The meeting convened at 1:05 PM. Present were Timothy P. Stone, Ruth C. Brefka, Public Health Director Paul C. Pisinski and Secretary Barbara M. Luther. Louis Fazen, III did not attend the meeting.

The minutes of the September 15, 2004 meeting were approved with correction of one typo.

Vouchers totaling $523.66 were approved for payment from the Board of Health Budget, and an Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement Program invoice of $1,428.00 was approved for payment.

The following License(s) signed by the Public Health Director:
Robert P. Clark Clark & Mott Installer
Robert Giovanella Clark & Mott Installer
Scott Hartwell Jessco Construction Installer
Tom Prince Tomasso Trottoria & Enoteca Food Est.
Southborough Heritge Day Celebration C/O David Falconi, et al Food Temp

The following Permit(s) were unanimously approved and signed:
Septic Design Plans
SDS Permit #9310242 – 44 Presidential Dr. (82/25) Revision (recalculation) 4 Bedroom to 5 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004045 – 20 Gilmore Rd. (7/3) Complete Replacement 5 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004046 – 7 Cherry St. (38/58) Complete Replacement 3 Bedroom Local Upgrade Waivers approved: 23.4% reduction in size of SAS, setback distances for tank from the foundation varied from 10 ft to 4 ft., setback for SAS to foundation from 20 ft. to 6.5 ft., setback from property line from 10 ft. to 4.5 ft, setback for SAS to slab from 10 ft. to 4.5 ft., and minimum depth below finished grade from 36 inches to 3.7 ft.
SDS Permit #2004047 – 54 Deerfoot Rd. (43/37) Complete Replacement 4 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004055 – 56 E. Main St. (55/13) Complete Replacement 4 Bdrm
SDS Permit #2004048 – 90 Oak Hill Rd. (31/39) Complete Replacement 3 Bedroom Design is a pumped system
SDS Permit #2004049 – 185 Boston Rd. (47/8) Complete Replacement Commercial 620 GPD
SDS Permit #2004050 – 182 Parkerville Rd. (13/27) Complete Replacement Local Upgrade Waiver: setback for depth to groundwater from 4 ft. to 3 ft. and setback for SAS from the foundation
SDS Permit #2004051 – 5 Wells Lane (15/13+14) New 4 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004052 – 6 Wells Lane (15/13+14) New 4 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004053 – 65D School Street (75/82) New 5 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2004054 – 20 Latisquama Rd. (55/3) Complete Replacement 3 Bedroom
SDS Permit #2003085 – 33 Vine St. (23/7) Revision/Update
SDS Permit #2004056 (15/ ) New 4 Bdrm

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

DISCUSSION
Annual Flu Clinic After the last meeting when dates for the Flu Clinic were discussed, Timothy Stone asked Paul C. Pisinski to find another less expensive source of nurses to staff the clinic. Mr. Pisinski was able to contact the VNA Care Network of Southborough who said that they might be able to staff a clinic on November 10th. Their cost would be $50 per hour per nurse. However, Mr. Pisinski explained that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Protection will be setting new guideline due to the shortage of Flu Vaccine. We have not received those guidelines nor have we received any flu vaccine and don’t know if we will. Boards of Health have been advised not to use any vaccine that they might have and to forgo scheduling any clinics until further notice.

Motion of Understanding (MOU)
Paul Pisinski summarized how the Board of Health came to receive the MOU, explaining that it was mailed to Southborough from the Region 4A Bioterrorism Consortium to provide a basis for mutual aid and assistance in case of a bioterrorism event or other emergency. The consortium requested that the MOU be reviewed by each member’s Town Counsel. Without an agreement or an MOU, assisting another town in the region would be an issue. Mr. Pisinski doesn’t think that Southborough would ever be called to assist because the staff is so small with only 2 staff members working for the Board. Beverly Anderson, the Coordinator of the consortium said that a MOU would be needed for something like a mass inoculation and is designed to protect personnel. Most town’s liability coverage does not cover their staff on “out of town” assignments unless an MOU is executed.
After much discussion between the two members present regarding the need for such a document and/or asking Town Counsel to review the document, Timothy Stone said that he would do some research and get back to the Board with his version. Dr. Stone does not believe this to be an urgent need.

