The meeting convened at 1:20 PM. Present were Chairman Louis Fazen, III, Members Nancy A. Sacco and Richard H. Seder, Public Health Director Paul C. Pisinski, Sanitary Inspector Dennis Costello, Public Health Nurse Leslie Chamberlin and Administrative Assistant Barbara M. Luther.

The minutes of the November 20, 2007 were approved with some clarifications.

Members were briefed on the agenda and any scheduled appointments.
Mr. Pisinski briefed the board members about the few agenda items that would require a vote. One is a request for a permit to trap beavers because of the hazard they are causing, and the others are votes on a new fee schedule and the office move to Cordaville Hall.

PETITIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mr. Pisinski explained that True Green Landscape, LLC had requested to take out a Beaver Trapping Permit for their certified trapper, Malcom Speicher. The application stated that that beavers have dammed up the stream near Crystal Pond Rd. to such an extent that the water is backing up into a culvert, flowing across the road and freezing. This is causing a hazard. Mr. Pisinski explained the history behind the regulation that requires Boards of Health to issue beaver trapping permits, and advised that although he had not seen any beavers while he inspected the area in question, he did see evidence that would cause him to recommend that the permit be issued. He explain that the usual time is for ten (10) days, that the trapper must be certified and that if the problem is not eradicated a second permit would be requested. Dr. Seder asked what was done with the beavers. The consensus was that they were either relocated or humanly euthanized. After more discussion, Dr. Seder chose to abstain from voting on the requested permit. Dr. Fazen and Mrs. Sacco signed the permit to allow a certified trapper ten (10) days to trap and remove the beaver from Crystal Pond Rd. in the area of EMC2.

REPORT ON CORE DIRECTIVES
Tobacco Control – Renewal letters and a copy of the new regulations and fees was sent to all tobacco vendors on November 26, 2007 –This year is the beginning of the two (2) year permit for a fee of $200. Of the 10 renewal notices sent out only 2 have been returned to date. One of the inspectors will visit each of the establishments that sell tobacco, but have not renewed their permit after the beginning of the year. An additional $50 fine will be charged to each late Tobacco Sales Application.

Emergency Preparedness – Mrs. Chamberlin reported on her findings regarding the question asked at the last meeting about why the Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) equipment could not be kept at the Woodward School, which is where the EDS will be located. She spoke with Neal Aspesi, who advised that there is no room at the Woodward School, and therefore the equipment and materials are stored at Trottier School. Mrs. Chamberlin was then asked by the board members to find out what the plan of action is to get the needed materials from Trottier School to Woodward School should the Board of Health need to set up an EDS.
Mrs. Chamberlin reported that during her meetings with Consultant, Brian Eustis-Murphy he has told her that Southborough is quite far ahead of other towns in our compliance requirements for Emergency Planning preparation He advised that many towns have the emergency notebooks but have not even begun to fill in the required information.
Nancy Sacco reported that she has contacted Liisa Jackson in regards to her concern about little support for the MRC and believes that there is an evolving plan for the Region 4A MRC which includes educational programs. She reported that Ms. Jackson has asked Mrs. Luther to locate a room here in Southborough for a March or April class of blood borne pathogens.

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS - Dr. Fazen reported that there have been three meetings of the Public Health Advisory Committee. He was very pleased to be able to report that the review of Southborough’s Board of Health activities, which was done by an outsider, Mrs. Nancy Allan, Director of Public Health in Shrewsbury, reveals that this Board of Health is meeting the expectations and standards of services required of a local Board of Health. There are areas that could be looked into, such as an automated phone system and more information available via the internet, but as a whole we are meeting State requirements. The committee suggested that Dr. Fazen check into any Civil Defense budget that may be available in Southborough and see if it could be combined with Board of Health efforts to further emergency preparedness. Mrs. Luther will check with the Town Administrator to see if there is a fund and if it can be integrated into the LEPC, MRC or CERT programs. The consensus was that a civil defense fund, per se, did not need to exist with all these other groups working on emergency preparedness. Finally he advised that the committee realized that this Board of Health is not budgeted to increase its functions in the town. However, at the last Public Health Advisory Committee meeting Cathy O’Connor, Director of the Office of Healthy Communities for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, presented the concept of a healthy community being part of any common development or the Master Plan. The needs and desire to have a healthy community should be incorporated into all town departments as a shared value with Recreation, Council on Aging, Youth and Family Services and Board of Health all being under one umbrella so to speak. In a healthy community issues are addressed from a whole community standpoint, making important information available to all residents through the Board of Health. This board was encouraged to develop a “Healthy Community Booklet/Flyer” addressing issues and providing important information for the whole community. An example might be Jogging. A jogger would need information from many sources which could include the Police, the Department of Public Works, Recreation, land use, Community Preservation Committee, and or the reservoir. There is much already in place and the Board of Health would help “connect the dots” to help people towards better health through their community facilities. “Healthy Community 2010” encourages towns to look toward benchmarks that can be met to improve the total health of a community. It encourages Boards of Health to move beyond their current basic functions, using all available recourses to develop good health in the community.
It was suggested that the Board of Health hold an annual symposium to determine what the issues are and how each town department might work with other departments in an interaction that benefits the community as a whole. Dr. Fazen thought that a place to begin might be developing a booklet or a listing of all the “Health and Human Services” available in Southborough. He explained that he had spoken with the Town Planner Vera Kolias and learned that she has already attended meeting with other Town Planners regarding including the Board of Health or a Health Community aspect within a Master Plan. Mr. Pisinski told the members of a Symposium to be held on January 29, 2008 at the Royal Crown Plaza in Marlboro regarding Planning and Health. He will inform the members of more details as they arise, but wanted to let the members know that they are encouraged to attend.
Dr. Seder advised that he had attended the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards Annual New Members Orientation. He reported that there was much talk about regionalization of health issues and their solutions.
Dr. Fazen said that a regional approach will help Southborough with the 24/7 on call person or things like pool inspections, but the improvement of a town’s general health needs to remain at the local level. Mr. Costello advised that Boylston has spoken with the State regarding providing regional food inspectors. Dr. Fazen agreed that this needs to be considered, but the town must be careful not to lose control or revenue to the state. Regionalization will definitely be a resolution for some issues, but not all. Dr. Fazen proposed a summit in January which would involve the Town Planner, Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Advisory Committee, Town Administrator, Youth and Family Services, Council on Aging, Police and Fire, Superintendent of Schools, and the School’s Head Nurse. Dr. Fazen will check into date and time.

