HomeMy Public PortalAbout20151130 - Board of Health - Meeting MinutesBOH November 30, 2015 Minutes Page 1
Approved January 11, 2016
BOARD OF HEALTH
Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts
18 Main Street, 3rd Floor Meeting Area
Monday, November 30, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Members Present: Paul Winshman, Chairman and Jennifer Belesi, Vice Chairman,
Dr. Philip Cohen
Also Present: Edward Wirtanen, Board of Health Director
Absent:
Late Arrival:
The meeting was called to order at 7: 04 p.m. by Chairman Winshman
Request to Approve Board of Health Meeting Minutes
Mr. Wirtanen requested that the Board approve the following meeting minutes:
November 16, 2015
Dr. Cohen motioned to approve the meeting minutes of November 16, 2015. Vice
Chairman Belesi seconded. Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in
favor.
Request for a Variance From State Plumbing Code (Post-Installation)-45 South
Street/Arteriocyte
Present: Eyal Mark, Pi Piper, Inc.; Kolby Day, Arteriocyte VP General Manager of
Research & Development
Mr. Mark and Mr. Day requested the Board’s approval for two variances from the Board of
State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters to allow the installation of two
direct connect ejector pumps and to have the discharge (gray water) be pumped to a floor
drain between 40 and 60 feet from the sink into the existing sewage disposal system.
Mr. Wirtanen informed the Board that the waste indicated in their letter is part of the
manufacturing process and would be under the Title 5-State Environmental Code
requirements of prohibiting such waste from being discharge into the sewage disposal
system. He stated that an industrial holding tank would be required for this waste and also
asked where the current waste is being placed at. In addition, the variance application from
the Board of State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters that was submitted by
Mr. Mark is for a Post-Installation which indicates that the job has already been completed.
Mr. Wirtanen indicated that he needs clarification as to whether the job has been
completed or not. Mr. Mark noted that the job has not been started and that he filled out
the wrong application, which he was not aware of, and will get the correct one (Pre-
Installation) to the Board of Health as soon as possible.
Dr. Cohen asked several questions regarding the handling of the bio-hazard waste, OSHA
compliance and confirmation that bio-waste is not being disposed of into the septic
system.
BOH November 30, 2015 Minutes Page 2
Approved January 11, 2016
Mr. Day confirm to Dr. Cohen that there is absolutely no bio-waste going into the septic
system, confirmed that only gray water would be and is deposit into the septic system and
that everything in their lab complies with OSHA. He explained that there are two hoods
stationed and one hood is for the bio-waste which will be deposited into a container (which
he showed the Board) and will be hauled away by a bio-waste company and the other hood
will be for hazard waste with the same procedure. Mr. Day noted that they have contracted
with Heritage Waste Removal and Stericycle for SHARPS container removal.
Mr. Wirtanen expressed his concern that he needs to verify that wastes from all sinks and
toilets are being disposed of in the septic system and requested a letter of declaration
indicating that along with conducting a site inspection. Dr. Cohen also requested that Mr.
Day supply the Board with the plumbing design of the building so they would be able to
confirm that no bio-waste is being deposit into the septic system.
Dr. Cohen motioned to approve the Variance From the State Plumbing Code for 45 South
Street as requested with the following conditions: a site visit will be conducted by the
Board of Health, a letter of declaration indicating that all waste from all sinks and toilets
drain into the existing septic system, a plumbing schematic of the building to be submitted
and the correct Variance application to be filled out and resubmitted to the Board of
Health. Vice Chairman Belesi seconded. Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi and
Dr. Cohen in favor.
Open Session (Unanticipated Topics)
Present: Jim Sullivan, 18 Huckleberry Road; Rob Scannevin, 26 Huckleberry Road and
Jennifer Belesi, 24 Huckleberry Road (Ms. Belesi is speaking as a resident)
Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Scannevin and Ms. Belesi come before the Board to voice their concern
regarding flooding, caused by beaver dams, encroaching their property along the border of
Whitehall Brook and the Pratt Property and asked for the Board’s direction and support.
