HomeMy Public PortalAboutBoard of Health -- 2023-07-19 Minutes00
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Town of Brewster
2198 MAIN STREET
BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS 02631-1898
PHONE: 508.896.3701 EXT. 1120
FAX: 508.896.4538
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WWW.BREWSTER-MA.GOV
Board of Health Meeting
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 6:3OPm
Town Hall, Room A
Health Department
Amy L. von Hone, R.S., C.H.O.
Director
Sherrie McCullough, R.S.
Assistant Director
Tammi Mason
Senior Department Assistant
Board members present: David Bennett, Chair; Kimberley Crocker Pearson, MS, MD, MPH, Vice Chair; Penny Holeman, MPH, MA,
MS; John Keith and Abigail Archer
Others present: Amy von Hone, R.S., C.H.O., Health Director and Sherrie McCullough, R.S., Assistant Health Director and Katie O'Neil
from Barnstable Public Health Department (virtually)
1. Call to order
Meeting was called to order at 6:30PM.
2. Declaration of a quorum
All present.
3. Recording Statement
Noted.
4. Chair announcements
None.
5. Citizen's forum
None.
6. Cape Public Health Excellence Grant (PHE) presentation and vote
Katie O'Neil, Barnstable Public Health Department was present virtually.
- a slide presentation was presented to the Board.
- explained what the Excellence Grant was and that it was set up by the state in order to share services between towns.
- this was in direct response to a 2016 blueprint for public health (created by a special commission on local and regional public health).
it was a study done on all the local health departments and identified several areas that were lacking.
- the commission recommended that they elevate standards, strengthen services, improve data reporting, set education & training
standards and the State needed to commit resources in order to do all of it.
- from the blueprint, came the SAPHE 1.0 Act. It was incentivized in 2019 and the bill was created. It was approved in 2020.
- the initial step was to address a lot of the blueprint concerns, as part of this it created the PHE grant (the States promise to give funds
in order to improve the services and shared services.
- from the 1.0, there is now SAPHE 2.0, that is in process. If it does get approved, it will further increase the funding & services to
Health Departments.
- Barnstable received $481,000 to be shared among the towns
- funds can be used for staff salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, consultants etc.
- allowable and unallowable expenses were discussed.
- all towns are participating except for Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Falmouth.
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The mission of the C.A.P.E. PHC is:
• Curate reliable health & environmental data as a regional source for trusted information and analysis
• Advocate for the collective public health & environment protection interests of Cape Cod residents & visitors
• Provide technical assistance & support services to cape municipalities.
• Engage diverse communities, underrepresented populations, non-profit and other NGO's and building effective
partnerships within Barnstable County
• Specific goals still need to be determined by the Governance Board
- spoke about the possible funding options
- the Governance Board is made up of a representative from each of the participating towns
- no financial obligations of repayment for any funds spent through the PHE grant
- towns can opt out at any time
- an example of a successful PHEG program was given
DB — asked who submits the request for funding.
KO — as the Brewster representative, AVH could make the request and it would be voted on by the regional board.
AA — asked how long the town had to spend the money.
KO — its 481.000 each vear and must be spent down each year. The grant is renewable every 3 years.
PH- have any ideas been brought forward yet?
KO- the biggest ideas right now are a full-time inspector for the Cape, having a public health fair and VNA programming.
Nothing has been decided except for a software program.
AVH — the value of what Brewster is asking for is essentially 12-15,000 per year. Barnstable County has been asked to create a training
hub for the Cape. The next step is to sign an inter municipal agreement.
DB — asked what the role of the BOH was in making recommendations.
AVH — if the BOH feels there is a need for something, she would bring it to the Regional Board.
AA — asked where in the timeline we were.
AVH — things have been very slow moving due to lack of staff at the County.
DB — once we have a signed agreement, we can put this on a future agenda.
7. Pressure Dose Septic System update
AVH- letters went out on Friday, July 141h. The 4 town owned properties were given a heads up prior to the letters going out. She did
hear from a few that are starting to get quotes for costs, and she did receive a call from 1 inspection with questions. She stated that she
did draft up some "talking points" for the staff if any other calls were received.
