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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-3-26BOARD OF HEALTH TOWN OF NANTUCKET == ~; MINUTES - MARCH 26, 2003 1' SUPERIOR COURT ROOM ~ ` TOWN BUILDING ~~~ MEMBERS OF THE B.O.H. PRESENT: Mr. Spriggs, Mr. Soverino, Mr. Fee, Mr. Bender and Mr. Murphy 1. Concerns from the Public -None Noted 2. PUBLIC HEARING -DRAFT REGULATIONS - Connections to New and Existing Publicly owned Sanitary Sewer Lines HO Ray - As a water quality issue, I have been asked by the Board to create regulations which mandate the connection of existing and new dwellings to sewer that exists in front of those properties at this point. At this time, if you had a private septic system and a public sewer line ran down in front of that home, you were not required to connect to that line. The only time you will be mandated to connect was when the system failed, then you would be required to connect and not re-install a septic system. We propose to change that with these regulations, at the Board's discretion. The change being that if a sewer line exists in front of your property, and you are on an existing septic system (even if functioning properly) you would be mandated within a specific period to connect to that sewer. The benefits are that many properties within watershed districts, such as Monomoy, would get off septic and be connected to sewer. The de-activation of these septics would take all of the nutrient-loading out of the soils, harbor, ponds, etc. This is the reason for promulgating these regulations that are now before you. Jim Quinsella, Inquirer & Mirror - (for Mr. Ray) What is the cost for entering one of these properties to the sewer lines? HO Ray - I believe the connection fee is $2000.00. I am not certain what the cost would be to run the pipe, etc. Sometimes a pump chamber also has to be installed by the owner. Mr. Quinsella -What if a homeowner is not able to come up with the necessary money in the required time? What will the town do then? Mr. Spriggs -That is one of the items we will discuss. Public Hearing portion is now closed -for discussion among the Board. HO Ray - (reads item from proposed regs) Connections to Sanitary Sewer will be completed within (1 or 2) years from notice of availability of line for connection. Number of years is a choice for the Board. Mr. Spriggs -Would like Mr. Ray's recommendation on this one. HO Ray -Would like to see all house's connected, particularly important in Harbor Watershed Protection District. Mr. Fee -Thinks this is a good idea, but has some concerns such as what will effect be on Sewer Plant, would this put us into another moratorium situation? Has a hard time voting on this issue without such information. Hoped that D.P.W. would be able to provide some of these answers. Mr. Soverino -Agrees with Mr. Fee. To implement these regulations, he is concerned that there is currently not enough capacity at plant. Also concerned about variance requests for homeowners of new systems. Mr. Bender - Agrees with Mr. Soverino and Mr. Fee. What sewer lines are contemplated? What is the capacity of current treatment plant? We need to be given all this information simultaneously. This is not enough information for the Board to make a decision. Secondly, I don't understand the variance section 69.05 - It says: "The Nantucket B.O.H. may vary the application of any provision of these regulations unless otherwise prohibited by State Law or regulation in any case when in the opinion of the Board of Health lot size restrictions or hydrological conditions make enforcement of the provision impractical or the owner has demonstrated a degree of environmental protection equivalent to these regulations." Also section on manifest injustice. I view this that the Board of Health can negate these regulations at its discretion. These words are not self-explanatory to me. HO Ray -Every Massachusetts Regulation, no matter the subject, always addresses the issue of variance. Mr. Murphy -Commends HO Ray for good work and makes motion to table this subject pending further information i.e. the sewer plant, etc. Motion is seconded by Spriggs and commends Mr. Ray for following through on this per the request of the Board. Mr. Fee - recommends a date on this motion, for a time to return to this subject. Mr. Spriggs - As chairman, will be certain that a return does occur. Mr. Bender - A lot of pertinent work was done here that we did asked for. I'm merely saying that we require more info. to make such an important decision. Motion is approved unanimously. 3. BIOTERRORISM UPDATE HO Ray - I, along with all Public Health Officers is the State have wrestled with how much publicity this issue deserves. Many of us have decided that it needs some public comment. As you are aware, we have an increased level of awareness i.e. biological contaminants and weapons of mass destruction and one needs to ask what effect that could have on Nantucket. Like other community in this country, we need to be aware of potential and ramifications. As regards biological weapons, our first concern is the smallpox issue. Smallpox is supposedly eradicated other than hopefully controlled laboratory specimens. Should a case arise anywhere in the world, life would change dramatically -immediately there would be not transportation -intercontinental, interstate, until inoculations - worldwide -have occurred. Those inoculations appear to be going rather well, unfortunately because of the liability issue associated with this vaccine, there has been a pause in the distribution of any form of the vaccine. It is anticipated that the State will institute an inoculation team that will go to every town to administer the vaccine, -Nantucket is a part of this program should the need arise. I am working with the local physicians offices and NCH and we are formulating a plan to get this done in approximately five days, - however we hope that need will never arise. As regards weapons of mass destruction -one would think that perhaps this is a non-issue for Nantucket, but we do have a nuclear power plant in the Plymouth area. That State and Federal government have stated that individuals within ten miles of the nuclear power plant have been given potassium iodide tablets. This is because the thyroid is the quickest to absorb nuclear radiation. No further action is contemplated by the State at this point. There has been concern i.e. a downwind theory that could affect the Cape & Islands and we may have to look at this issue. There are no sources for the potassium iodide tablets outside the hospital. This is not meant be a scare tactic, as Nantucket has a minimum exposure -but if anything did happen, it may be best to stay indoors, windows closed, for twenty- four to forty-eight hours. I don't want to dwell on this, just inform the board and the public about the issues we are facing and discussing in public health right now. 4. SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTIONS PROTOCOL UPDATE HO Ray -The request that Mr. Bender made i.e. changes to the Septic System Regs. that the Town has -has gone to the Septic System Advisory Committee. The changes are being drafted in the form of an amended regulation, will then go Town Counsel, and then on to the Board for discussion and potential adoption. Mr. Soverino -Who is the Septic Advisory Board? HO Ray -This group was formed around the time Title V came along in order to update our local regs. Kevin Dale, Steve Butler, Mr. Visco, Linda Holland, myself and one other person. Appointed by the B.O.S. about five years ago. Mr. Bender -Peggy Fantozzi is the most knowledgeable person on the island (besides you) on these matters -shouldn't she now sit on the Board? We should add her if she's willing. HO Ray - If the Board wants to include her, it is their discretion -she is Consulted by the committee regularly now, however. Mr. Bender -Makes motion to ask P. Fantozzi to sit on this committee. Motion is seconded. B.O.H. approves B.O.H. adjourns at app. 8 p.m.