Complaint of Odors from 193 Main St.
Paul Pisinski told the Board Members that he had asked Mr. Hamelin to write a letter regarding his complaint. Mr. Pisinski also advised them that although he had been out in that area investigating this and other complaints several times he has not been able to locate a source. He explained the age of the septic systems in that area, (i.e. 193 Main St. was installed in 1968). Mr. Hamlin believes that the problem might be emanating from the new houses in the area. He says that he has only smelled the odor since the new houses were built at 195 and 197 Main St. Mr. Pisinski plotted the systems; one is a pump system, pumping up to the SAS close to the road and the other is a gravity fed system also close to the road. It appears that effluent would have to pass through the foundations to reach the swamp. Timothy Stone asked if the Board had funds for coliform testing. The Board of Health does not have such funds. Dr. Stone felt that the money for testing should come for the “General Engineering Fund”, which is under the direction of the Selectmen.
Ruth Brefka asked what happened in previous investigations. Mr. Pisinski told Mrs. Brefka that he had been out in that area four or five times before. He had found lots of “gray water” and traced it all the way to a storm drainpipe, which comes from High St. The gray water was merely washing machine type effluent. Mr. Pisinski explained how testing is normally done. A sample is taken and if it has a high content of fecal coliform then testing for e-coli is done. Samples would be continually taken up stream until a negative result was found.
Dr. Stone instructed Mr. Pisinski to determine if there is money and then to contact a company to do the tests.

Housing Complaints
Mr. Pisinski advised the Board that he is scheduled to do a second inspection at 16 Boston Rd. The property owner has been very cooperative and he expects to be able to issue a letter of compliance.
A complaint was received from 60D Central Street. The property owner is deceased and it is believed that the property came into disrepair because the estate has not been settled as of yet. There are several violations such as water damage, rodent infestation, no smoke detectors and insulation falling down. Mr. Pisinski spoke with Town Counsel questioning where to send the notice of violation. He was advised to send it the deceased owners former address where his life-partner is living and to the attorney to which rental payments were made. Mr. Pisinski advised the Board that a violation letter was sent to both addresses.

Prepackaged Foods
Dr. Stone asked Mr. Pisinski what the existing State Regulations for prepackaged food consisted of. Mr. Pisinski said that the State of Massachusetts has adopted regulations in compliance with the Federal Food Code requirements, but that he was not familiar with what they were as they pertained to pre-packaged food. Mr. Pisinski will research the code and report to the Board.

Standard Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Requirements
Dr. Stone asked Mr. Pisinski if he had discussed a standardized O&M for system over 2000 gpd with other Board of Health Directors. Mr. Pisinski explained that he will be at the Mass Health Officers Annual Conference, but that is not until November. Mr. Pisinski said that he would also like to continue to look into the possibility of requiring a five year operation permit. This would facilitate enforcement of O&M criteria. Mr. Pisinski explained to Mrs. Brefka why and how the renewable permit would work. He was asked to check to see if such a regulation is in force in any other town. Mr. Pisinski believes that the City of Gloucester may use this system. There is also a very small section in the Title 5 Code that addresses this issue; he will locate it for the next meeting.

Next Meeting
Mrs. Brefka explained her conversation with Louis Fazen. Dr. Fazen contacted her to remind her that the Board had discussed a night meeting compromise which called for one meeting per month, unless a situation arises which would require an additional meeting, and that the time would alternate, one month during the day and one month at night. Mr. Brefka stated that she feels that something needs to be done so that all three members can attend. She further explained that she had asked Dr. Fazen if he would be available for Wednesday meetings and he stated that he was flexible to a point.
Dr. Stone asked Mr. Pisinski about his meetings with Dr. Fazen. Mr. Pisinski explained that Dr. Fazen said he thought that the Board had agreed to the compromise Mrs. Brefka had described. He also explained that Dr. Fazen said that he would like to have evening meetings in a attempt to get the town’s people involved with things like obesity, wellness, smoking and etc. He believes that meeting in the evening would provide access to a whole new group of people. Mrs. Brefka expressed interest in the Board being involved with the things about which Dr. Fazen had spoken. Mr. Brefka read an article from the Globe addressing the areas that can be addressed by the family and their doctors, or the schools during the discussion of how the Board of Health might address these crucial issues. She also commented that these issues need to be carefully addressed one step at a time.

Dr. Stone moved that the three Board of Health Members meet at 7:30 PM on Tuesday evening October 19, 2004. Ms. Brefka agreed making the decision by a majority, as only two members were present at this meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 PM

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