HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-11-19
BOARD OF HEALTH
Minutes of November 19, 1984 Meeting
The Board of Health Meeting commenced at 7:30 p.m. Members present: Chairman
Bernard Grossman, Selectmen Charles "Jack" Gardner, Harry "Bud" Clute,
Rogers "Skip" Cabot. Members absent: Nancy Sevrens.
II
liThe Board scheduled the meeting to further discuss Health Regulations for
11[1 Unsewered lots. Mr. Grossman read a statement prepared by Town Counsel explaining
the reason for tonight's meeting which read as follows: "At a meeting of
. the Board of Health held on November 14, 1984, testimony for and against a
'II new health regulation setting a minimum lot size in unsewered areas of 40,000
!square feet was heard. A vote on the regulation was deferred until the meeting
,!of the Board of Health of November 28, 1984, because it was felt that a quorum
II would not be available during the week of Thanksgiving and for Town Counsel to be
I given a chance to review the language of the regulation. The purpose of the
i regulation is to protect the general health and welfare of the Town of Nantucket
I and, in particular, the ground water of the Island. The hearing of November 14
I resulted in the filing of an extraordinary number of new subdivision plans
in an attempt to grandfather large tracts of land and to defeat the purpose of
the regulation. Based on the sudden increased threat to the ground water
spurred by the November 14 meeting, the fact that a quorum does exist and the
additional fact that the text of the regulation has now been reviewed and
approved by Town Counsel, the Boardfelt it should advance the date of this
meeting to this evening and we have done so by duly posting tonight's meeting."
The Health Regulations had been amended since the last meeting and copies were
available for all present. Mr. Grossman went through the changes. Paragraph
#3 changed to "5ne such system per dwelling unit". Paragraph #4 "but not yet
endorsed shall be exempt" , and an additional paragraph #5 "WHEREAS, a number of
studies, both on and off island including two studies, "Water Resource Management
Study, Nantucket, Massachusetts" 1984 and "Report on Subsurface Disposal of
Sewage, Nantucket Island" 1973, show that currently permitted septic system
densities would result in significant nitrate pollution to the Island's ground
water."
: Mr. Clute then moved to accept the Planning Board recommendations as approved
by Town Counsel.
Mr. Angelastro questioned the time frame of this meeting. He asked about
Mrs. Sevrens' motion to allow time for Town Counsel to review the Regulations.
The Board explained that originally the vote was postponed to allow Town Counsel
to review the proposed amendments. Town Counsel was able to work on them
faster than was expected. The Board did not expect to have a quorum this
week so scheduled the meeting for next week. Since there were enough people
to have a meeting it was scheduled for this week.
Mr. Grossman then read a letter from Nancy Sevrens. "as a member of the Board
of Health I hereby second any motion and vote in favor of the limitations
on lot sizes in unsewered areas, as presented at the Board of Health hearing
November 13, and as may be revised by Town Counselor at the meeting of the
Board of Health on November 19, 1984."
There was discussion from the audience both for and against the motion. Some
felt this was not done soon enough and others agrued that it was a zoning change.
Attorney Driscoll was concerned that the Board did not properly advertise the
meeting and asked for a recall vote of the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Clute then moved again to accept the Planning Board's recommendation as
amended and approved by Town Counsel, seconded by Jack Gardner, Skip Cabot
voted in favor, Bernard Grossman in favor, unanimous with Mrs. Sevrens
proxy vote, so voted.
Jack Gardner moved to adjourn as the Board of Health at 8:00 p.m., seconded
i by Skip Cabot, so voted.
BOARD OF HEALTH
,I~lIlJ~
Barbara M. Dale
Acting Executive Secretary