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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-29 Board of Health Minutes o�N OrpFq' O Town of Reading 1� i Meeting Minutes LC jvE ) fCIYLf; CLERK iv, vo Board - Committee - Commission - Council: *111 NOV 27 PM 5: 30 Board of Health Date: 2018-08-29 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Purpose: Public Hearing Version: Attendees: Members - Present: John Costigan Kevin Sexton Emmy Dove Members - Not Present: Heidi Pfiefer Others Present: Larua Vlasuk, Matt Kraunelis. Jayne Miller, Andy Friedmann Jackie Collins, David Polcari, Paul Scharr Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kristen Grover Topics of Discussion: Costigan called the meeting to order at 10:00am. Costigan discussed the agenda and asked the public to hold rodent questions until the discussion. BOARD BUSINESS Rodent Activity Costigan stated as of yesterday there were 19 rat sightings and asked Vlasuk there were any more. Vlasuk informed the Board there were a total of 24 sightings. Costigan advised that Vlasuk Is documenting any instance and details. Vlasuk stated her plan is to follow up on every report. Paul Scharr, Mount Vernon, asked what the rodent report was and that he hasn't reported anything but was here for the report. Costigan stated as of now rodents are rats in this particular rase and if there is a sighting the Health Department should be notified. He clarified that chipmunks and squirrels don't get reported as much but reports are looked into. David Polcari, County Road, informed the Board he is a neighbor of Jackle Collins and back in late fall he saw what appeared to be a rat under a neighbor's car. He referred to early November 2017 and also neighbors that were doing construction and hired exterminators to eliminate rats from their crawlspace. Jackie Collins, County Road, stated she caught 6 rats in 3 days. She stated she saw rats at the Mobil station jumping Into the trash. She asked what the Town was doing to monitor businesses. She opined that Reading Commons is a business and seems to be the area they are coming from. She Informed the Board she uses a bucket of water with sunflower seeds to attract the rats and understands that this Is not humane, but they're rats. She Page I 1 stated she didn't have the money to hire an exterminator. Costigan asked if she saw where the rats were coming from. She commented that there are holes at the edge of the property and was told to get an exterminator. Vlasuk commented on the discussion she had with Collins the previous night and it was discussed that the Town responds to calls about dead animals in the road. Sexton asked if animal control can go on to Collins's property. Kraunelis stated that the Town can't go on to private property. Costigan asked about removing attractants. Collins stated she keeps her trash inside. Sexton inquired about action to take with businesses and asked if the Mobil station is in Reading or Woburn. Collins said she believes It's in Reading. Costigan mentioned the spreadsheet listing dumpsters in Town and that Inspections can be done again. Dove asked if the dumpsters have mesh. Costigan said he believes they do but it can be looked into. Polcarl asked if it was just this area of Town that had an issue. Kraunelis mentioned he had a copy of a map with the sightings and it seemed to be just the one area of Town. Sexton asked what the State can do. Vlasuk and Sexton agreed to contact the State again to find out if there was anything that has been done in the past to help residents. Constigan mentioned the list of recommendations to be posted on the website. He told Collins it sounded like she was already taking some precautions but if neighbors weren't that wouldn't help the problem. Sexton asked where Costigan generated the list from. Costlgan replied he believed it was the EPA. Sexton commented that these are recommendations and didn't want to lead people In a direction that may not be accurate. Polcari asked what area the map showed. Costigan said the area west of Main Street and South of Lowell Street. Kraunelis stated the Town Is setting up an email account for this issue and encouraged residents to use See/Click/Fix. Vlasuk noted that 24 complaints have been received at Town Hall, Facebook comments and reported sightings are not counted, and multiple calls about the same sighting aren't counted. Miller also encouraged residents to use See/CIIck/Fix noting Vlasuk will receive notifications directly and that it is very user friendly. The Board discussed enforcement and the Town's ability to enforce on private property. Vlasuk noted that if she goes to an inspection and doesn't see a violation, there is nothing to write up, and that she can't step on private property. Dove commented on a study by the CDC on a neighborhood in the Bronx that BOH Inspectors went to private properties and issued citations and fines, and ordered exterminators at the expense of the owners. Vlasuk noted it depends on the ordinances. Polcari asked if sewer maintenance was causing the problem. Kraunelis stated DPW checks the catch basins regularly. Scharr said he wasn't really there to talk about rats, but of chipmunks and mice. He asked if there were restrictions on what a homeowner could do as far as extermination or catch and release to the forest. Costigan said it depends on what he meant. Vlasuk mentioned to contact Mass Wildlife as some species are protected and to check with a licensed exterminator. Costigan stated that as an unlicensed person he cannot use chemicals. Dove suggested trying peppermint oil as a natural alternative. The Board further discussed ideas brought forward today including emails, See/Click/Fix, checking on business dumpsters, routine inspections, pest control pertaining to demolition not construction, and that complaints go to the top of the list. Vlasuk noted she did speak Page 12 with Doucette Building and they report no rodent activity but as a courtesy they have increase their pest control measures even though they are not required to. The Board discussed how other towns were having issues also. Vlasuk commented on complaints citing dog feces as the cause and explained that feces is an attractant - that rats will smell it and will come to feed on it but it's not a cause. Collins stated she didn't have a dog nor do her neighbors but farther up the street there were dogs. Sexton and Dove explained that the rats have a