Town of Hingham
Board of Health Meeting
JANUARY 21, 2010
A regular posted-meeting of the Hingham Board of Health (the Board) was held in the North Hearing Room, 210 Central St. Hingham, Massachusetts.
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Shilts at 6:14PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Kirk Shilts, D.C., Chairman
Peter Bickford, Member
Stephan White, Member
STAFF PRESENT
Bruce Capman, R.S., Executive Health Officer
Kathy Crowley, R.N., Town Nurse
AGENDA
Mr. Capman reviewed the meeting’s agenda with the Board.
Thereafter, the agenda was accepted with additions.
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE REPORT
Ms. Crowley reviewed with the Board her 2009 winter report. Highlights include the following:
• Seasonal Flu Clinics (fall 2009): Approx. 2,000 residents vaccinated. The vaccine is provided for free. The town is able to receive partial reimbursement from Medicare relative to residents covered under this program.
• H1N1 Flu Clinics: Clinics were held on Dec. 13th & Jan. 9th. Both clinics were run as Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) operations. In total, approx. 2,300 residents were vaccinated. Approx. 1,000 doses of vaccine remain. The vaccine was supplied for free by the government. No reimbursement is available. The “List Serve” reverse-call notification service administered by the High School was utilized for the first time to notify school-age residents and parents of the H1N1 clinics. Approx. $6,000 was expended to run each H1N1 EDS operation which was paid for by the Federal Government.
• Hingham School System: Ms. Crowley co-sponsored a disease surveillance program and educational disease prevention programs in conjunction with the school dept.
• Emergency Management Planning: The health dept. is planning a tabletop drill for May 2010.
SEPTIC SYSTEM VARIANCE REQUEST
2 POND PARK ROAD
The Board reviewed request for variances from Hingham Supplemental septic regulations relative to a proposed new commercial construction project.
Applicant spokesperson: Renwick Chapman
The Board reviewed the following documents:
• Letters from Renwick Chapman dated 12/22/09 & 1/7/10
• Report from Mr. Capman dated 1/14/10
The Board discussed the following issues:
• The proposed septic system will service a proposed medical office building located within the Hingham Industrial Park to accommodate a 28-member physician group. The South Shore Hospital (SSH) will be using two-thirds of the building for a “Bone and Muscle Center”. The not-for-profit SSH will specifically lease space for this center (20-year arrangements) and not own the property.
• The building is projected to generate 7,000g/d of effluent. A 1999 proposal before the Board for this same property, that reportedly received Board approval, involved multiple buildings generating 7,200g/d of effluent.
• Occupancy of the building is planned for May of 2011.
• The town is currently exploring the prospect to convert the entire Hingham Industrial Park area to MWRA sewer service. Permitting and any eventual construction may likely take upwards of two years.
• The proposed 5-foot retaining wall along Pond Park Road would still need to be at least 3-foot even is sewer service was available. The wall’s base will be elevated topographically 4-foot over the frontage roadway. The proposed “redi-rock” wall design will be reportedly similar to the existing wall (available for viewing) located across the street from the SSH’s former emergency entrance.
• The request for the reserve SAS to be inter-spaced within the primary SAS is principally because of the planned conversion to sewer service (once available).
• Nuclear waste generation will be treated per industry standard via a separate closed-tank design.
• The proposal includes an Amphidrome system which is superior to the “fast” (fixed activated sludge treatment) system the Board reportedly approved for this site in 1999.
• Nine (9) different Hingham Supplemental variances are sought for this new construction proposal. No state Title-V variances are being requested.
Thereafter, the Board will continue the discussion on this matter for the 2/11/10 meeting.
SEPTIC SYSTEM VARIANCE REQUEST
54 CUSHING STREET
The Board reviewed a homeowner request for variances from State Title-V and Hingham Supplemental septic regulations relative to a failed sewage disposal system.
Applicant spokesperson: Brian McSweeney
The Board reviewed the following documents:
• Report from Mr. Capman dated 12/16/09
The Board discussed the following issues:
• The neighborhood is speckled with small lot sizes and private potable wells. No location on the property could comply with the 250 foot set back to a potable well.
• The Hingham Supplemental private well set back is 250 feet, but state Title-V only requires 100 feet.
• The proposal includes the installation of a wastewater treatment plant.
• The proposal appears to meet maximum feasible compliance.
Thereafter, a Motion was made by Mr. White and Seconded by Mr. Bickford and it was VOTED (unanimous);
To grant a Divergence from State Title-V regulation 15.405(1)(a), and four (4) Variances from the Hingham Supplemental septic Rules and Regulations sections VI(6), VI(5), VI.9 & VI.12(a), and conditional on the fifteen (15) conditions outlined in Mr. Capman’s 12/16/09 report.
