HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 21, 2022 ;
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BOH Minutes for July 21,2022,adopted Aug.'18 TOWN CLERK
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BOARD OF HEALTH
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2D22 AUG 19 PM 3: 18
° ' `- Town of Nantucket
0�: -- -�co 131 Pleasant Street 9pOAA1 Nantucket,Massachusetts 02554
www.nantucket-ma.gov
Commissioners: Stephen Visco (Chair), (Vice Chair),James Cooper,Meredith Lepore,Melissa Murphy,Kerry McKenna
Staff: Roberto Santamaria,Kathy LaFavre,John Hedden, Cathy Flynn,Jake Visco,Anne Barrett
— MINUTES —
Thursday,July 21, 2022
4 Fairground Road, Community Room
This meeting was held via remote participation using ZOOM and YouTube.
Called to order at 4:00 p.m.
Staff in attendance: R. Santamaria, Health Director; K. LaFavre, Health Inspector; J. Hedden, Health
Inspector; C. Flynn, Health Inspector; J. Visco, Health Inspector; T. Norton, Town
Minutes Taker
Attending Members: Stephen Visco;James Cooper;Melissa Murphy, Select Board;Kerry McKenna
Absent Members: Meredith Le.ore
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS
I . , UBLIC COMMENTS-ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME
1. Murphy- She is resigning from the Select Board effective November 2';she's not sure she will be able to attend
BOH meetings in the interim.
ill., ; LECTION OF OFFICERS
1. Chair:
Action Motion to Nominate Mr.Visco as Chair. (made by: Cooper) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-0//Murphy, Cooper, and McKenna-aye;Visco abstain
2. Vice Chair:
Action Motion to Nominate Ms. Lepore as Vice-chair. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Murphy,McKenna, Cooper, and Visco-aye
III.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. June 16, 2022
Cooper-He was absent from that meeting;his name needs to be deleted from sitting members.
Action Motion to Approve as amended. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
Er I IRECTOR'S REPORT
None
-I OH APPLICATIONS REVIEW ,
1. Release ACO for 11 Washington Avenue, 60.2.1-141, application for compliant system received
Sitting Visco, Cooper, Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria-No objection for release.
Action Motion to Accept. (made by: Cooper) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
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BOH Minutes for July 21,2022,adopted Aug. 18
2. Loan request for 5 Folger, 80-169,loan request septic to sewer, hydraulic failure
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation .Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria — No objections. We are down to only $500,000 left in the program; there are
changes coming but currently don't have any extra money after that's gone. Explained that the
State is making Nantucket's regulations state wide and how that impacts the program.
Action Motion to Approve. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
3. Request to waive sewer connection requirement for 14 Cathcart Road, 43-101
Sitting Visco, Cooper, Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Mike Wilson, for the current owner—This property is under contract to sell to Nantucket Islands •
Land bank; the closing is next week. The Land Bank will remove the structure and use the
property as open space. No effluent has been going into the system for over a year.
Cooper—The last time the Land Bank came to us for something like this, the Land Bank used the
structure for 5 years with a failed system. Asked what happens to the house once the septic is
abandoned;will it be demolished.
Wilson — He doesn't represent the Land Bank; suggested adding a condition the waiver on an
affirmative effort that no effluent will be introduced into the system.
Santamaria—We can add that stipulation.
LaFavre — The Health Department would have no objections with a stipulation that the
abandonment permit to be pulled within 30 days; that allows time to transfer. We could then
require the system pumped, as witnessed by staff, and the pipes capped. We would then condemn
the property while they wait to move or demolish the structure.
Wilson — Pointed out that no houses can be moved until after Labor Day. He will pull the
abandonment permit tomorrow or Monday.
Action Motion to Approve with conditions outlined in discussion. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
4. Condemnation of 56 Arkansas, 59.4-156
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria—Ratification of a condemnation of an abandoned structure.
Flynn — We received a complaint from abutters complaining about poor condition of the
structure. We did an exterior inspection and have a photo of the condemnation sticker on the
door is in the packet. The deceased owner's son is in the process of receivership for the property
and will reach out to the Building Commissioner. This is between 2 units of five. There has been
no meter usage for about years according to the electrical company.
Alicia Ruggiero, 52 Arkansas Avenue — No one has been living there for 12 years. Asked what
this means for the future of the property and the steps for someone else to clean it up.
Santamaria— Condemnation is the first step of a receivership; once the son applies as a receiver,
the court sets the timeline. Its condition shouldn't affect the neighbors; if it does, that's a civil
issue. We set timelines for specific housing habitability issues; if they don't start work within the
set timeline,we start fining.