8. I/A Septic System discussion and possible vote
a. Review noncompliant septic systems A, B & C, and I/A systems spreadsheet
b. Review I/A enforcement flow chart
C. Review draft enforcement action letter
JK — put together a revised flow chart.
DB — put together a draft letter.
Flow Chart — DB wanted to forgo the research of every I/A system if it didn't have an apparent non-compliance problem. He asked the
Board if the felt they needed a number and if it was acceptable to everyone to by step the review of the conditions and go back into the
files after it has been first identified that there was an issue. The Board agreed with this.
The number 30 will remain for now to see how it works.
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There were a few other issues that were discussed, and changes made.
Motion: Make changes to the flow chart
Motion: Penny Holeman Second: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
Draft letter — DB stated that he tried to keep the letter generic. The purpose of it is to find out why these systems are not working.
PH — asked if the homeowner is supposed to talk to the operator and have the sample in 30 days or does the sample result have to be
to the Board within 30 days of the letter?
DB — discussion and sample done within 30 days.
PH — suggested some edits to make the letter clearer.
Back and forth discussion about the letter took place.
DB — will make the changes and bring the letter back to the next BOH meeting.
Motion: Adopt the flow charts as guidance for the BOH and staff to use in determining which properties should receive the letter.
Motion: Abigail Archer Second: Penny Holeman Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion passed
The Board discussed the non-compliant septic systems and the I/A spreadsheet/
DB — the spreadsheet identifies the last year of information. If we use the "30" criteria, do we say that one 30 makes it or is it the
average of the sum of the readings or the last 2 readings?
JK — if half of them are over 30 in the last 2 years, then the homeowner should get a letter.
DB — went over the properties he thought needed to be reviewed by the Board.
This will be a continued discussion at the next meeting.
9. Overview of revised Title 5 Regulations and new Watershed Regulations
DB — the Board received a red lined version of the changes and a summary of the changes. Towns have the ability to provide
watershed permits or file for exemptions to watershed permits within 2 years, or after 2 years, all the residents that are in the designated
nitrogen sensitive areas would have to upgrade to a yet unapproved technology or a technology that is in the piloting phase. There are
a couple of systems out there that are able to meet the 10PPM.
JK — a key issue coming out of this is the Herring River Watershed. According to Horsely Witten, the town should get enough credit for
the nitrogen removal in the river and Long Pond as well as other ponds. Then the Town would not have to do anything. It is unclear
how the town would get the credit.
DB — there is no such thing as a "do nothing permit' These regulations have been promulgated and actionable items are being held at
the moment.
10. Review & approve minutes from 617/23 meeting
There were a few corrections.
Motion: Approve minutes with corrections
Motion: Abigail Archer Second: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
11. Liaison Reports
KCP — Opioid Committee has not been established yet. She mentioned the Naloxone acquisition process and will bring it back to the
next meeting.
PH — the COA meeting is tomorrow. AVH stated that she had a conversation with Elton Cutler, COA Director and he is going to present
the request for a liaison at the meeting tomorrow.
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JK — WQRC meeting is on August 251h
AA — Recycling Commission met yesterday. They reviewed the following:
• Review of traffic patterns at the Recycling Center is done and there are several suggestions being looked at
• Changes to textile recycling and hauling were implemented
• Trash review discussion took place
• Recycling Center has been getting calls from residents not being able to get the required yellow bags. This is being
addressed
DB — Lower Cape Outreach has a clothing center there for the re -sale of gently used clothing.
DB — WWTF meeting resulted in the following questions:
• How are the new regulations going to be enforced
• There will be a public statement coming from the Town.
He talked about the Herring River Watershed.
KCP — stated that there will be an insert with the Water bills about the new fertilizer bylaw.
DB — stated that KCP was appointed to sit on the Pleasant Bay Alliance Task Force.
12. Matters not reasonably anticipated by the Chair
None.
13. Items for next agenda
Research on I/A systems, update on Pressure Dosing systems and Opioid information.
14. Next meeting: August 2, 2023
Noted.
Informational items were noted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20PM
*Accompanying document in packet: Agenda, I/A system property files, new septic changes in Title 5, informational items
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