SEPTIC SYSTEM VARIANCE REQUEST
6 ELAINE ROAD
The Board reviewed a homeowner request for variances from State Title-V and Hingham Supplemental septic regulations relative to a failed sewage disposal system.
Applicant spokespersons: Gary James & Gene Babin (homeowner)
The Board reviewed the following documents:
• Report from Mr. Capman dated 1/20/10
• Letter from Gary James dated 1/19/10
The Board discussed the following issues:
• The proposal includes a wastewater treatment plant coupled with the “Oakson Drip Irrigation System” SAS.
• An Oakson system has yet to be installed in Hingham. Reportedly, there are two functioning examples in Duxbury and examples in Cohasset.
• The Oakson system differs from a conventional SAS, where the primary goal is trans-evaporation of effluent (up) into the lawn’s 6-inch root zone rather than diffusion (down) into the soils.
• The Oakson system would reportedly result in topical snowmelt and an evergreen appearance during the winter. Consistent linear nutrient dispersion into proximal plant roots would reportedly likely result in year-round “zebra” stripes of the lawn immediately over the SAS.
• The SAS is planned over disturbed soils from a previously installed septic upgrade about 20-years ago. The site is also described as “extremely wet”.
• There is some concern over winter freeze.
• There is a purported 50% cost savings to this drip irrigation SAS compared to a conventional SAS, due in part because added layers of crushed stone, sand, and additional topsoil are not required.
Thereafter, a Motion was made by Mr. Bickford and Seconded by Mr. White and it was VOTED (unanimous);
To postpone action on this matter until the 2/11/10 meeting, and instruct Mr. Capman to research the efficacy and aesthetics of similar systems installed in neighboring towns.
EXECUTIVE HEALTH OFFICER’S REPORT:
Hingham Supplementary (Septic) Regulations
Mr. Capman discussed with the Board Hingham’s supplemental septic regulation VI(9), which should state, but doesn’t, that the soils in question are “naturally” occurring. Although implied, Mr. Capman said that the word “natural” should be added to the regulation for better clarification when the regulations are next updated. Mr. Capman added that the regulation’s section on residential treatment plans could use some updating too.
Thereafter, the Board asked Mr. Capman to write up a working list of potential updates to the Supplemental (Septic) Regulations for future Board review.
Hingham Health Dept. Permit and Licensing Fees
The Board reviewed a spreadsheet that lists the various health dept. fees from nineteen different Massachusetts communities comparable to Hingham. The Board discussed the updated fee schedule, voted on at the December 2009 meeting, which became effective 01/01/2010.
College Proceptorship Program
Mr. Capman mentioned that a 4th-year college student has started her internship at the health dept. She is a resident of Afghanistan, studying public health.
Hingham Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS)
Mr. Capman provided the Board with copy of “post-incident’ draft reports from the 12/13/09 and 1/9/10 EDS exercises. He also provided a copy of the public information flier that describes the EDS process.
Former Health Dept. Employee Michael McDonald
Mr. Capman stated that former employer McDonald made an unannounced and unexpected visit to the health dept. office, in apparent violation to the terms of his separation agreement.
Thereafter, the Board instructed Mr. Capman to report this incident to Town Atty. Toomey, and take appropriate actions necessary to ensure a safe working environment for health dept. personnel.
Animal Permits
Mr. Capman reported that animal permit applications were received by today’s imposed deadline for the following properties. He also reminded the Board that inspection reports still need to be performed on these applications.
• 272 Whiting Street
• 133 Leavitt Street
• 12 Pope’s Lane
• 134 Fort Hill Street
MWRA Sewer Service request and application
The Board reviewed a 1/13/10 letter from the Selectmen to MWRA Executive Director Laskey regarding a request for expedited MWRA sewer service to the Hingham Industrial/Office Park District.
MINUTES
The Board reviewed the public minutes of the 11/19/09 meeting.
Thereafter, a Motion was made by Mr. White and Seconded by Mr. Bickford and it was VOTED (unanimous);
To approve the minutes of November 19, 2009 as drafted.
The Board reviewed the executive session minutes of 11/19/09.
Thereafter, a Motion was made by Mr. Bickford and Seconded by Mr. White and it was VOTED (unanimous);
To approve the Executive Session minutes of November 19, 2009 as drafted.
The Board reviewed the public minutes of the 12/17/09 meeting.
Thereafter, a Motion was made by Mr. White and Seconded by Dr. Shilts and it was VOTED (unanimous);
To approve the minutes of December 17, 2009 as drafted.
SCHEDULING
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 6pm.
ADJOURNMENT
The January 21, 2010 meeting of the Hingham Board of Health adjourned at 9:58PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Kirk Shilts, D.C.
Hingham Board of Health