HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-3-17Minutes for March 17, 2016, adopted Mar. 24 %=� .^ S 9 s n �' ; -''^
BOARD OF HEALTH
Town of Nantucket
16 Broad Street
Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
www.nantucket- ma.gov
Commissioners: Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD, (chair), James Cooper (Vice chair), Helene Weld, RN,
Stephen Visco, Rick Atherton
Staff: Roberto Santamaria, Artell Crowley, Kathy Lafavre, Anne Barrett
-- MINUTES --
Thursday, March 17, 2016
4 Fairgrounds Road, Community Room — 4:00 pm
Called to order at 4:00 p.m.
Staff in attendance: R. Santamaria, Health Director; A. Crowley, Assistant Health Director; K. Lafavre,
Inspector; T. Norton, Town Minutes Taker
Attending Members: Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD; James Cooper; Helene Weld, RN; Stephen Visco; Rick
Atherton, Board of Selectmen
Absent Members: None
Agenda adopted by unanimous consent
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS — ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME
1. February 18, 2016: Approved by unanimous consent.
1. 20 Nobadeer Farm Road
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Visco, Atherton
Recused
None
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Santamaria — Did an inspection; there was evidence of overcrowding with people living in an
unheated, unfinished garage and cellar sleeping on mattresses. The inspector declared the areas
unfit for habitation. We need ratification of the decision. Owner is filing an appeal against part of
the condemnation; he is asking to be allowed to store the mattresses in the garage. We would have
to give him a stay of execution until the appeal is heard.
MacNab — Could support the first portion of the order then listen to the appeal at the April
meeting.
Discussion about enforcing that the mattresses are being stored and not used.
Action
Motion to Support the condemnation with the exception that the owner is allowed to store
the mattress until the hearing. (made by: Visco) (seconded by: Weld)
Vote
Carried unanimously
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Minutes for March 17, 2016, adopted Mar. 24
'T'.'TAAIA110E
1. From Local Regulation 15.405 for 84 Quidnet Road M/P 21 -67/68
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Visco, Atherton
Recused
None
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Paul Santos, Nantucket Surveyors, for Quidnet Properties LLC — This is a small lot on the water
side of road but not within the Harbor Watershed Protection District; the property is in excess of
300 feet from Sasachacha Pond with the ground water flow toward the ocean. The up -grade
approval is seeking relief for items: the setback to crawlspace from the leaching facility, the
leaching facility setback from the property line, and the septic tank to property line setback. The
leaching facility setback from the property line is questionable as the client owns a paper street to
the north and to the south. The existing septic is a metal tank with leach pit with the leach pit in
the paper road layout. This proposal would place the system outside the paper road. It will be
located compliant with 100 -foot radius from all wells.
Santamaria — Recommend approval.
Action
Motion to Approve the request. (made by: Atherton) (seconded by: Visco)
Vote
Carried unanimously
2. From Local Regulation 69.05 for 20 Equator Drive, M/P 66 -225
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Visco, Atherton
Recused
None
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Santamaria — This request is to stay the mandatory connection to sewer until such time as their
system fails based on the fact the current resident is 88 years old and on a fixed income. They are
outside the wellhead districts, so they don't have to hook up for two years since the date of the
letter.
Cooper — Noted that the sewer here was put in when the subdivision went in 20 years; explained
why some homes aren't connected. They already have two years.
Santamaria — It would be a $500 hook up fee plus the privilege fee.
Crowley — We do have a betterment home program that would take care of the installation fee.
Action
Motion to Deny the request. (made by: Cooper) (seconded by: Weld)
Vote
Carried unanimously
VI. TIGHT TANK
1. 10 Maine Avenue, M/P 60.3.1 -459
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Atherton
Recused
Visco
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Santamaria — This house was moved due to erosion. There is one letter of opposition claiming
the tight tank will be across from their deck.
