Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Health
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 7:00 p.m.
Small Basement Conference Room
Town Office Building
Attending: Dr. Jeremiah “Jay” Lowney, Chairman
Philip J. Driscoll, Secretary
Roxanne Musto, RN-C, MS, ANP, Member
Michael J. Blanchard, MS, Director
Nelly Browne-Janga, Health Inspector
Linda M. Grant, MD, Medical Advisor
Deborah M. Manning, Principal Clerk
Outstanding bills were signed for payment.
The minutes of the January, 2006 Board of Health meeting were accepted as written.
The Director reviewed the Region 4B Agreement and Budget with the Board. He explained that the Department will be receiving $7,997.16 which must be used for approved uses prior to June 30, 2006. After presenting the deadlines for the various aspects of the grant, Mr. Blanchard presented a draft of the proposed budget. After considerable discussion, the budget was approved with certain changes.
Mr. Eric Sandquist of 610 Harland Street attended to request a continuance on the Board’s decision regarding his Title V septic system. This system is part of a shared system brought to the attention of the Board of Health last year when the Almgren property which was also part of the shared system, was being sold.
Since a portion of the shared system was found to be in groundwater and thus considered to be in failure, Mr. Sandquist was required to bring the system into compliance with current Title V regulations and to install the system entirely on his property. Mr. Sandquist submitted an engineer’s report dated February 23, 2006 which showed that the remainder of the system passed inspection. He went on to explain that his property consists of approximately eight acres and that he is in the process of estate planning. In an effort to comply with the Board’s request, he has had percolation tests conducted to determine the best placement of a system on his property. However, soil conditions vary widely and placement of the system will greatly impact how his land will be able to be subdivided.
Therefore, he has requested a five year extension to the Board’s request to allow time to conduct all of the necessary tests and to determine the best subdivision plan possible.
Following discussion of the matter, the Chairman asked the Director for his opinion. The Director said the five year request is allowable under State guidelines and would be from the date of the original April, 2005 letter. Mr. Blanchard did state that he would have to check the exact wording of the disclosure in the deed of the Almgren property required by the Board of Health at the time of the sale to be sure the extension can be allowed. Mr. Blanchard also stated that based on current usage, he does not foresee any problems with the system. However, if the number of people living in the home should increase significantly, a problem may arise.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Sandquist for attending and said that he would be notified of the Board’s decision later this week.
The Director advised that the Bioterrorism mailing planned in conjunction with Milton Hospital has been finalized and will be sent out shortly to all of the Town’s households.
Mr. Blanchard explained that a Mutual Aid Warrant Article had not been submitted for the May, 2006 Town Meeting but would be ready for the Fall Town Meeting. He also noted that participation in the Mutual Aid program can be terminated with thirty days written notice.
The Director advised the Board of three other grants the Department will be receiving. They include $118,000 from the Volunteer Medical Corps which will used to purchase a trailer to transport medical supplies in the event of an emergency. The trailer will be kept at the DPW yard. It was suggested by the Medical Advisor that signage might state that “No needles or medications are contained in this trailer”. A press release about this grant is ready to go once final written approval has been received.
The next grant is a Skin Cancer Grant from the MHOA. While the Board has been the recipient of this grant a couple of times in the past, this year the focus is on adults. Approximately 2500 informational brochures will be provided and the Department plans to purchase a tent which will be given to the Cunningham Park Foundation to provide shade for residents using the pool. In response to the Medical Advisor’s inquiry if skin protection information is included on signs posted in the pool area, the Health Inspector said no. However, Ms. Janga said that she will make sure that is added.
Finally, the Milton Junior Women’s Club is offering a grant aimed at youth. The Director and Public Health Nurse decided to purchase four permanent seat belt reminder signs to be posted at Milton High School and Fontbonne Academy to encourage seat belt usage by teenagers. Ms. Janga asked if a sign could also be hung at Curry College since several of their students have been involved in serious automobile accidents in recent years. The Board suggested that Curry College be asked to provide these signs if there wasn’t enough grant money to pay for them.
The Director advised that he had forwarded information on an After School Fitness Grant sponsored by the Governor’s Council to Laurie Stillman, Chairman of the School Health Advisory Committee. The Board of Health had received this information from Dr. Grant.
Mr. Jason Audi of East Milton Service, Inc. (Mobil), 352 Granite Avenue, attended to address the sale of tobacco to a minor during a compliance check conducted February 4, 2006. Of ten businesses visited, his was the only one found to be non-compliant. Mr. Audi explained that it was a newly employed, 56 year old man who made the sale despite instructions to the contrary when he was hired. Mr. Audi explained that he feels very strongly about this matter and has required the employee at fault to pay the $100. fine. He also warned the man that he would be fired if this happens again. Following a discussion, the Board decided to issue a warning since Mr. Audi’s business has a good record from past compliance checks.
The Board was updated on flu shot reimbursements from the Medicare B and Masspro programs. To date, approximately $2,000 has been received which has been deposited into a revolving fund for immunizations. Data entry for the 850 Medicare B patients is ongoing with an expected reimbursement rate of $22.07 each. A high school student has been hired to assist with this project.
A proposed survey of Town residents to determine their feelings about nuisance mosquito spraying was discussed. Various wording options were offered for this project. Using suggestions offered at the meeting, the Director will compose a survey for the Milton Times.
The Director advised that he would like to begin publishing monthly public health articles in the local newspaper and on the Town’s website. A sample topic he is considering for March coincides with the mandate for carbon monoxide detectors. Dr. Grant asked if some articles could focus on youth-related topics such as injury prevention. This suggestion was strongly supported.
The issue of office space was discussed. The Director advised that the Treasurer has removed most of his files from the vault in the Board of Health office. However, the Retirement Board’s files are still there. Since the agreed upon date of January 31, 2006 has passed, the Chairman said that he would contact the Retirement Board to get things moving.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, April 10, 2006 at 6:45 p.m. in the Small Basement Conference Room of the Town Office Building.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Philip J. Driscoll
Secretary
| 
