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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-26 Board of Health Minutes North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday – October 26, 2017 7:00 p.m. nd 120 Main Street, 2 Floor Selectmen’s Meeting Room North Andover, MA 01845 Present: Thomas Trowbridge, Frank MacMillan Jr., Larry Fixler, Joseph McCarthy, Brian LaGrasse, Toni K. Wolfenden, Caroline Ibbitson I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:01pm. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. PUBLIC HEARINGS IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Meeting minutes from September 28,2017 were presented for signature. Motion was made by Frank MacMillan Jr. to approve the minutes, the motion was seconded by Thomas Trowbridge, all were in favor and the minutes were approved. V. OLD BUSINESS VI. NEW BUSINESS A. MOTION made by Frank MacMillan to waive the readings of the Board Reports in the interest of time. Motion seconded by Joe McCarthy. All were in favor and the motion was approved. B. November meeting date change – the next meeting will be on Monday, November 20, 2017. VII. COMMUNICATIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND DISCUSSION The Board of Health has been joined by Tim Jones and Marc Wallace of Tech Environmental and Richard Faulk of Wheelabrator. On August 31, 2017 Tim met with members of the Board of Health at Wheelabrator to discuss the operations of the plant, inspections of the ash house construction project, and the monitoring of the air quality. The Ash House is as such, a building that holds all the burnt ash from the waste. It is stock piled, then put in trucks and hauled to Shrewsbury, MA to be dumped. Tech Environmental monitors for all nuisance conditions which is why they were asked to give a presentation to the Board of Health on their role of monitoring Wheelabrator. Tech Environmental is a third party compliance monitoring company, who oversees Wheelabrator for the Town of North Andover. Tech Environmental was founded in 1984. They are located in Waltham, MA and 2017 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page 1 of 3 Board of Health Members: Larry Fixler, Chairman; Joseph McCarthy, Member/Clerk; Francis P. MacMillan, Jr., M.D. Member/Town Physician; Thomas Trowbridge, DDS, MD, Member Health Department Staff: Brian LaGrasse, Health Director, Caroline Ibbitson, Public Health Nurse; Michele Grant, Public Health Inspector; Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Department Assistant Waitsfield, VT. They have completed over 4,000 air quality, odor, noise and dust projects. Tech is on site every quarter however, with the ash house construction project, they have been on site weekly beginning in July and thru December. Tech monitors air quality through site record auditing of daily operations logs and staff qualifications and incidents. They audit reports on air quality where they are compiled and forwarded Mass Dep / EPA. This is to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Tech conducts compliance testing of air quality emissions and system calibration. They will also oversee special projects similar to the ash house reconstruction. Larry Fixler would like to understand more about reporting of an abnormal reading. Tim explains that if there is an variance with air quality allowance, a report will be filled out explaining the cause and the remediation. The EPA and DEP permitted Wheelabrator with the most stringent air quality conditions in the early 1980’s. Being a retired plant manager, Joe McCarthy, reviews the Annual Reports. The facility burns solid waste which generates steam and electricity. According to Joe, the facility is extremely large, maintained and operated very well. There are only 100 plants in the United States. According to Richard Faulk, variances are corrected within 10-20 minutes. The meeting was joined by Peter Boynton 320 Stevens Street and Planning Board Member. He asks if there are any concerns for the particulates landing in nearby lakes and streams. Tim and Mark both explain that there are no concerns for the water supply. Rick tells the audience about Wheelabrator’s participation with the Mercury Recovery Program. Residence of North Andover can drop off to the Health Department: thermostats, thermometers, mercury switches, fluorescent bulbs and button cell batteries. This helps to keep poisonous mercury out of our waste stream. This has had a positive impact on public health. Everything is going accordingly. The contract with Tech is through the Town of North Andover, not with Wheelabrator or with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Wheelabrator welcomes tours for all age groups. The Board of Health begins a new discussion on marijuana retail locations in the Town of North Andover. They are joined by Hooks Johnston, 35 Cochichewick Drive and Dan Leary, 26 Andover Street. Both, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Leary are advisors for the Osgood Project. Larry explains that this discussion is in reference to marijuana retail establishments located in the Town of North Andover only. Mr. Johnston and Mr. Leary explain that they are here to listen to the discussion only. They are working with the Planning Board to possibly open a 1 million square foot cannabis cultivation facility which will be combined