HomeMy Public PortalAboutBoard of Health -- 2024-03-20 Minutes��/�
Town of Brewster
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2198 MAIN STREET
BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS 02631-1898
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PHONE: 508.896.3701 EXT. 1120
FAX: 508.896.4538
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WWW.BREWSTER-MA.GOV
Board of Health Meeting
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:30PM
Town Hall, Room B
Health Department
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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; Abigail Archer and John Keith
Others present: Amy von Hone, R.S., C.H.O., Health Director, Sherrie McCullough, R.S., Assistant Health Director and Matt Dalton,
Siegmund Environmental
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM.
2. Declaration of a quorum
Quorum present.
3. Recording Statement
Noted.
4. Chair announcements
BOH training.
5. Citizen's forum
None.
6. I/A Technology Non -Compliance hearings and updates
320 Satucket Road.
AVH:
- this is an existing Singular 960 Denitrification I/A system that was installed in 2007. The property is in Zone II, DECP and the
CCB Watershed.
- Has provisional approval
- Maximum 19ppm of total nitrogen
- Sampling is required twice a year
- System has been struggling to meet the 19ppm for a while.
- Letter was sent in August of 2023; no response was received.
- Second letter went out in January of 2024. A new operator was hired (Siegmund Environmental)
DB — last 4 sample numbers were 58, 51, 44 & 61.
Matt Dalton, Siegmund Environmental stated that they went to the property in August of 2023 and took some samples, which came back
with high numbers for nitrogen. They went back after that and found that the aerator was not working at its full capacity, and it was
replaced in October. They also added lime and spoke to the homeowner about what not to put down drains at that time. In January of
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2024 a sample was taken, and the results were much improved (25ppm). The TKN went down from 58.4ppm to 7.88ppm. He is
optimistic that if this continues, they will be able to get it down to 19ppm.
KCP — asked about the occupancy of the house in January.
MD — it is unknown if it was occupied then.
DB — would like to see results by the end of June.
MD — he will be going back out in April and will send results to the Health Department.
JK — the house should be occupied for at least a month before testing is done again.
MD — will get in touch with the homeowner.
Motion: Revisit this again in June
Motion: Penny Holeman Second: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
83 Greenland Pond Road
AVH:
- Home was built a few years ago.
- Numbers have always been high.
- Property is in Zone II and DCPC.
- IIA was installed to get a higher number of bedrooms.
- Response was received back from Mike Moreau, operator of this system.
- Don't know if this is a seasonal home or not. Water meter reading is not up to what the system was designed for (3 bedrooms).
- BOH needs to decide if they want the homeowner and/or operator to attend the next meeting in April.
DB — suggested holding off on having them come in before the BOH and sending another letter.
Motion: Revisit this at the end of the year and monitor how the system is operating between now and then.
Motion: Penny Holeman Second: John Keith Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
50 Sarah Maker
AVH
I/A was installed because property is in Zone II and DCPC
Update from the operator (Wastewater Treatment Services) that he had suggested to the owner to add sodium bicarbonate (or
baking soda) into the system to try and adjust issues with the TKN, which has been high.
The numbers are dramatically lower now and are in compliance.
DB- asked AVH to speak about DEP's response to the BOH's request for guidance.
AVH — received an email from Lealdon Langley, Director of Division of Watershed Management in Boston, and had a conference call
with him, and Caroline Adamson from DEP (Drew Osei, Cape Cod Regional rep for DEP was supposed to attend but could not).
DEP is collaborating with MASSTEC, our test center at Otis. They are reviewing all the technologies. The standard they set up for what
technologies are meeting their requirement as far as best available technology, is if they have 90% of the systems in the ground in MA
meeting "permit", it is considered to be acceptable.
The biggest concern DEP had was enforcement of non-compliant systems and that we don't end up going in different directions
(regarding enforcement).
They are hoping to have a final list by May of this year. The deadline is July 811'
JK — asked about the timeline. AVH stated that it would be a while.
The Board will revisit this again at the end of the year.
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7. Pressure Dose 2"d non-compliance letter update
DB- spoke a bit about the history of this.
AVH — after the 2nd notices were sent out, the office received quite a few responses with concerns. She did also receive a few new
reports.
- there are 61 Pressure Dose systems in Brewster
- 47% (or 29 systems) are currently compliant
- 32% (or 20 systems) have corresponded with the Health Department that work is scheduled, or they are working on it
- 18% (or 11 systems) have not responded to either letter
There was lengthy discussion between the Board on this subject.
AVH spoke about asking DEP for guidance and that there might be issues with other Health Departments because we are the only Town
enforcing this regulation. The inspectors are saying that they don't have the equipment that is necessary to do these inspections.
Motion: Revisit this again in 6 months.
Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: Abigail Archer
Discussion from the Board. DB asked how the BOH wanted to deal with the non -responders. JK thought letters to the commercial
properties but not residential would be best. AVH stated that she believed the Board should not single out just the commercial
properties, it should be all or nothing.
Amended motion:
Motion: Revisit this again in 6 months but get in touch with DEP to clarify their position on their regulations regarding Pressure Dose
systems and the BOH's role with that regulation
Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: Abigail Archer Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
8. Review and discuss local BOH regulations and policy:
a. Leaching Facility Setback Regulation
b. Real Estate Transfer Inspection Regulation
c. In -House Septic Variance Policy
AVH- stated that the reason these are coming to the Board is due to a septic variance from a few weeks ago. The regulations are
outdated and don't match up with each other.
DB — asked if any members would like to be on a sub committee to go over the regulations and make recommendations. The Board
agreed to make a subcommittee to include DB, AA and JK.
9. Annual Animal Inspector Nominations
Motion: Nominate Sherrie McCullough, Lynda Brogden Burns and Hunter Twombly as Animal Inspectors for this year.
Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: Abigail Archer Vote: 5-0 Action: Motion carried
10. Review and approve minutes from 2/7/24 & 2/21/24
Motion: Approve minutes from 2/7/24 as written
Motion: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Second: John Keith Vote: 4-0-1 (PH abstained) Action: Motion carried
Motion: Approve minutes from 2/21/24 as written
Motion: Penny Holeman Second: Kimberley Crocker Pearson Vote: 3-0-2 (AA & JK abstained) Action: Motion carried
11. Liaison Reports
KCP — Opioid Committee - attended a state webinar yesterday and today regarding programs that Town's have in place.
PH — COA — subgroups are still working on goals for the 5 -year plan.
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AA — Recycling Committee — nothing to report tonight. Will have a report at the next meeting.
12. Matters not reasonably anticipated
KCP — A request from an organization (POCCA) asking the Town to put on the Town Warrant the same "home rule" petition that was
passed last November in Orleans, regulating the use of Pesticides in Brewster. The Town Managers office gave it to the Natural
Resource Advisory Committee for deliberation and in a majority vote, they recommended that the article be place on the warrant. The
Town Managers office is looking for input from other groups in town (including the BOH).
This will go on the next agenda.
DB — spoke a bit about the Short -Term Rental Bylaw Citizen's Petition that is on the warrant.
13. Items for next agenda
Pesticide issue, Short Term Rental Bylaw proposal, update on BOH regulations, I/A homeowners
14. Next meeting: April 3, 2024
Noted.
Informational items were noted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50PM
"Accompanying documents in packet: agenda, VA updates, regulations, animal inspector nomination papers, informational items
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