travel path that they follow. Collins asked how a resolution will be communicated. Costigan said he supposed it would be put online. Kraunelis said It may be on a case by case basis. Collins asked how the residents will know about the communication. Sexton stated the meetings are televised. Kraunelis stated updates can be posted on the website and Town's Facebook page. Sexton commented that it would be good to designate a place to park the Information. Miller suggested appointing one person to coordinate with Miller and Kraunells to avoid having too many meetings or having to wait until a meeting. Sexton offered to be the point of contact. Costigan accepted. Costigan stated Vlasuk is here 4 days a week, that residents can call her. Vlasuk said she will also be out inspecting dumpsters. She said she tries to get back to every call and apologized to Collins for the return call being so late and after hours. Pesticide Reaulation Costigan reminded the Board of the meeting of the Select Board on 6/19/18. He asked Dove is she caught up with the topic. She said yes. Costigan updated Dove on the pesticide regulations and progress. Sexton commented again on enforcement. Dove suggested contacting other towns like Andover to check with them. Costigan mentioned that Sexton's concern was how to determine if a pellet was a pesticide or not. Dove said test strips are simple and anyone can be trained but it would be best to have a laboratory do it. Costigan said he received and email from Nancy Doktor stating she wanted article references read into the record. Costigan read the information into record. Costigan mentioned that literature is trending to limit pesticides on public land and nothing can be done about private property. Friedmann spoke of how to go about testing soils, factor such as rain and how long a pellet sat out. Sexton commented to follow up with different towns. Costigan said he will check with Andover, Wellesley, and Newton. He mentioned he had contacted Marlborough and Swampscott but they weren't that helpful. Dove inquired to the definition of a treelawn. The Board discussed definitions and that regulations have to'be reasonable. They talked about going 5 feet into somebody's yard is not reasonable. Sexton agreed stating that people are not walking in other people's yards and the treelawns could be 2-16 feet, nothing is definitive. They talked about it only pertaining specifically to treelawns and sidewalks. Costigan said yes to use the reasonable argument. Sexton comment that Intent is the worst thing to communicate, that it has to be very specific. Dove mentioned 2 grants for funding to cover costs of mailings, etc. Costigan said the cost was one of the issues. Sexton Inquired about applying for a grant. Dove stated she assumed one of them would write it up. Kraunelis offered that there are people in Town Hall that can assist but the main information should come from the Board. Costigan suggested tabling this Item for more Information. Natural Gas Costigan stated he tends to agree more with the letter from the MA Health Board that was sent to the Governor last year, but that's not to say they can't submit their own. Sexton said he hasn't had a chance to look through it. Costigan said it regarded safety issues in the home. Sexton asked if it was meant for future projects. Costigan said yes, for the safety of future projects, that It was a report from an Independent agency to ensure the safety of a project. Sexton asked If it was something to table to the next meeting. Costigan said yes. Dove said she wanted to add something that wasn't mentioned. She spoke of fracking and that the health effects from over 1/3 the chemicals aren't know. She Page 1 3 commented on Benzene in the gas lines and that no amount of Benzene Is acceptable. Costigan asked if that was a byproduct. Dove said she thinks it's one of the chemicals they use, along with toluene. Costigan asked if there was any fracking in this state. Sexton and Dove said they didn't think so. Costigan suggested more research and that basically the letter is asking that before major projects begin that they are looked into. Motion to table items. 3-0-0 CHAIR REPORT Costigan informed the Board that the State passed regulations regarding the legal age to purchase tobacco increased to 21, and also includes e-cigarettes and juul. He noted it did not go into Flavoring like Reading, but did include no vaping products in vending machines or sold in pharmacies. Costigan read statistics on 2nd hand smoke and opined on the importance of preventing it. He referred to the Tobacco Agent and the State's compliance checks to ensure regulations were being adhered to. He Informed the Board that due to funding that service will no longer be available. He mentioned wanted continued routine inspections but It would be something the Town would have to pay for since there is no more funding. Costigan said he personally thinks It's worthwhile to continue inspections to make sure retailers are following regulations. Dove said she would support that. Vlasuk asked if they would still want to send out and underage person. Costigan said that's what he would like to discuss and he believes in the last year there has been no compliance violations. Costigan asked Vlasuk If she had any other reports. Vlasuk stated just rats, rats, and rats. Costigan inquired about the Public Health Nurse saying he hadn't gotten to meet her. Vlasuk informed him that the candidate chose not to take the position. Sexton asked if she took a different position. Vlasuk replied it was due to family obligations. Costigan asked if the position will be posted again. Vlasuk said yes. Costigan Inquired about immunizations. Vlasuk said clinics were set up for the Fall Street Fair, Senior Center, Town Hall, Fire Department, the Employee Health Fair and she will reach out to the Police Department. Costigan asked about reviewing minutes. Sexton suggested tabling to the next meeting. Motion to table minutes. 3-0-0 OTHER BUSINESS Costigan asked if Wednesday mornings were okay with everyone to hold meetings. Sexton stated his only reservation was for public attendance and Town Hall hours. Sexton noted in the case there was something pressing to announce. Costigan suggested a meeting for 9/26/18 and noted that it is the 4d' Wednesday because of Yom Kippur and then to go back to every V to make a schedule. Sexton motioned to adjourn. Meeting adjourned 11:19am. 3-0-0 Page l 4