Arthur D. Gasbarro, Nantucket Engineering & Survey, for owner — The existing septic
components will be removed; they are currently very close to the top of the coastal bank. The
tight tank will replace a system of equivalent capacity. The tight tank will be oversized in order to
reduce frequency of pumping and it will be equipped with an alarm panel with a visible and
audible alarm set at 3/5 capacity. He has explained to the abutter that this is the only location for
the tank.
Cooper — Asked if the alarm would be audible enough for the abutter to hear.
Gasbarro — The alarm would be over by the house not at the tank. This same tank is currently
installed at 13 Massachusetts Avenue.
Action
Motion to Approve. (made by: Cooper) (seconded by: Atherton)
Vote
Carried unanimously
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Minutes for March 17, 2016, adopted Mar. 24
♦ 41. C*71ME11T
LETTER 1 • • D — SURFSIDE COMMONS 40B
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Visco, Atherton
Recused
None
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Santamaria — As long as the applicable rules and regulations are followed, we don't have to get
involved. Once the rules or regulations are violated, we get involved.
Cooper — He feels this has nothing to do with the BOH and the letter doesn't say that strongly
enough.
Atherton — Read the draft letter aloud. He has no concern with the language. Suggested adding in
the 2 n paragraph "of the Board of Health" after "applicable rules and regulations."
Action
Motion to Approve as read. (made by: Weld) (seconded by: Atherton)
Vote
Carried unanimously
VIII. DUKES ROAD
REVIEW
Sitting
MacNab, Cooper, Weld, Visco, Atherton
Recused
None
Documentation
Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion
Santamaria — Five property owners have submitted variance requests to postpone or waive the
connection time requirements. It is in the purview of the board to issue a policy in regards to
allowing it in this case.
Chris Witte, 44 Dukes Road — Our basic position is that we are deeply impacted by a sewer
installed by a private developer; at no point during planning of this sewer were the residents of the
neighborhood informed that it would become a municipal sewer and they would be required to
hook up to it. This sewer has a small diameter and is low pressure line. He believes it will end up
being a problem especially when properties build out to their full potential. Some septic systems are
fairly new and some not so new but none are in failure; hooking up is a large expense. There are no
stubs; they are asking for relief from the hook up and privilege fees to offset the cost of putting in
the stubs.
Santamaria — The stubs were not put in based upon the type of line installed.
Witte — There was a meeting last week, for the owners to talk with the Department of Public
Works (DPW) and the Health Department, at which they learned a lot but it didn't make them feel
better about not having any input.
Carrie Thornewill, 48 Dukes Road — The have a Title 5 septic that is 17 years old; they signed up
to have it tested but though on the list, never got tested. Her problem is that a year ago, they were
told it was no big deal; the developer asked if they wanted to pay over $6,000 for a stub but they
didn't think they had to so didn't. If the Town had put the septic in, the residents would have had
more knowledge about it. Feels that for the sake of the developer saving money, they now have to
pay to hook up to sewer when they have septic systems that are good for a number of years. Now
her system will fail automatically because there is sewer down the road.
MacNab — If the sewer fails, the resident has to put in a new system which costs more than
hooking up to the sewer. Attaching to the line will ultimately save the property owner money.
Thornewill — Also asked for a waiver to time and the fees. They received the letter four months
ago stating they had six months to hook up.
Visco — We talked about expanding the timeframe at the last meeting. He thinks it's reasonable to
grant them extra time. The line is a low- pressure line.
Atherton — We need to deliberate about a reasonable time and apply it equitably up and down the
line. There are loan programs that help with the installation costs. Feels that the benefits to the
properties are significant once on the sewer.
Marjory Trott, 8 Dukes Rd — About the meeting last week, the notification was inadequate and
many residents didn't know about it. She couldn't get answers to her questions through some Town
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Action
Vote
Minutes for March 17, 2016, adopted Mar. 24
offices so went to the developer's engineer who told her stubs could have been installed at the time
the line went in; then at the meeting last week, she was told that it would not have been possible to
put the stubs in during installation. She feels the residents should have been part of the discussion
when the developer was applying to install the sewer so they could have requested that the stubs be
installed.
Visco — The DPW with approving the line could have requested the stubs be put in at every, lot.