NOTIFICATION OF ACTIONS BETWEEN MEETINGS
Licenses
Sciore Nancy Theracopia Massage Therapist
Iacovelli Anthony Iacovelli Excavating & Constructions, Inc. Installer
Curtis Andrew J. Northboro Septic Service, Inc. Installer Lrg. Syst.
Maddocks Scott Northboro Septic Service, Inc. Installer
Leonard Andrew WW Contractors Corp Installer
Curtis Andrew J. Northboro Septic Service, Inc. Hauler
Mauro Patick A. Costruction Materials Service, Inc. Installer

Septic/Well
Permit Number St Name Applicant Name # Bdrms/GPD Variance/Local Waiver Explanation Engineer
2007067 2 Waterview Terrace James Kane 3 No Complete Replacement SULLIVAN, CONNORS & ASSOC.
2007068 8 Old Harry Rd. Paul D'Amico 4 No Complete Replacement GREEN HILL ENGINEERING
2007069 75 Flagg Rd. Robert Perkins 4 No Complete Replacement SULLIVAN, CONNORS & ASSOC.
200707W 3 Wyndemere Dr. Fred & Noreen Rossini No Well CONNORSTONE, INC.

BUDGET
Mr. Pisinski explained the changes that were made to the Budget because of the proposed move of the office to Cordaville Hall. The Board of Health will now be responsible for paying for its own phone lines, purchase of phones and phone answering machines as well as for paper. Therefore new categories were added to the budget; $895.00 was added to “Telephone Communications” and $700 into “Stationary”. The board members approved the additions to the budget.
The board members discussed that fact that the budget is increasing and Dr. Fazen asked what would happen if the budget is not improved. Mr. Pisinski said that the number of inspections would have to be cut. Mr. Costello advised that the real issue might be that a delay in soil testing or inspections of a septic system under construction which causes a delay in the closing on the sale of a home can cost the property owner enough to cover almost the entire Board of Health Budget. Mr. Pisinski said that Southborough is disease free because of the time and care spent throughout the years on septic issues. Dr. Seder said that the success of Public Health is when nothing happens, but that is hard to sell. Mr. Pisinski related an incident many years ago, when a neighboring town’s Health Department was very small because of cut backs. There was a breakout of Hepatitis A in the restaurants because they had not been properly inspected. Mr. Pisinski believes that in response to the incident this town developed its highly staffed program to insure that all needs are met and problems don’t happen. Mr. Pisinski also told the board members that Southborough had done a study several years back on failure rates of Title 5 Inspections. The State average for failures of septic systems was 25% and Southborough’s was 19%. The failure rate in Southborough has dropped to less than 9%.

NEW BUSINESS
Annual Report – Mr. Pisinski advised the board members that he has begun to pull together information for the annual report which is due by January 4, 2008. He would like to have some information from the Public Health Advisory Committee. Dr. Fazen will write a paragraph or two about the meetings and conclusions that the committee developed.

New Fee Schedule – The Board reviewed the proposed new fee schedule presented by Mr. Pisinski, who explained that the increases were based on the time and salary costs of performing the required inspections. Mr. Pisinski and Mr. Costello told the board members that not only has the cost of gas and other expenses increased but the time required to perform most inspections has also increased. Title 5 related inspections, such as soil testing and even installation inspections are taking longer because either builders are using innovative designs to build on lots once thought unbuildable, or replacement systems are being constructed on small lots, which may also require innovative systems in tight quarters. The process involved in different types of inspection was explained to the board members. The board members unanimously approved the proposed budget with the exception of the Building Alteration Permit Fee. It was decided that a graduated or tiered fee based on a percentage of the total cost of the job will replace the existing $25 permit fee.
Dr. Seder asked if an estimate of revenue with the new fees was available. Mr. Pisinski was asked to provide a projection at the next meeting.

Office Move to Cordaville Hall – Mr. Pisinski reported on a meeting the he and Mrs. Luther attended with Town Administrator, Jean Kitchen, Board of Selectmen Chairman, Bonnie Phaneuf, Facilities Manager Basilio Dias, and IT Manager, Klay Thomas regarding the move of the Board of Health Office to Cordaville Hall. He advised the members that the Mrs. Phaneuf has requested that the board members review and approve the proposed move by sending a letter to the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen stating their agreement with the proposal.
Dr. Fazen asked the staff if they felt that this would be a good move. The staff agreed that there will be much need room added in the new office. A discussion continued regarding phone lines, connection to the main network server, printers/scanner/copy machine, and “tools” needed to continue to serve the public as the Board of Health is charged under the State Code. The additions to the Board of Health Budget and the costs other departments would absorb were also reviewed. Dr. Seder moved to approve the move as described and to send a letter stating such approval to the Board of Selectmen. Mrs. Sacco seconded the motion and Dr. Fazen made it unanimous.

Next Meeting – January 16, 2008
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 PM

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