Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-8-16BOH Minutes for August 16, 2018, adopted Sept. 20 BOARD OF HEALTH Meeting C, Town of Nantucket 3 East Chestnut Street 09 ORAI �O� Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554 www.nantucket-ma.gov Commissioners: Stephen Visco (chair), Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD (Vice chair), James Cooper, Helene Weld, RN, Jim Kelly Staff.• Roberto Santamaria, Artell Crowley, Kathy LaFavre, Anne Barrett, Hank Ross MINUTES -- C=* �• Thursday, August 16, 2018 4 Fairgrounds Road, Community Room — 4:00 pm sv Called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Mr. Visco ) Staff in attendance: R. Santamaria, Health Director; H. Ross, Seasonal Inspector; T. Norton, Town Mv;utes Attending Members: Stephen Visco; Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD; James Cooper; Helene Weld, M; JiniTl�elly, Board of Selectmen Absent Members: None Early Departure: Cooper, 5:16 p.m. unanimous consent 1. None III. -APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. July 26, 2018: Motion to Approve. (made by: Kelly) (seconded by: Weld) Carried unanimously IV. DEER MANAGEMENT Santamaria — Mr. and Ms Rainwater from Rainwater foundation are here. Todd Rainwater, Chair Rainwater Charitable Foundation — We have a strong interest in helping with Lyme disease issue on Nantucket and been communication with Mr. Santamaria for a while. Our Foundation supports the genetically modified mice project. However, there are other ways to reduce the tick population through the reduction of the deer population, such as: sterilization of deer, which is more expensive; and complete elimination of the deer, which is very controversial. Santamaria — The State has supported increasing the deer hunting season. MacNab — Reducing the population is controversial; studies have shown a correlation between reduced deer and reduced disease; the deer is the major carrier of the tick. However, Dr. Kevin Esvelt published a study that suggested there is no correlation, but that the tick population is related more to mice and chipmunks; the science is also controversial. Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife data indicates the ideal deer population is 6 to 10 deer per square mile; our population exceeds that capacity with about 50 deer per square mile, which is why the State supported the increased deer hunting. Five years ago, an aerial survey indicated 45 to 47 deer per square mile. In the average hunting season, the yield is about 500 deer; to reduce the deer population 50%, we need to cull twice that in a hunting season. If we do get a 50% reduction in population, it still takes years to reach the 10 deer per square mile goal. The problem is we don't know what the population density is on the Island. He wants to ask the State what our density is and how that is density was calculated; that information should be public knowledge. He'd like the BOH to talk to Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife about the density and the number of deer taken since 2009. With an extended hunting season, we might get density back to the level after 2004 established season. In theory, we should have a lower density than 50 deer per square mile. Kelly — Asked if the number of hunters is a factor. Page 1 of 4 BOH Minutes for August 16, 2018, adopted Sept 20 MacNab — This year we have an extended archery season and it will be interesting to see what impact that has. Another probl7n about reducing the deer is the amount of land that can't be accessed by hunters or groups that cull for hire. Weld — She heard that when the deer population drops, they tend to give birth to twins; wonders if that is valid. Santamaria — In theory there would be a population explosion after the drop. The meat donation is population and will be up again this fall. MacNab — H's going to draft a question to get a sense of where we are. Rainwater — water Foundation is open to all options but leans toward depopulation of deer on the Island; the Foundation ha $1M set aside, pending the outcome of BOH studies, to help reduce the population. Weld — There was a sense -of -the -voters ballot about reducing the population and it passed 2-1. DIRECTOR'SV. REPORT 1. We have been moved into second round for the Hospital Chip Grant for a public health nurse. He is meeting with the hospital representatives on Tuesday at 5:15 at Landmark House; one board member is requested to be present. Th Chip program is a state requirement that a certain amount of money, based upon the loan for the new hospitq, be returned to the community; The Hospital is breaking ground by implementing the grant process with $800,0 0 in grants per year. 1. Fee Waiver equest — Nantucket Housing Authority (NHA) Properties Inc., 0(aka 1R) Monohansett Road (79-65) Sitting { Visco, MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Kelly Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations. Discussion Andrew Mulcahy, NFIA — He is asking for a fee waiver; NHA is a not-for-profit organization. They need perform repairs on the septic. Visco — This is Town -owned property. Action Motion to Approve the fee waiver. (made by: Cooper) (seconded by: Weld) Vote Carried unanimously 2. Appeal Regulation 64:00 — Yuen & Neroni, 14 Medouie Creek (20-28.1) Sitting j Visco, MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Kelly Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations. Discussion Santamaria — This is a technical failure due to 5.99 feet separation from ground water. David Yuen, owner — It April 2012 this passed inspection at that time with the separation stated at 6 feet and the inspection signed off by the director. In the 2017 inspection, the separation was noted as 5.99 and failed the system; that was no change between the inspections and the same people signed off the report. He thinks there is justification to round up to 6 feet In one inspection, the inspector rounded up in the second