Noted that Don Bracken was hoping to get the neighbors to help defray the costs of putting in the
line.
Trott — At all the sewer workshops, there have been statements that there would be stubs for
every parcel; when she asked if a stub for every parcel is the norm, the Director of DPW said not
necessarily. Expressed her frustration with the dissemination of information about this sewer line
and lack of a Sewer Policy public hearing with the developer before the line went in; the residents
had no opportunity to weigh in on the project and ask the questions then which they are asking
now. Feels the Town considered only the needs of the developer's needs and not those of the
residents.
Cooper — Asked when the sewer was taken by the Town.
Santamaria — May 2015, initially it was a private line. At the time the line was put in, it was still
private; the developer was not required to put in the stubs.
Cooper — Asked if it is now Town policy to take private sewer lines.
Santamaria — Yes.
Karen MacLellan — 37 Dukes Road — Asked if the Town had installed the line would it be a low -
pressure line.
Visco — No because of the expense of a gravity line due to the need of pump stations ever few 100
yards. Most of the sewers being proposed at Town meeting will be low- pressure lines. Explained
how the stubs would be attached to the installed line.
Santamaria — The survey hasn't been done so we don't know how much will be low pressure
versus gravity.
Thornewill — With all the new hook ups after installation, she's concerned about the integrity of
the line.
Visco — Explained how the stubs would be hooked into the line with damaging it.
Wendy Greenberg, 16 Dukes Road — Asked if during the time of hook up could the DPW look at
the line. Some engineers she has talked to have concerns that the line will be inadequate once
everyone is hooked up. Said that the maintenance expense for the homeowner once hooked up is
very high as now each property has its own pump. She is concerned about power outages and
having to put in generators.
Atherton — Asked if there is a way to grant the variance to the hook up time without every
property owner coming in individually for a variance on that.
Greenberg — Reviewed the costs of installation of the stub, the hook -up fee, and the privilege fee.
Asked about the betterment loan.
Santamaria — Explained how to apply for the 20 -year loan and that alien is put on the property
until the loan is paid off.
Greenberg — There is another sewer line down Dukes Road that she had tried to hook up to
before and couldn't because it was not a full capacity line; she questions that this line is a proper
full- capacity line.
MacNab — We are talking about extending the hook up date.
Discussion about a reasonable extension: 2 years from October 17, 2015 or 18 months from today.
Motion to Authorize the Director to extend the time for Dukes Road hook up to October
30, 2017. (made by: Atherton) (seconded by: Weld)
Carried unanimously
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Minutes for March 17, 2016, adopted Mar. 24
DIRECTOR'S •' • • COMMENTS
1. Special Meeting: MacNab — March 24 at 4 p.m. to discuss BOH opinions on two opposing warrant articles: right to
farm and nuisance animals. Also will approve the letter for the Dukes Road residents.
2. Mosquito Control: Weld — The group will meet Tuesday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss beginning the program.
3. Opening inspections: Santamaria — These have started scheduling the inspections for restaurants and Hank Ross
will be starting work on April 11.
4. Fertilizer Advisory Group: Santamaria — Reviewed members of the group; a meeting is scheduled within the next
two weeks.
5. Watershed: Santamaria — He is working on outreach material that explains where the process is and how the type
of septic system is dictated for different areas.
6. Fat, Oil, & Grease Regulations: Santamaria — He will be meeting with the chief of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
to discuss that.
7. Opioid Abuse: Weld — Wants this to stay "on the radar."
8. Communicable Diseases: Weld — Asked if the department will have an intern to track that. Santamaria — The CDC
didn't authorize one but Abigail Silver has asked to come back to continue her work.
9. Discussion about how the situation at 20 Nobadeer Farm Road came to the attention of the Health Department.
10. Wellhead Protection District: Atherton — Asked if the department has Wellhead Protection Watershed District
regulations; suggested the board start thinking about applying the same septic regulations to the wellhead districts.
Motion to Adjourn: 5:29 p.m.
Submitted by:
Terry L. Norton
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