with a research and innovation center. They will only be a wholesale distributor of medical marijuana and will not have a retail outlet. Peter Boynton, 320 Stevens Street, Planning Board Member has come before the Board of Health to invite the members to share any public health information on the retail sale of cannabis in the Town of North Andover at the planning board meeting on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 7:00pm located in the Board of Selectman Room. The Planning Board wants to be as informed as possible about the potential health issues and concerns about retail marijuana dispensaries. The board agrees that, Chairman, Larry Fixler and Town Physician, Frank MacMillan will attend the meeting. Larry does explain that the rules and regulations have not been established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Board of Health is unsure, at this time what it their responsibilities will encompass. The board recommends reading Monitoring Health Concerns related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016 – Changes in Marijuana Use Patterns, Systematic Literature Review, and Possible Marijuana –Related Health Effects. Frank discusses that when access is easy, problems rise, the best way to combat the issues is through proper regulation and early education. Presently, the Board of Health does not have a role in allowing the retail sale of marijuana. It is understood that a general bylaw by the Board of Selectman voted on at town meeting, a Zoning Bylaw by the Planning Board or both will be the ones ultimately be allowing the sale of marijuana in town. There are restrictions and time limits being imposed by the state. The Cannabis Control Commission has set an April 1, 2018 deadline for patient applications. All towns/cities must have final regulations if banning or regulating by July 1, 2018. These dates maybe pushed back, however, if they are defaulted, any medical marijuana establishment can then begin selling recreational marijuana. All are in agreement that it is best to keep personal feelings out the discussion and make policy based on evidence and what is in the best interest of the general public. Brian LaGrasse explains that in general recreational marijuana use does pose public health risks in terms of accidental exposure, increase use, adolescence use, and increase daily use by certain populations. According to the Colorado Report, 1 in 3 children have tried marijuana. Brian suggests that the board begin research on an educational campaign program that targets middle school and grade school age children. Some of the side effects from marijuana use are: psychosis, depression, mental focus issues, and hallucinations. Joe would like a measured control of the marijuana sales. According to Brian, in the future, the board may be able to limit sales similar to limiting tobacco and food through permitting. Larry has contacted Cheryl Sbarra from Massachusetts Association of Health Boards to begin investigating how other towns are handling the retail sale of cannabis. Any information received will be brought to planning board meeting. Peter Boynton holds a dual role with the planning board. He is also the North Andover Volunteer Harbor Master of Lake Cochichewick. He works with the Department of Public Works, Conservation, Planning and Sustainability twice a year for clean ups. He thanks the Board of Health for the work it does on the monitoring of the lake. Peter has help to clean out of the lake: docks, tires, bottles, cans, metal pipes and other metal parts, furniture, mail boxes, a wall safe and a kitchen sink. Volunteers consist of: town employees, students, residents, and people from North Andover Country Club, Rolling Ridge, Brooks School and Edgewood. Areas of concern are located at Route 133, Butcher Boy area to the Ray’s Pond and Steven’s Pond, Great Pond Road area to the Lake. Mr. Boynton is happy to report he only found one needle. North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday – October 26, 2017 7:00 p.m. nd 120 Main Street, 2 Floor Selectmen’s Meeting Room North Andover, MA 01845 Caroline Ibbitson is asked by the board to be brought up to date on the flu clinics. Caroline explains that the flu clinics were highly successful. The family and senior flu clinics have been completed. 100 vaccines are left and 130 state vaccines. Cholesterol screening will begin next month. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE / NEWSLETTERS IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION made by Joe McCarthy to adjourn the meeting. Frank MacMillan seconded the motion and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm. Prepared by: Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Dept. Assistant Reviewed by: All Board of Health Members & Brian LaGrasse, Health Director Signed by: __________________________ __________________ Joseph McCarthy, Clerk of the Board Date Signed 2017 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page 3 of 3 Board of Health Members: Larry Fixler, Chairman; Joseph McCarthy, Member/Clerk; Francis P. MacMillan, Jr., M.D. Member/Town Physician; Thomas Trowbridge, DDS, MD, Member Health Department Staff: Brian LaGrasse, Health Director, Caroline Ibbitson, Public Health Nurse; Michele Grant, Public Health Inspector; Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Department Assistant