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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBoard of Health -- 2022-08-17 MinutesVV V {� eznx�� ��hh,(� �► D it 4'�� "T 9 i�... F$ RPOVOA 19 A orb /�/0//11111I1111111%%\ Town of Brewster 2198 MAIN STREET BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS 026314898 PHONE: 508.896.3701 EXT. 1120 FAX: 508.896.4538 brhealth c ,brewster-ma.gov WWW.BREWSTER-MA.GOV Board of Health Meeting Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 7:00PM Town Hall, Room A TAN 2 Health Department Amy L, von Hone, Director Sherrie McCullough, R.S. Assistant Director Tammi Mason Senior Department Assistant Board members attending: Annette Graczewski, MT (ASPC), Chair; Kimberley Crocker Pearson, MS, MD, MPH, Vice Chair; Penny Holeman, MPH, MA, MS, David Bennett and Casey D. Chatelain Others attending: Amy von Hone, R.S., C.H.O., Health Director, Sherrie McCullough, R.S., Assistant Health Director and Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant Others attending Remotely: John Casale, owner of 17 Hamilton Cartway, Tracy Long, MASSTC Administrative Assistant and Emily Michele Olmsted, MASSTC/Innovative Environmental Project Assistant 1. Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 7:OOPM 2. Chair announcements In collaboration with the Brewster Ponds Coalition, the Brewster Health Department posted a Cyanobacteria advisory for Schoolhouse Pond Town Landing and Lower Mill Pond dam at the gristmill as well as at Lower Mill Pond Beach Association kayak launch area. The advisories were based on a recommendation by the MDPH due to a visible Algal bloom indicative of elevated levels of Cyanobacteria. Testing of the ponds continues at this time with current results expected later this week. Until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with the pond water. MPDH announced incidence of West Nile Virus detected in mosquitos in Barnstable County. There have been no reports of infections in humans in MA to date. Although MDPH reports the risk in Barnstable County remains remote to low, this is the time of year when we expect to see EEE and West Nile Virus in mosquitos and it recommends the public take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours, at dusk and dawn, applying insect repellent and wearing long sleeve shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors. In addition, the public should take care to drain standing water around their homes and install or repair window screens. Brewster Health Department reports the number of new Covid cases in Brewster remains low and somewhat steady at this time. The current variants are reported to be very virulent, but also to result in less severe disease. At home Covid tests are still available through the Brewster Health Department. In addition, if you require a PCR test, you can schedule one at CCH by calling 508-534-7103 or Outer Cape Health Services at 508-90511,2888. Acknowledging that while Covid is still with us, but also for the majority of people, it no longer severely disturbs daily life. The CDC has updated its guidance for individuals who know they have had an exposure to Covid. If you have been exposed, regardless of your vaccination status, they recommend that instead of quarantining, you wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested five full days after exposure, on day 6. If you have Covid, regardless of your vaccination status, you should isolate from others for five days. If after 5 days you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication and your symptoms are improving, or if you've never had symptoms, you should test on day 6. If the test is negative, you may end isolation but should continue masking around others in public. If the test is positive, you should continue to isolate. Individuals with moderate or severe N:\Health\from Shari\IvISWORK FOLDERS\MEETIN GS\BOIi\Aug1722m.doc 8/17/22 BOH Minutes Page 2 illness, or with a weakened immune system, should isolate through day 10 and consult with their doctor before ending isolation. Early Childhood and K-12 guidance has also been updated to reflect these most recent CDC guidance changes. Amy and I attended the Cape Cod Commission's One Cape Symposium on August 1St & 2�d Topics focused on water quality and housing initiatives. The program was very informative and were fortunate to have the opportunity to meet directly with several individuals involved with the Cape Cod Commission's Comphrensive Planning for Pond Health on Cape Cod. There will be more to come on this topic at a further meeting. I also had the opportunity to attend the Brewster Ponds Coalitions annual meeting, at which Z. Crocker from the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition provided a presentation regarding that organization's use of I/A systems on the Shuble Pond area. The presentation was recorded and is available on the Brewster Pond's Coalition website. I encourage everyone who is not familiar with the project to take a look at the available video on the Pond Coalition's website. 3. Citizen's forum None. 4. New Board member welcome —Casey Chatelain AG- welcomed Casey Chatelain to the Board and stated that she had been appointed jointly by the Selectboard and Board of Health to this position for one year. She comes with a background in I/A septic technology and nitrogen mitigation. 5. 