The meeting convened at 1:11 PM. Present were Timothy P. Stone, Suzanne H. Traini, Public Health Director Paul C. Pisinski and Secretary Barbara M. Luther.

The minutes of the April 13 meeting were not available for review, but will be ready for the next meeting.

Vouchers totaling $373.56 were approved for payment from the Board of Health Budget.

Members were briefed on the agenda and any scheduled appointments.

The following License(s) signed by the Public Health Director:
Installer’s Lic. # 240408 – Joseph Quinn dba Joseph Quinn – Conventional NEW

The following Permit(s) were unanimously approved and signed:
Food Est. License
Food Est. Lic. #240406 – Karl Dzeguze dba Bistro Express RENEWAL
Septic Systems
SDS Permit #2004023 – 96 Southville Rd. (4/34) Complete Replacement 3 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004024 – 260 Parkerville Rd. (2/21) Complete Replacement 3 Bedroom
Local Upgrade Waives approved: reduced the separation to ground water from 4’ to 3’, the separation from the tank to the foundation from 10’ to 6’, and the separation for the property line to the tank from 10’ to 7’.

The Following Permit(s) were NOT Approved: All plans and licenses before the Board were approved

DISCUSSION
Average Cost of Driving - Dr. Stone shared an article from the AAA Magazine regarding the average cost per mile for driving a vehicle during normal usage. The average cost is $0.562 per mile. Members would like a copy of the article forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for their review because they are the ones who determine the travel reimbursement for most of the Town Employees.

Voucher: The secretary provided the research on reimbursing members for attending the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards training class; past members have had the class paid for by the Town. Therefore, the voucher from the April 13, 2004 meeting was approved for payment.

A letter from Cindy Pollard of ReMax Realtors was read into the record and is attached to these minutes. The letter was in praise of Paul C. Pisinski and Barbara M. Luther for their professionalism assistance to the public.

Results of Annual Town Meeting - The members discussed the budget cut of $2,500, which was approved at the Annual Town Meeting. The consensus of the Board and the Public Health Director was that the Board will have to charge for vaccinations at the annual flu clinic. The Board of Health will provide preprinted receipts so that individuals can submit them to Medicare for reimbursement of the cost. The nursing service will not charge full price for the vaccine provided for free by the State, but only for their staffing costs. The particulars of the clinic will have to be discussed with the nursing service.

Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District – Mr. Pisinski explained that he has been calling the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) but not receiving a response from them regarding an alternative to hauling septage food waste, grease, oil/water separators, and etc. to a sewage treatment plant. He has been making these calls because as of July 1, 2004 Upper Blackstone Treatment Plant will no longer accept these items from “out of district towns”. Southborough is an “out of district” town that uses this facility to meet the state mandate of providing a dumping site for haulers. He also has called into Fitchburg and Upper Blackstone, hoping to discuss an alternative; also with no response. Upper Blackstone Sewerage Treatment Plant is being told by DEP to cut down on their emissions and can’t meet the level of effluent discharge required by DEP without greatly increasing the cost of treatment. DEP has said that the Environmental Protection Agency and the New England Water Pollution Control Commission are leaning on them to improve the effluent levels. Mr. Pisinski told the Board that “haulers” are not very upset with the regulations. They will simply travel to a site that will accept the septage and pass the cost of traveling further onto their customers. Southborough still meets the mandate because Upper Blackstone will still take Southborough’s regular household and office effluent. The Board Members still feel that Southborough needs to seek a firm commitment for some treatment plant to take grease and food waste from Southborough. Mr. Pisinski was asked to contact DEP in Boston to see if they would interpret the statute regarding an end disposal site being provided by each town.

Pre-made sandwiches and éclairs – One member recalled an incident at a local gas station with a food license where he saw pre-made sandwiches and éclairs that he believed were not properly labeled or stored. He was concerned about the labels not or showing the point of origin or the date they were made. He asked that the regulations be reviewed at the next meeting. Mr. Pisinski advised that the State Food Code, when it adopted the Federal Food Code, eliminated the requirement for dating and only requires that ingredients be listed on a label. One member of the Board believes that Southborough should re-adopt the former Massachusetts State Food Code regulations regarding labeling. The staff was asked to research the codes. Mr. Pisinski said that the Board can place a requirement on all licenses stating that all foods prepackaged off site must be labeled with point of origin and dated.

The meeting adjourned at 2:20 PM

Respectfully submitted by: Barbara M. Luther, Secretary to the Board of Health