They expressed apprehension regarding the water level continually increasing and the
upcoming winter weather and noted that they are serviced by private wells and septic
systems.
Mr. Sullivan said that the water is stagnant and has created serious issues with mosquitoes
on his property. He said that when he moved in 8 years ago the water level was a small
running creek and now it has grown 30-40 feet wide. Mr. Sullivan said that he has been
told that the Whitehall Brook is owned by the State and that their homes boarder the Brook
and the Pratt property which is now owned by the town. He stated that he has submitted
pictures of the increased water level from the brook and the Pratt property to the Town
Manager already. Mr. Sullivan showed the pictures that were given to the Town Manager
to the Board.
The Board engaged in a lengthy conversation regarding the different avenues of relief, who
is the responsible entity for relief and also heard concerns from Mr. Scannevin and Ms.
Belesi.
The Board asked Mr. Wirtanen for his comments regarding the issue of relief and what can
the homeowner do under the Board of Health’s regulations, if any.
BOH November 30, 2015 Minutes Page 3
Approved January 11, 2016
Mr. Wirtanen stated that the homeowners have an option which falls under the Board of
Health Regulations as the Emergency Permit for Beaver Trapping, which entails dam
breaching or installing a water flow device(s), only for their own property. He also
indicated that the Town Wells is under the auspices of the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection and that the Pratt Farm and the Fruit Street property are under
the Town of Hopkinton’s domain. Mr. Wirtanen also indicated that the resident’s
properties boarder wetlands. The Town has recently formed the Pratt Farm Committee and
indicated that this may be an avenue for a resident to be a member of and also stated that
the Town should have a beaver mitigation plan in place, which they don’t at this point, for
the Pratt and Fruit Street property.
Ms. Belesi voiced that she reached out to Jamie Hellen, the Operations Manager to the
Town Manager, regarding their concerns and suggested that the Town conduct an
engineering study and have the Town and the State share the responsibility of relief.
Chairman Winshman recommended that they bring their plight to the Board of Selectmen
and that the Board of Health fully supports their concerns and also added that their
trepidations are considered a potential public health issue due to the their private water
supply, septic systems and standing water.
The Board thanked the resident’s for coming before them with their dilemma and wished
them well in their presentation to the Selectmen.
Request for a Room Count Variance/51 North Mill St/Ed Tarca
Mr. Wirtanen informed the Board that Mr. Tarca on behalf of the owners, Dan & Gail
Tonelli, is requesting a 4 bedroom deed restriction for an existing 10 room house which
was built in 2000 and is serviced by a private well. The proposed basement renovation will
add 3 rooms.
At this point Mr. Tarca, informed the Board that the owners will be selling their home and
are requesting to finish part of their basement and are offering a 4 bedroom deed restriction
Chairman Winshman asked if a Title 5 Inspection was conducted on this property and
whether the inspection had passed and what will the functions of the new rooms be used
for. Mr. Tarca indicated that he did not know if there has been a Title 5 inspection and/or
whether it passed or not. The basement room functions will be for a theater, exercise and
billiards room.
The Board reviewed the floor plans, which Mr. Tarca brought with him and did not submit
prior to the meeting tonight, and concluded that the plans had a total of 10 rooms including
the basement’s 3 new rooms, which was confirmed by Mr. Tarca that the new basement
rooms were not being used as bedrooms.
Chairman Winshman motioned to accept a 4 bedroom, 12 room deed restriction and to
approve the Building Permit Plan Review to finish the basement with 3 rooms, as
presented by Mr. Tarca, for 51 North Mill Street. Vice Chairman Belesi seconded.
Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in favor.
