Mrs. Kozub proceeded to explain the history of their home at 2 Edge Hill Road as stated in the
attached letter and offered their monetary concerns and options to resolve the issue of room count. After
Mr. Kozub finished with his historical account he offered to eliminate only one wall and requested a 10
Room Deed Restriction.
Mr. McAuliffe noted that the current room count is 11 rooms not 10 as Mr. Kozub and the Assessor’s card
states. He added that he doesn’t know or understand why the home is listed as a 10 room home when
after reviewing the floor plans submitted by Mr. Kozub he has 4 rooms upstairs, 5 rooms on the main
BOH January 22, 2018 Minutes Page 2
Approved February 5, 2018
floor, due to the two columns between the family room and breakfast/kitchen area (columns not being 8
feet wide across constitutes 2 rooms not one) and 2 rooms in the basement for a total of 11 rooms.
The Board, Mr. McAuliffe and Mr & Mrs. Kozub deliberated at great length a few options to have the room
count issue resolve. At the end of the dialogue, Mr. Kozub requested to remove one wall not both as
recommended by the Health Agent, due to their financial constraint, and requested for a 10 room deed
restriction.
The Board thanked Mr. & Mrs. Kozub for coming before them tonight to discuss their concerns and in
conclusion stated that they will take their information into consideration and will have a decision at the
Board’s February 5th meeting.
Plastic Bag Ban Discussion
Mr. McAuliffe presented copies of the Plastic Bag Ban Senate Bill #424, the Town of Natick’s Annual Town
Meeting Article and their Board’s Local Regulation and the Local Regulation of the Town of Plymouth’s
Final Draft of their Plastic Bag Ban for the Board’s review. He stated that as of today 61 cities and towns
have passed the Plastic Bag Ban and have converted to paper or reusable bags.
Chairman Flanagan announced that she has spoken to some of the local business that would directly be
affected by this ban and they have stated that they would not have any issues with the banning of plastic
bags and provide paper or reusable bags. She stated that she will continue to poll the rest of the
businesses that will be affected and will provide their concerns, if any, to the Board. Ms. LaRoche
indicated that she would email Chairman Flanagan a list of all of the local food businesses in Town to aid
in her research.
The Board deliberated the process, local businesses concerns, media awareness and incentives to the
public at great length regarding the banning of plastic bags and replacing them with paper or reusable
bags. Chairman Flanagan suggested giving the business 3 months to comply to give ample time for the
changeover(s) to occur and have them exhaust their current plastic bag(s) inventory and have paper or
reusable bags available to the public. Vice Chairman Whittemore voiced her concern with the elderly
lifting heavy paper bags without handles. In response to Vice Chairman’s concern, Chairman Flanagan
expressed as an incentive, having the public donate their reusable bags at the Senior Center. Chairman
Flanagan requested that Mr. McAuliffe explore if that would be agreeable with the Senior Center Director
and to explore any other initiatives available. Mr. McAuliffe acknowledged the request.
Director’s Report
Mr. McAuliffe updated the Board of the following items:
Opiate and Tobacco Outreach - The BOH, Youth and Families, Hopkinton Organizing for
Prevention, High School and Police Department will be sponsoring a lecture for faculty and
parents on the student use of non-tobacco nicotine delivery products. We are working to finalize a
date for the presentation. In addition to the presentation(s), the BOH is sponsoring a change to the
tobacco bylaw that proposes to increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products in the Town
from 18 to 21. The BOH also proposes to change our regulations to reflect a similar age change.
Grant Work - The BOH is in the process of drafting grant proposals to the Metrowest Health
Foundation and Foundation for Metrowest to fund wellness programming in the community. The
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Approved February 5, 2018
funding will support the Hopkinton Collaborative Health Initiative, developed by the BOH.
Funding guidelines from the Foundations for the 2018 calendar year are pending.
Business Support - BOH will be touring the facility on January 22, 2018.
Business Support - BOH met with representatives of the YMCA on January 17, 2018 to discuss a
plan to install a training kitchen at the Hopkinton location. The BOH has received an application to
license a tattoo practitioner that will perform permanent cosmetic treatment at a location within
Town.
Regulatory Update - BOH has started updating our regulations. The objective is to complete the
revision over the winter. It will be submitted for Board review and public comment when
completed.
Eversource - BOH is partnering with the Senior leadership to review Eversource’s proposed
development within the Town.
Community Assistance - Once the new refrigeration is installed at Project Just Because, working
with the Greater Boston Food Bank, the BOH will assist with the acquisition and distribution of
perishable food at the pantry.
Community Outreach - The BOH will be posting tips and links to resources to prevent infection
from the norovirus, flu and other respiratory illnesses.
Public Comment- Members of the community are invited to share ideas, state opinions or ask questions
Next Board Meeting(s)
February 5, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
February 26, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
March 12, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
March 26, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
ADJOURN: Vice Chairman Whittemore motioned to adjourn the Board of Health meeting at 8:02 p.m.
Mr. King seconded. Chairman Flanagan, Vice Chairman Whittemore and Mr. King in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nidia Ruberti LaRoche
Board of Health Administrative Assistant