Lincoln Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2002
PRESENT: Fred Mansfield, M.D.
Arnold Weinberg, M.D.
Diane Haessler
Michael Moore, Agent
Elaine Carroll, Secretary
GUESTS: Elizabeth Parsons, 16 Hill Street, Lexington
Jane Tatlock, Recreation Committee
John Dumont, Chairman, Recreation Committee
Daniel Pereira, Recreation Department
John Donahue, Epicurean Feast
Christina Reiling Breiter, Hobbs Brook Farms
David Giangrande, Design Consultants, Inc.
Thomas Frisardi, Attorney for Hobbs Brook Farm
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Opening of meeting The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with Dr. Mansfield and Diane Haessler in attendance.
Previous Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes of the January 16, 2002 meeting and approved them as written.
Massage Therapy License:
Elizabeth Parsons of 16 Hill Street, Lexington, came before the Board to be granted a license to practice massage therapy in the Town. The Board reviewed her application and after a brief discussion at which time the applicant said that she would be working with Heidi Tucker, who has been practicing in Lincoln for 8 years. She said that the business is located at 9 Lewis Street and that she would be in Lincoln on a part-time basis and continue to practice in Waltham also on a part-time basis. The Board voted 2-0 to grant Ms. Parsons a permit to practice massage therapy.
Codman Pool:
The Codman Pool was inspected on Nov. 21, 2001 and violations were documented in an order letter dated Dec. 6, 2001. After receiving the response from the Recreation Dept. dated Jan. 14, 2002, the staff revised the sanitary survey and scheduled a hearing before the Board. The Recreation Committee is asking the Board to grant 6 variances in order to continue operation of the Codman Pool for the summer of 2002.
Item #1 Two toilets in women s room, one toilet and one urinal in men s room. The Recreation Committee understands this to be a longstanding variance agreed upon during the design phase of the bathhouse.
Item #2 Fill spout to main pool sticking up from deck next to diving stand. The Recreation Committee will instruct the pool staff to put the guard s chair over the spout to prevent any tripping hazard.
Item #3 Flow meters not installed on each filter system. The main pool is equipped with a flow meter on its return line to the pool. The wading pool does not have one but operates at its maximum filtration rate of 20 gpm/sqft, which is within the approved range of 9 to 36 gpm/sqft.
Item #4 Automatic chlorinator broken, disinfectant added by hand to both pools. The automatic chlorinator was replaced and now functions properly.
Item #5 Main pool contains only one floor drain covered by a grate with finger- size holes. When the pool was opened in 1974, it was not required to have two floor drains and adding a second pool drain would be a major renovation, involving cutting through the shell and laying pipe underneath the structure. According to an engineering study performed in the summer of 1999, the existing drain has an opening size sufficient enough to limit the velocity through it to a maximum of 1.5 ft. per second, which is the common design standard to avoid entrapment issues. A new grate will be installed this summer to avoid finger entrapment issues. They will install an antivortex drain outlet if they can get one to fit.
Item #6 Operator reports that in main pool, only the skimmers are used to circulate water through filters. The main drain of the pool is in good working order. This citation arose from a miscommunication between BOH and Recreation Dept. staff.
Item #7 Concrete deck around pools is deteriorated, with uneven surfaces that create a tripping hazard. The concrete deck is showing the signs of 28 New England winters. The pool staff will continue to patch in cement to fill deteriorating, uneven surfaces, and smooth out tripping hazards.
The Recreation Committee has a Warrant article scheduled for the 2002 Town Meeting to refurbish the facility in the fall of 2002. If this article is passed, the project would address all outstanding issues cited above, except the bathhouse, and would bring the Codman Pool up to current standards.
A discussion followed, which included questions from the Board regarding long hair getting caught in the drain and any health problems in pool areas. Dan Pereira said that the suction is not strong enough to catch hair and there have been no major health issues only bee stings and scrapes.