they did not; feels that is unfair treatment with economic consequences. Cooper — It says in the letter from Mr. Yuen, that in 2012 separation was 6 feet and in 2017 it was 5.99 feet; in the letter, it says they did not round up as they had in 2012. Asked if the separation is 6 feet or 5.99 feet and why the difference. Yuen — In his conversations with Mr. Crowley, it was at 5.99 feet in 2012 as well. The director rounded up. Cooper — Pointed out that the 2012 inspection was prior to implementation of Regulation 64:00. Visco — It's always been six feet separation from ground water with or without the regulation. Santamaria — In 2012 the survey data said 5.99 and the director at the time said it was minimal and rounded up; that report says plus or minus 6 feet. The 2017 report states 5.99 feet. Visco — There was a case where the difference was 1/2 inch and we didn't grant the variance. The onus falls on the person who designed and installed the septic to ensure it complies; it should have been caught and corrected at the time of installation. The BOH is charged with protecting the harbor; we are very strict about that. Page 2 of 4 BOH Minutes for August 16, 2018, adopted Sept. 20 Cooper — If we allow this the next request would be to allow 5.98. That's why Regulation 64 says six feet. Kelly — Asked if the person who designed the system should have known it needed the full six feet Visco — Yes, he puts the numbers on the plan and checks the numbers; he tells the installer there is not enough separation and that it needs to be raised up. Yuen — The house was built and septic installed in 2005 when the regulation was in place; it required an inspection and was approved at that time. Santamaria — The one change between 2012 and 2017 is the new director. When he came in, he implemented a policy of strict adherence because the former director was granting variances when he didn't have the authority. Coming here is going through proper channels because only the BOH can grant a variance. Kelly — We recognized the financial impact so the Town developed the loan program; that is a vehicle that would compensate for the additional cost. Yuen — Given the engineering tolerances of .01 inch, the impact is de minimus. Also feels that with time the 6 feet would naturally occur. Feels the failure is unfair. Cooper — The BOH was not in place in 2004. We are here now to grant variances where there is no other option. Mr. Yuen has another option here with loan assistance. The rule requires 6 feet Action Motion to Deny the request. (made by: Kelly) (seconded by: Cooper) Vote Carried unanimously 3. Tight Tank Request — LeCain, 347 Madaket Road (60-137) Sitting Visco, MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Kelly Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations. Discussion Santamaria — This was impacted by extreme erosion. The BOH approved a tight tank for 4 Ames Avenue. This is not part of the Tight Tank District, which is on the other side of Millie's Bridge. There is no land for a full septic system. Staff has no objection. Action Motion to Approve the request. (made by: Kelly) (seconded by: Cooper) Vote Carried unanimously V. BOH BUSINESS 1. Update on Loan Criteria: Santamaria — This discussion was continued from the last meeting. Asked if Board members have any questions or want clarification. A lot of people don't like to provide income information. We can do it by verification of tax returns or by using a pay stub; both ways is private information and not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Once the application is approved, the information is redacted and destroyed. With the first round of loans there was no income cap in place. He will formalize this and set it up as a full policy for the next round of loans. 2. Mice Project Update: Santamaria — Dr. Esvelt provided a presentation with an ethic and science panel of experts. It was a well received program and well attended. MacNab — Questions and responses were good. The steering committee still has to work out some issue to comply with the Open Meeting Law. 3. Year in Review FY2018: Santamaria — Reviewed the draft packet: organization chart; permits issued; overview of inspections; inspection numbers; analysis of data; line chart of inspections per month; and disease/illness reports. He hopes to do a report like this every year as the organization changes. He emailed the tick-borne disease numbers; these are HIPPA compliant by not identifying less than five reported cases. This year there have been 33 cases of Lyme Disease from January 1 to yesterday; last year the total number of confirmed cases for the whole year was 65. We have had nine cases of Babeiosis. Anaplasmosis cases are less than five. All others are zero reported or confirmed cases. The 2013 data of confirmed cases was 224 of Lyme disease; we think the actual educational campaigns are having an effect. Last summer was really dry and we had 65 cases; 2016 was twice that The way the trend is going, we're in a valley; but if there is no tick management, the number will go back up. The prior hospital reporting collator did a good job of getting anecdotal information on the cases and getting it on paper; we were hearing of 200 or 300 cases; however, the actual data wasn't supporting the number because physicians weren't forwarding the lab reports. He still feels confident those numbers are goo. Between 2000 and Page 3 of 4 2010 MAV have about the percent 4. MacNab — Asked if an Adjourned Submitted Terry L. N BOH Minutes for August 16, 2018, adopted Sept. 20 was new and labor intensive and data would get lost; around 2010, it got nailed down. We now at years of reliable State data. However, we are still working against the 2010 census, which makes high. last hearing we denied a Nantucket Islands Land Bank a request and sent a recommendation. ng has been heard back about it. Santamaria — He hasn't received any feedback from them. consent at 5:21 p.m. Page 4 of 4