Lincoln Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2009
PRESENT: Frederick Mansfield, M.D., Chairman
Arnold Weinberg, M.D.
Diane Haessler, R.N.
Brent Reagor, Public Health Administrator
Elaine Carroll, Secretary
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The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The minutes from the June 10, 2009 meeting were approved after 2 changes by Dr. Weinberg. The next scheduled meeting will be September 9, 2009.
Septic System Review:
9 Upland Field Road – Paul McCarthy, owner, and Bill Murphy, PureGround, came before the members to request 1 variance from the local regulations as follows:
1) To locate a sewer line, septic tank, pump chamber, force main or leach field within 100’ of a wetland and/or water course, which is prohibited by local amendment to 310 CMR 15.211.
Bill Murphy came in with a plan to replace a failed cesspool with a 4 bedroom septic system within the outer 100-foot buffer zone resource area. The closest point of disturbance is approximately 88 feet from the wetlands. The system does not increase the number of bedrooms and the property has significant constraints including limited area within the property lines, steep topography and mature woodlands. The proposed system is sited to minimize disturbance as much as possible and is located down slope of the wetlands. Brent Reagor has reviewed the plan and Bill Murphy made some minor corrections to the plan as requested. A motion was made and seconded to grant the variance as requested. The motion passed 3-0.
Informal Discussion:
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Update – Maureen Richichi, School Nurse, came before the members to update them on what happened in the schools in late spring. She said there were 9 students and 1 teacher with confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu and 82 students and 2 teachers sent home with suspected cases. These cases were only suspected because the State had stopped testing. In early June on a trip to Washington, DC, 8 students and 1 teacher were isolated at the back of the bus with flu like symptoms. She said some parents were reluctant to admit their child had a fever and angry if told their child had to be home for 7 days, which was hard on single parents to take 7 or 8 days off from work. It was felt employers should have more sympathy for parents who have to stay home with sick
children. Brent said the CDC has set up new guidelines which state children should be fever free for 24 hours with no medication and 3-5 days exclusion in most cases and they may be shortening exclusion to 24 hours fever free. Maureen said she has been pushing the Superintendent to do some preparations for the upcoming school year. She has received a letter to educators to do early planning. The superintendent will be doing monthly group meetings and she would like a liaison from the Board of Health. Diane Haessler has agreed to be the board’s liaison with Dr. Weinberg filling in if necessary. Maureen said she is pushing hand washing before meals and every classroom has a sink and hand sanitizers. Brent Reagor said he received a CDC draft report today urging Boards of Health to work to immunize school children. Maureen said we have received 290 doses of flu vaccine for the flu clinic, public safety building and teachers if enough
is left. Last year she was able to immunize 20 teachers. She also said she wanted to inform the members that she was contacted by a company called Flu Busters with National PTA connections who would come to do a flu clinic for every child. The local PTA would get $1 for every child who is immunized, $2 if a local nurse is provided and the National PTA would get $1. The cost to parents per shot would be $25 and other family members could also receive a shot but the PTA would only receive the money for the school children immunized. The members felt the parents would be able to pay for this or go to their regular doctor to get vaccinated. It was decided that the 290 doses of vaccine would be distributed to the COA on October 24 and Elaine will inform Karen Santucci so she can put it in the COA bulletin in Sept. The CDC is urging clinics to start earlier than in previous years. Brent said every community will get a supply of surgical masks
including Lincoln. It was reported that Moore Medical is out of surgical masks and hand sanitizers. Dr. Weinberg said the best estimate is that the flu vaccine will last 4-5 months and some years they have offered a second flu vaccine. With regard to the H1N1 vaccines, Brent said 5 different vaccines are being produced by 5 different companies and 2 shots are necessary given 21-28 days between shots. The CDC has said school age children, pregnant women, obese people and people with pre-existing illnesses should be given first preference. They may have a difficult time convincing parents the vaccine is safe. People over 60 have immunities built in because they have had some exposure to different flu viruses. Maureen said there are 650-700 students in K-8 and 50-60 pre-school children with half of them from Hanscom. They have 90-95 Boston students. Brent will be attending a DPH meeting on August 13 and will inform the members and Maureen
if there are any changes.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program (PHEP): Brent informed the members the purchases already made by the Town of Lincoln with PHEP funds for FY09 were turned down and he did no hear until the middle of last week. He also said that with Chief Cotoni’s help they have resolved the issue on the equipment – some can be returned and other funds were found to pay for the rest. Brent said the DPH has no concept of what emergency response is. Brent said if they had let them know sooner, they could have come up with something else that would have been accepted.
Communicable Disease Reports – The members reviewed the latest reports from the State, including several for Lyme disease. Brent said there may be something done on a regional basis about Lyme disease and reducing the deer population. He will keep the members informed.
Bats and Potential Rabies Exposure – Dr. Mansfield received a memo stating that reports of bats inside the living area of house is relatively common at this time of year looking for cooler temperatures than attics. The memo stated situations that might qualify as exposures include finding a bat in the same room as a person who might be unaware that a bite or direct contact had occurred because they were asleep or finding an unattended child, disabled person or intoxicated person. If the bat is available, the animal should always be tested. Miller’s Express is one source of transport into the State lab but they will not take it from a resident but will from a Health Department. The resident can bring the dead bat properly wrapped to the Board of Health for transport to the State
lab. The cost for transport will be assumed by the resident until further notice.
Definition of Piggeries: Diane Haessler was asked by a realtor who has someone interested in buying a house but has 3 pigs, how many pigs constitutes a piggery. Brent Reagor said he would check with Mass. General Laws to see if he can find an answer for her.
East Middlesex Mosquito Control – Dr. Weinberg said he was unable to attend the June 25 meeting of the East Middlesex Mosquito Control but did receive numerous minutes from previous meetings. DPH has instituted a charge to mosquito control projects for any samples that are submitted to be tested for West Nile virus and EEE. The charge will be $25 for each vial that can contain up to 50 mosquitoes of a particular species from the same site. At the EMMCC meeting, it was decided to request communities to consider whether testing is a priority and whether supplemental funding could be provided to fund that testing. Brent said Concord has appropriated $500 for testing. The members voted unanimously to appropriate $150 for testing in August and September. Elaine will notify Dave Henley
of EMMC of their decision.
Bills Paid – Seven bills were paid: Town of Lexington - $494.11 for April Haz. Waste Day; $155.50 for May Haz. Waste Day; $309.02 for June and $156.25 for pesticide bill shared by 8 communities; Eliot Community Human Services for $1,250; Staples for $131.13 and Moore Medical for $103.12.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine M. Carroll
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