A current EpiPen is always on hand. The Board is aware that the pool does not meet code but will grant the necessary variances for one year. The Recreation Committee thought that it would be helpful if the Board would make the Town aware of the necessity for renovations at the pool, which is the cornerstone for a lot of the activities run by the Recreation Committee. With
Dr. Weinberg present, the Board voted 3-0 to grant the two variances for one year as follows:
(1) Women s bathroom may have two toilets, and men s bathroom may have one toilet and one urinal; instead of four toilets in each bathroom as required by 435.03(3).
(2) Concrete deck around pools may have uneven surfaces, instead of being smooth, free from obstructions, non-abrasive, and slip-resistant as required by 435.13.
Mike Moore said that we could hear from the State if they don t like the variances, which were granted are then reported to them.
Food Establishments:
Epicurean Feast located at Lincoln North, 55 Old Bedford Road The petitioner was asking the Board to grant one variance from the State sanitary code:
(1) To operate a food establishment without a designated mop sink, as required by FC 5-203.13
John Donahue came before the Board to say that using the mop sink on the first floor would solve the problem. They would fill and empty the mop bucket by taking it up on the service elevator, which is out of the way of any customers. Because of this solution, there is no need for the Board to grant a variance.
Whistle Stop 145 Lincoln Road The petitioner is asking the Board to grant 2 variances from the State sanitary code:
(1) Sink with at least three (3) compartments for manual washing, rinsing, and sanitizing equipment and utensils not provided as required by FC 4-301.12(A).
(2) To operate a food establishment without a designated mop sink, as required by FC 5-203.13.
Due to the tight confines of this kitchen, the Board staff does not believe that it is physically possible to bring this establishment up to code for the items listed. Variances would allow the facility to continue operating as it has in the past. After a brief discussion, the Board voted 3-0 to grant the variances as requested.
Cluster Plan Review:
Hobbs Brook Farm vacant land north of Route 2 just opposite the end of Page Road This is a re-submittal of the same plan filed with the Board in December 2001. The staff met with the petitioners and explained that the submittal was confusing because of references to a cluster plan that was not shown. The petitioners agreed to withdraw the request to have the Board certify that there were eleven “buildable” lots, and agreed to settle for the usual approval granted by the Board under subdivision control regulations. The petitioner is asking the Board to approve the “proof plan" as a definitive subdivision with recommendations to the Planning Board, which they were meeting with immediately following this meeting. After a discussion, the Board reviewed the
plans to determine whether or not any areas shown on the plan cannot be used for building sites without injury to the public health. The Board voted 3-0 to approve the plans with certain recommendations, a copy of which is on file with the Board of Health. Four abutters were present but voiced no objections to the subdivision at this meeting.
Other Business:
Pesticide Workshop Mike Moore would not be able to attend the Feb. 7 Regional Pesticide Awareness Campaign workshop.
Mosquito Control Dr. Mansfield received some literature from Dave Henley of the East Middlesex Mosquito Control regarding a new treatment called Vectolex WSP for catch basins to control mosquitoes. Since Lincoln has very few catch basins, it was not considered feasible. It was discussed that something should be put in the paper in the spring informing residents to get rid of standing water around their homes, which includes keeping birdbaths clean and getting rid of standing water in containers.
Dr. Mansfield thought that Dave Henley would be able to put something together for the paper.
Septic Systems Diane Haessler asked for clarification regarding whether a house can be sold with a failed septic system. Mike Moore said that once a Title 5 report is done, a house could be sold and occupied whether or not the system passed. The problem is finding a lender who will approve a loan with a failed system. The report means that you can sell the house even if the system failed. Once it is filed, it is up to the Board of Health to find out what needs to be done and inform the owners. The recourse of action for the Board on failed systems is that if nothing is done within six months, the Board sends a letter of non-compliance to the owner. The next step is to send a certified letter, and finally, if necessary, they will be taken to court.
Concord Activity Report Mike Moore turned in the most recent activity report from Concord and a list of septic systems pending in Lincoln as of Feb. 6, 2002
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There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. The next meeting will be held on March 6, 2002.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine M. Carroll
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