TOWN OF STOUGHTON. Massachusetts MA BOARD OF HEALTH BOARD OF HEALTH. MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 17, 2013

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1 Approved 10/15/13 TOWN OF STOUGHTON Massachusetts MA SANDRA GABRIEL TOWN SANITARIAN STEPHEN POZNER, CHAIR STOUGHTON TOWN HALL RICHARD PAROLIN, VICE CHAIR 10 PEARL STREET ALEX FORMAN (781) X265 ANDREW TIBBS MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 17, 2013 STEVEN SNYDER The Stoughton Board of Health met on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at 6:30 PM. in the Fitzpatrick Room, 1 st Floor, Stoughton Town Hall, 10 Pearl Street, Stoughton, MA The following members were present: The following members were absent: Mr. Stephen Pozner, Chairman Mr. Richard Parolin, Vice Chairman Mr. Andrew Tibbs Mr. Alex Forman Mr. Steven Snyder Also present was Sandra Gabriel, Town Sanitarian and Benita Taylor, Recording Secretary. The September 17, 2013 meeting of the Board of Health was called to order at 6:32pm by Mr. Pozner. I. BOH Smoking Regulations Presentations & Mr. Lester Hartman, Pediatrician at Westwood/Mansfield Pediatrics, 541 High Street, Stoughton, Ma 02072, and Ms. Sarah McColgan, Tobacco Director of MHOA, 50 Nightingale, Plymouth, Ma, were both present for the matter. Mr. Hartman submitted various samples of nicotine products for his presentation for the Board to view. Mr. Hartman shared survey and statistical information with the Board on a handout he submitted previously titled TOBACCO21 MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE. He discussed the current towns such as Needham, Canton, Sharon, Dover, Ashland, and Arlington, that have got on board with raising the minimum age for smoking from 18 years of age to 21, and the most recent towns Milton and Wellesley who are in the process of strongly considering following suit. Mr. Hartman stated that if the laws are changed it will make a healthier society and the town will save lives. He stated that the town could save 4-5 lives for every 5 years from tobacco related diseases. Mr. Hartman further stated that he

2 and other supporters of this cause wrote a resolution to the American Academy of Pediatrics and since then he stated that the Massachusetts Chapter passed it. And following that 55,000 pediatricians in the United States now support raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21. Ms. McColgan and Mr. Hartman both shared examples of what they felt were the tobacco industries tactics in targeting youth with flavored scented tobacco products and the price difference between packages of cigarettes vs. individual cigarettes sold separately out of the packages and how the youth are attracted to the individual scented/flavored cigarettes. Ms. McColgan raised the issue of youth also now using the electronic cigarettes because they believe that they re healthier according to the manufacturers selling the product. Ms. McColgan also raised the issue of the taxes on cigarettes vs. cigars which may be one of the reasons why businesses produce more cigarette sales than cigars. Mr. Hartman gave statistical percentages of people who do not become lifetime smokers due to not having smoked before the age of 21. He stated that when the government raised the minimum age to drink alcohol to 21, it reduced the percentage of accidental deaths by youth by 80% in Massachusetts. He gave examples of studies done in other countries of cigarette use and shared that the minimum age of 25 to drive rental cars helped reduce accidents as well. Mr. Hartman also stated that if the minimum age of smoking went to 21 vs. 18, it would help streamline clerks at stores checking ID s to sell cigarettes and alcohol to just one age to check. Mr. Hartman also stated that other surrounding cities such as: Framingham, Wellesley, and Newton are also getting on board with raising the minimum age to 21. He stated that other towns joining raising the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products could be found on the metro west site. Mr. Hartman stated that the smoking issue is too big to bring to a state level, which is why he and his supporters have started locally in the individual towns. Mr. Hartman stated that the military is where smoking got started and became popular. He stated that the military is now in favor of this change due to the addiction rate; the lung cancer rate which is twice as high as the general public; the cost for treatment after the habit causes health problems like cancer; the fact that chemotherapy results are very poor due to military worker s illnesses; the Surgeon General stating that after reviewing revolving evidence of those that smoke that they are less combat ready; and that wound healing takes longer with smokers. Mr. Hartman further stated that the states tax dollars is what pays for the treatments for the military workers. Ms. McColgan stated that the local pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS are waiting for towns to change the age limit to make things less confusing with the variety of vendors they have in their stores and the local standards that they have to follow. As well as changing and reducing the setting of being a medical facility where consumers can have their blood pressure checked and other health conscious preventatives and buy tobacco based products at the same time in the same location. Ms. McColgan stated that after the Board reaches their decision on what they would like to do in changing the age limit that Ms. Cheryl Sbarra, J.D., would work with the Board and Mrs. Gabriel to do a draft regulation that would be appropriate for the town. After hearing both presentations the Board decided to take the matter under advisement and bring the matter back at a later date at the next Board of Health meeting in October. Mr. Parolin made a motion to take the matter of Smoking Regulations under advisement. Mr. Tibbs seconded the motion. All were in favor (5-0). II. Environmental Health Report /Vote A. 94 King Street Local Upgrade approval Page 2 of 5