17 Hamilton Cartway —John Casale —Request change in number of bedrooms Mr. Casale stated that when his family moved here, the property hada 4 -bedroom cottage which they lived in for 4 years before deciding to build a new 4 -bedroom home. When the application was submitted to the Town, it was determined to be "pre-existing, non -conforming" by Zoning. At some point during the process, he was at Town Hall and saw on the meeting board that his property was on the Board of Health agenda to discuss the number of bedrooms. He stated that he was never notified of such meeting. He did attend the BOH meeting and was shown a floor plan drawing that an engineer did in 1988 when the previous septic was installed. He believes that the drawing was incorrect. When the property was inherited, there was no inspection, and he was never aware of any floor plan that showed 3 bedrooms. At the BOH meeting in 2004, the attorned and myself provide the Board with other evidence that it was a 4 -bedroom home. The BOH denied it at that time. AG -looking at the minutes from the November 9, 2004 meeting, there was no decision made. Because of the size of property, the BOH was leaning towards allowing just the 3 -bedroom home. Mr. Casale's lawyer asked the BOH to defer any decision so that he could see how Mr. Casale wanted to proceed. Ultimately, a 3 -bedroom home with a 3 -bedroom septic system was built. There are 2 bedrooms in the house and an in-law apartment with 1 bedroom. The lot size is 15,900sf. JC -the deed references 2 parcels. On the Clark Engineering Plan of March 12, 2004, it references the driveway parcel, which is 11,378 sf and the parcel with the house is 16,740sf. AG -so the total is 28,118sf, which still makes this a small lot under Title 5, and also has a private well. CC -noted that the 1988 plan shows a 3 -bedroom design. AG -Assessors records show 4 bedrooms, but an assessment for taxes is done by square footage, not number of bedrooms. JC -believes he had 4 bedrooms from the start. He never had any knowledge of a 3 -bedroom system that was in the ground. No one ever verified the layout of the house, and nothing is changing now. N:\Health\from Shari\MSWORK FOLDERS\MEETINGS\BOH\Aug1722m.doe 8/17/22 BOH Minutes Page 3 AG -there are no records to substantiate that it was a 4 bedroom. AVH-according to GIS maps, parcel 2 falls within the DCPC, so the lot would be subject to those regulations. Motion: Continue the meeting for 60 days so that Mr. Casale has the opportunity to provide: proof of ownership of second lot, nitrogen loading calculations and a commitment to put an I/A system in with a revised plan. Motion: David Bennett Second: Penny Holeman Vote: 5 yes Action: Motion carried 6. Brewster I/A Technology presentation — Emily Michele Olmstead & Tracy Long from MASSTC A power point presentation was shared with the Board. TL- explained to the Board that she tracks the compliance of all I/A systems in Town. The information is put into a database where it is kept track of. They make sure that an O&M contract is always in place. She went over what the procedure is for when someone falls out of compliance. EMO- went over what is required for I/A system sampling. There are 39 total I/A systems in Brewster. The power point shows the frequency of testing, what types of systems they are, and which ones have nitrogen removal technology. The data was pulled from January 1, 2000 through July 13, 2022. There is only data from single family homes. She went over how the data was read and evaluated. The median limit is 19ppm (50% of the systems are meeting that median). She spoke about Zone II nitrogen sensitive areas and that DEP was going to be reclassifying them, watershed permits and I/A systems that may be required when reclassification is done. There may also be new requirements for testing. AG -asked about any requirements above and beyond what DEP requires. EMO -additional sampling and possibly phosphorus removal systems. AG -spoke about addressing systems that are not performing properly. EMO -some towns may require homeowners to come before the BOH, may increase testing, levy fines, etc. AF -spoke about the threshold for nitrogen reduction requirements changing. EMO -Nitro and Nitrex systems are 2 provisional ones that could get it as low as 11 ppm. CC -The Nitro system is just now getting to the 50 systems required to start the timeline of 3 years to get general approval. DB -would like to see more enforcement on the end of meeting standards. He asked about the "0" numbers in the testing date. EMO- "0" can mean that it was reported as 0 or "none detected", or it was not sampled. DB -is concerned that the results may be skewed with those "0"'s in the mix. EMO- will forward the excel sheet to the BOH for their review. N:\Health\from Shari\MSWORK FOLDERS\Iv1EETINGS\BOH\Aug1722m.doc 8/17/22 BOH Minutes Page 4 7. Discuss and possibly vote on the revised Brewster Bedroom Definition for the Purpose of Sizing a Septic System Motion: Approved the revised Bedroom Definition for the Purpose of Sizing a Septic System Motion: Penny Holeman Second: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Vote: 5 yes Action: Motion carried 8. Review &Approve minutes for 7/6/22 & 8/3/22 AG- add members absent to minutes. Motion: Approve minutes as amended. Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: David Bennett Vote: 4 yes Action: Motion carried CC abstained 9. Liaison Reports AG- the Brewster recycling Commission and the Brewster Ladies Library are collaborating on a "Fix -It Clinic" on Saturday August 201h from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Brewster Ladies Library. Local repair coaches will be on hand to help. For more information, please go to the Brewster Ladies Library website or email Brewster.recycling(d)gmall.com 10. Matters n©t reasonably anticipated by the Chair KCP-shared that there has been a recent uptick in Polio virus in the septic systems in Boston. No reports of it in Barnstable County yet, but the MDPH has recommended that everyone check to see that they've been vaccinated. 11. Items for next agenda None. 12. Next meeting: September 7, 2022 AG -spoke about the Select Board's remote participation policy. Informational items were noted. AG -spoke about the report about the Release &Abatement Plan for the former CCSC property and encouraged the Board to read it. DB -asked if anyone had heard whether the DEP has stated that Brewster's Watershed Permit was valid. AVH will check into it. Meeting adjourned at 8:45PM N:\Health\from Shari\MSWORK FOLDERS\MEETINGS\BOH\Aug1722m.doc