BOH November 30, 2015 Minutes Page 4
Approved January 11, 2016
Informational Correspondence
Mr. Wirtanen informed the Board that the following is for their information, review and/or
action:
Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Policy & Information-Mr. Wirtanen informed the
Board that the Town Manager’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Policy and Budget
Schedule is enclosed in their packet for their review. He said that the budget cycle
is now 27 days ahead of its normal process which is much earlier than in past years.
The budget message is that all budgets are to be level funded except the continuing
contractual obligations and mandates and that the budget is due to the Chief
Financial Officer no later than Friday, December 4, 2015.
Revised Fiscal Year 2017 Board of Health Budget-Mr. Wirtanen informed the
Board that the department’s fiscal year 2017 budget reflects the following:
incremental cost for contractual employees and mandates, merit increases for staff,
additional money for inspectional services and for a records scanning management
database and/or a new office location (to be reunited with the department’s
records). He cautioned, the Board that, the Town Manager has never approved the
proposed department’s budget as submitted and that the process has been extremely
confusing with the town having 5 different Chief Financial Officer’s since he has
been employed here.
Reduction of Board of Health Fees-Mr. Wirtanen reminded the Board, that now
that the Town has fully funded the Board of Health’s salaries and expenses, they
will be continuing their discussion of reducing the department’s fees at their next
meeting. He stated that since the Town has acquired the department’s 53½ account
(BOH is the only department that has given the Town Manager its revenue account
in lieu of the department’s Administrative Assistant position) the Town should not
be in the business of making a profit.
Avian Flu Information-Mr. Wirtanen notified the Board that the Avian Flu
Campaign is in full force and presented the Board with information for their
knowledge and review. He also stated that he has given this information to the
Animal Control Inspector and has also supplied him with the appropriate wear gear
if he should encounter an avian flu incident. The information will also be placed
on the Department’s web page.
Board of Selectmen & Capital Request Hearing Dates
Mr. Wirtanen told the Board that he will be attending the Board of Selectmen’s meeting
tomorrow night (Tuesday, December 1, 2015) at 8:30 p.m. to inform them of the Board of
Health’s records scanning management database and/or the relocation of the office with its
records.
He also informed the Board that he will also be attending the Capital Expenditures
Committee on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 7:00 P.m. to discuss the same items.
BOH November 30, 2015 Minutes Page 5
Approved January 11, 2016
Request to Approve Board of Health Director’s Fiscal Year 2016 Objectives
Worksheet & Summary Forms for Merit Increase
Mr. Wirtanen requested that the Board approve his Fiscal Year 2016 Objectives Worksheet
& Summary forms, which is now on the proper forms, per the Human Resources
Department, the Board had approved the goals at their June 2015 meeting.
Vice Chairman Belesi motioned to approve Mr. Wirtanen’s Fiscal Year 2016 Objectives
and Summary forms, per the Human Resources Department, for his merit increase. Dr.
Cohen seconded. Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in favor.
Meeting with Town Manager
Mr. Wirtanen asked Vice Chairman Belesi if she is still meeting with the Town Manager
regarding his ongoing wage issue as discussed previously and which has been pending
since 2009 along with the placement of his position under the new Salary Administration
Plan. Vice Chairman Belesi noted that she has every intention to speak with the Town
Manager regarding those pending issues and that she will meet with Mr. Wirtanen to
further discuss these items at length.
Board of Health Future Meetings
The Board voted to meet on the following dates:
Monday, December 14, 2015
Monday, January 4, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Monday, February 8, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Payroll Authorization
Mr. Wirtanen requested Chairman Winshman’s signature and payroll authorization for the
following weeks:
≈ December 7-12, 2015
≈ December 14-19, 2015
≈ December 21-26, 2015
≈ December 28-January 2, 2015
Chairman Winshman signed Mr. Wirtanen’s payroll as requested.
ADJOURN:
Dr. Cohen motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 pm. Chairman Winshman seconded.
Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nidia LaRoche
Board of Health Administrative Assistant