Action Motion to Approve the Condemnation Order. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
5. Variance request for 283 Hummock Pond Road, 83-6,tight tank
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria—We don't have any objections.
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BOH Minutes for July 21,2022,adopted Aug. 18
LaFavre —We would like a contract with a septic hauler; we've done that in the past with Tight
tanks.We would also want to limit it to seasonal use only and to 3 bedrooms.
Don Bracken,Bracken Engineering—This is on an eroding beach;we have approval to move the
house to the east side of the lot. The septic is still functioning, but this feels the most appropriate
way to go.
Cooper—Asked if the number of bedrooms could be changed. (No)
Action Motion to Approve with Ms. LaFavre's caveats. (made by: Cooper) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
6. Variance request for 5 High Brush Path, 56-388, 56.02 A & 64.04B, flow per square feet
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans,staff recommendations.
Discussion Dan Mulloy, Site Design Engineering—Asking for a bedroom credit to increase to 7 bedrooms;
the lot is just shy of 65,000 square feet (sf) when the requisite is 67,000 sf. They are installing a
new I/A system.
Cooper — If we vote for this, we would have to grant similar variances for the next person to
come along.
Mulloy-He's worked on several in the Hummock Pond Watershed where BOH has granted the
variance.
Santamaria—There is a net benefit in nitrogen reduction with an I/A system.
McKenna—He's concerned about increasing the density of usage in a sensitive area.
Santamaria—We can't regulate use, only a specific nitrogen loading number.
Visco—We haven't done this in the Madaket or Polpis watershed districts.
Action Motion to Approve the variance. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
7. Variance request for 4 Canonicus Street, 87-116,BOH Reg 64.04 B nitrogen loading
Sitting Visco, Cooper, Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Dan Mulloy, Site Design Engineering—This is a similar request to 5 High Brush Path. This lot
was created back in the 1920s and is grandfathered to "do the best you can" under Nantucket
regulations; Title 5 limits it to 1 bedroom. Asking 1 bedroom per 9,000 feet with a new I/A
system. We will create a deed restriction limiting the bedrooms in perpetuity. This is one of several
properties under single ownership.
McKenna—Concerned BOH might be overloading the area by approving these.
Santamaria—This replaces a 1-bedroom system with a 1-bedroom system.
Visco—This lot was buildable prior to 1995. He doesn't think this is an unreasonable request with
the deed restriction.
LaFavre We looked at the two family-owned properties,we would support the I/A system with
the deed restriction; the property on Western Avenue has an existing home. Asked if the leach
facility could be limited to 110 gallons per day;with that we would have no objections.
Action Motion to Approve with the deed restriction. (made by: Murphy)(seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
8. Variance request for 11 Western Avenue, 87-117,BOH Reg 64.04 B nitrogen loading
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Dan Mulloy, Site Design Engineering—This is the same request for an existing dwelling with a 4-
bedroom system. They are removing the existing house and building a new house and installing a
new 4-bedroom I/A system.
Hedden — Originally, the plan was to merge this with 167 Surfside; but there's a paper road
between the two. The leach for the system is a pit on 167 Surfside. Mr. Mulloy will be applying for
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BOH Minutes for July 21,2022,adopted Aug. 18
a 1-bedroom I/A system for 167 Surfside. He'd like 167 Surfside restricted to an I/A system
because there will be 5 bedrooms between the two lots.
Action Motion to Approve the Variance. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
9. Variance request for 189 Hummock Pond Road, 65-27,nitrogen loading 56.02(A)
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Jeff Blackwell, Blackwell & Associates — This is 6-bedroom dwelling served by a pre-1995 -
conventional system. We want to upgrade to a 6-bedroom, I/A system. Hummock Pond
Watershed District requires a variance. No new construction proposed.
LaFavre — No objections with this as the Board has been allowing this. One of the original
permits had a garbage disposal;we would want verification that has been removed.
Blackwell—Regarding the garbage disposal, there is room for a larger leach field to accommodate
it; he'd like the decision to include no prohibition against a garbage disposal. Ms. LaFavre could
walk through to confirm installation of the system.The property is maxed out with 6 bedrooms.
Visco—By Title 5,you can't substitute the garbage disposal space to get another bedroom.
Santamaria—The property is 46,000 sf. Everything that comes out of the house has to sit for 48
hours before going into the leach field.The garbage disposal is allowed by Title 5.
LaFavre—The garbage disposal would be considered area,not flow.