3 Mr. Bob Murphy of Danena Associates, Representative for the Applicant, P.O. Box 387, North Easton, Ma, 02356, and Mr. Jay McNamara, resident of 94 King Street, were both present for the matter. Mr. Murphy made a presentation before the Board with his plans. Mr. Murphy stated in order to put the septic system in legally he asked the Board for a reduction of 5 feet from the property line. Mrs. Gabriel stated that she would recommend that the Board grant the variance. Mr. Tibbs made a motion to approve the local upgrade for 94 King Street. Mr. Foreman seconded the motion. All were in favor (5-0). B. 158 Morton Street Local Upgrade approval Mr. Darren Michaelis, Design Engineer from Foresight Engineering, 518 County Street, West Wareham, Ma, was present on behalf of Livia Ramos, property owner for 158 Morton Street. Mr. Michaelis made a presentation before the Board with his plans. Mr. Michaelis stated that the site has a failed system in the front yard, which is where he is placing the new leach field. He stated that he is using the existing 1,500 gallon tank in the back yard, plus a pump tank which will be used to minimize the disturbance in the buffer zone. Mr. Michaelis stated that he already went to the Conservation Commission to get it approved. Mrs. Gabriel stated that there have been a number of other houses within the last 6 months on Morton Street with septic system issues either on the front yard or the side yard. Mrs. Gabriel agreed that this is a situation where the septic system has to go in the front as Mr. Michaelis previously stated. The Board asked if this was truly a financial hardship that could be put in writing of the cost. Mr. Michaelis stated that the cost could be approximately $5,000 additional to do the work for the client with a variance. Mr. Pozner requested that Mr. Michaelis submit something in writing from a professional stating the reason for the cost. Mr. Parolin made a motion to approve the local upgrade for 158 Morton Street. Mr. Forman seconded the motion. All were in favor (4-1). Mr. Pozner was opposed. III. Mosquito Control Mrs. Gabriel submitted a document of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Arbovirus Surveillance Program Report to the Board. She stated that the Stoughton website states the Hotline number for residents. She stated that until the weather changes, that there is still a threat of the spread of viruses such as EEE or West Nile. IV. Emergency Preparedness A. Together We re Ready: MA Prepared Campaign Update Mrs. Gabriel stated that the state s Emergency Preparedness agencies are asking communities to report back to them on the activities conducted by the Board of Health so they can get back to the state on what they have done. Mrs. Gabriel reported that Stoughton s activities included: Page 3 of 5

4 1. A presentation to the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce. 2. A presentation to the Council on Aging. 3. Information on the Board of Health webpage. V. Septic Betterment Program Mrs. Gabriel stated that she met with the Town Manager and he stated that the Board should continue with what they are doing. She stated that the Town Manager suggested that the town keep their contract with Old Colony until they get someone in-house to do the work. She stated that there are applications on hold. VI. Old/New Business A. Household Hazardous Waste Day Update Mrs. Gabriel stated that the Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on October 26, B. Taste of Stoughton, October 19, 2013 Mrs. Gabriel stated that the event is to benefit the kids at O.P.D. and the schools. She stated that it would be held at the Stoughton High School. Mrs. Gabriel raised the question to the Board if they wanted to charge the vendors. She stated that some of the vendors that are in town already have licenses so they would not need to be licensed or charged a fee, and that there could be some vendors coming from other towns. Mrs. Gabriel stated that no one has contacted her thus far regarding the event Mr. Pozner stated that the vendors who are volunteering and making a donation should not have to pay versus if they are receiving a profit they should pay. The Board agreed. Mrs. Gabriel suggested that someone from the Board attend the event to see what goes on at the event. The newest Board member Mr. Andrew Tibbs was nominated to attend by the Board. C. Dumpster Regulations Mrs. Gabriel handed out a sample of the notice of the public hearing that would go out in the newspaper regarding the Board of Health Dumpster Regulations to the Board. The Board suggested adding a way for residents to be able to get more information on the topic. Mrs. Gabriel stated residents can review the proposed regulations on the town website. Mr. Pozner suggested having a separate night for the public hearing. The Board agreed to have the public hearing on the 4 th Tuesday of October which would be October 22, Mrs. Gabriel submitted a copy of an from Mr. Pozner and a copy of the proposed Town Seal Public Notice that would go out to the residents. Mr. Pozner suggested getting applications in, and then processing them after. The Board agreed to allow 30 days for the applicants to get their applications in to them. The Board reviewed the Checklist for Local Upgrade Approval Variance Request sheet that Mr. Tibbs submitted. The Board stated that once the list is finalized the checklist will be stapled to the applications. Mr. Parolin made a motion to have the Board of Health meeting agendas closed the Tuesday before the regularly scheduled Tuesday Board of Health meetings. And that at the discretion of the Board of Health Page 4 of 5

5 agent Mrs. Gabriel, any applicant who is already on the agenda and has revisions the agent has the authority to accept it or have the applicant come back at the next Board of Health meeting. Mr. Snyder seconded the motion. All were in favor (5-0). Mr. Parolin made a motion to approve the Checklist for Local Upgrade Approval Variance Request done by Mr. Tibbs with changes. Mr. Forman seconded the motion. All were in favor (5-0). Adjournment Mr. Parolin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Tibbs seconded the motion. All were in favor (5-0). The meeting adjourned at 8:35PM. Page 5 of 5