Action Motion to Approve. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna, Murphy, and Visco-aye
10. Variance request for 8 New Hummock Circle, 56 363, 61.03 B groundwater
11. Variance request for 29 Millbrook Road, 56-68,Local Reg 64.04 B &56.02 A nitrogen loading
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria — This replaces a conventional with an I/A within the Hummock Pond Watershed
District; same conditions as before.
Art Gasbarro, Nantucket Engineering & Survey — Looking to install a 3-bedroom I/A with a
greater reduction in loading. I/A systems are required to have the Operations & Maintenance
(O&M) contract.
LaFavre—No objections;this has been approved in the past.
Action Motion to Approve. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy,and Visco-aye
12. Variance request for 9B Crows Nest Way, 12-20.2,Local Reg 52.02A, 64.03E&l F, setbacks &wetlands
Sitting Visco, Cooper,Murphy,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Jeff Blackwell,Blackwell&Associates—This is to upgrade a 1977 conventional system to an I/A
system. There will be no increase of flow to the system. A Variance is required because of the
uniqueness of situation of the house, system, and wetland resource and flood areas all within a
FEMA Velocity Zone. House and system are at elevation 16-18 well above the FEMA flood
elevation of 10.The plan is to use the current location because the groundwater flow is toward the
Atlantic Ocean; the thinking is you can't pollute the ocean with the small amount of nitrogen from
a residential septic.
Santamaria—The BOH approved a tight tank at 10C Crows Nest a few years back; this is for an
I/A system. The tight tank was accepted because of a clay layer preventing leaching; this property
doesn't have that issue. With the erosion rate, they can get about 5 years use; once the system
becomes destabilized,it must come out.
Blackwell—This coastline has been accreting for decades.
Action Motion to Approve. (made by: McKenna) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy, and Visco-aye
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BOH Minutes for July 21,2022,adopted Aug. 18
13. Non-compliant IA systems for 67 Bartlett Road, 39 Tennessee Avenue, 100 Low Beach Road, 34 Brewster Road,
& 13 Arkansas Avenue
Sitting Visco, Cooper,McKenna
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria—These have all been referred to us from Barnstable County. For 13 Arkansas,we've
received a draft O&M; once we have that signed,we won't be asking for a letter.
Hedden — If we give 13 Arkansas-until next July 29, that should give them time to come into
compliance.
Murphy—As the property manager for 13 Arkansas, she just forwarded the email to the owner.
Action Motion to extend the time period for 13 Arkansas Avenue 1 week and issue letters
immediately for the others. (made by: McKenna) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-0//Cooper,McKenna, and Visco-aye ;Murphy recused
VI. BOH BUSINESS
1. Short-term Rental—Discussion -
Discussion Murphy — As a real estate agent, she has taken part in the conversation on this with the Select
Board but will check with Town Counsel into continuing doing that going forward.
Santamaria—He's in the process of creating a memo for the rental regulation. He's been meeting
with Town Manager, Director of PLUS, Director of Finance and Town Counsel to create draft
regulations. The Select Board is looking at having a joint meeting with BOH in August; he'll let
members know the date. The BOH will look to life-safety issues by limiting the number of people
per bedroom and structure; the regulations will also adopt the existing noise and lighting
regulations. Any parking complaints will go to Zoning. The regulation will set up a rental registry
using information from the State as well as our own, so we know where the properties are, who
the owners are, and who the operators are. It will also require establishment of operator or
someone to respond within 2 hours of an emergency; this will prevent dealing with absenteeism.
The draft will be in the email no later than Monday.
McKenna—Asked if the registry will be available on line.
Santamaria — Yes. Granicus has a software that scours the various on-line rental systems; they
look at website compliance for us. If someone is not registered with the Town, they will contact
them;if there is no response, they refer them to us for enforcement. There will be an enforcement
phone number people can call; Granicus will forward those complaints to the appropriately
responsible departments.We will deal only with the public safety aspect.
Murphy—If an operator or owner has multiple violations, asked what's the threshold to withdraw
the permit—3-strikes you're out. It will be important to define nuisance violations.
Santamaria — That is discretionary by the BOH; we can suspend the license or the operator. If
Granicus finds people not registered, they will let us know immediately. The way the bylaw was
written, the deadline to begin registration is January 2023; we will start collecting data ahead of
time.
2. Santamaria — Asked if the BOH wants to continue holding meetings at the 4 Fairgrounds Road Community
Room (yes).
VII. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS USED
1. Draft BOH Minutes June 22, 2022
VIII. ADJOURN
Action Motion to Adjourn at 5:29 pm (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper,McKenna,Murphy,and Visco-aye
Submitted by:
Terry L. Norton
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