TOWN OF NORTHBRIDGE

BOARD OF HEALTH

7 Main Street

Whitinsville, MA  01588

Phone# (508) 234-3272   Fax# (508) 234-0821

 

The Northbridge Board of Health approved these minutes at a meeting held March 20, 2007.

 

MEETING MINUTES ~ MARCH 6, 2007

                                                                                                                                                           

 

This meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mr. Paul McKeon, Chairman. Other members present were Ms. Ann Marie Thompson, Mr. Christopher Cella, Mr. Scott Chase and Mr. Steven Garabedian. Also present was Jeanne M. Gniadek, Administrative Assistant.

 

Minutes: A motion was made by Mr. Garabedian to accept the minutes of February 20, 2007. Motion seconded by Ms. Thompson; the vote was all in favor.

 

Quaker Street Landfill – Warrant Article – Spring Town Meeting: The Board reviewed estimates for work to be completed at the Quaker Street Landfill as required by the DEP for post closure compliance in preparation of a warrant article for funding at the spring town meeting.

Estimates included:

$21,000 – for 2 site inspections, 2 water samples and 4 gas tests

$  2,000 – for mowing of the landfill

$22,000 – for repair of the cap (large settled area)

            $45,000 – TOTAL

 

Motion made by Ms. Thompson to send memorandum to the Town Manager and the Finance Committee requesting placement of the following warrant article on the Spring Town Meeting warrant:

            To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $45,000 to comply with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection post closure maintenance and monitoring requirements at the Quaker Street Landfill in Northbridge; or take any other action relative thereto.

Motion seconded by Mr. Cella; the vote was all in favor.

 

Berkowitz Trucking: The Board reviewed the report of the DEP regarding an August 15, 2006 site inspection of the Berkowitz Trucking transfer station. This inspection report notes hazardous waste violations pertaining to management standards for waste oil and universal waste accumulation including acting out of the company’s registered status as a Very Small Quantity Generator of Waste Oil by operating as a Small Quantity Generator of Waste Oil. DEP personnel conducted a re-inspection on September 26, 2006 and found all violations to have been corrected.

 

In other business, a Wood Chipping Notification for the month of March was received.

 

Regulations – Outdoor Wood Burning (OWB) Furnaces: Ms. Gniadek provided the Board with regulations governing OWB furnaces that have been adopted by the towns of Dalton, Petersham, Tisbury, and Westborough. These regulations range from establishing siting criteria to a complete ban on installation within a community. Ms. Gniadek also provided the Board with fact sheets prepared by the Mass. DEP, CT DEP, and Michigan DEQ regarding OWB appliances.

 

Each Board member will review these regulations and return to the next meeting with those sections that they feel should be considered for inclusion in a draft OWB furnaces regulation.

 

Regulations – Title 5 (On-Site Septic Systems): Mr. McKeon discussed with the Board his desire to adopt changes to Title 5 regulations. He stated that Northbridge has been in the past a leader when it comes to health regulations. At recent seminars he attended for alternative systems, the use of 2-compartment tanks and venting of systems for anaerobic activity within the system was discussed. He felt that the Board should consider adopting requirements for 2-compartment tanks and requiring each system to vent to allow air flow into the system. He also wanted to discuss a requirement that a system be installed level – Title 5 requires a very slight pitch to the leach field/trenches. Mr. McKeon stated that he would gather more information and discuss this with Jim Malley before bringing this matter back before the Board.

 

Old & New Business:

Wal-Mart SuperCenter: Ms. Gniadek informed the Board that there will be a joint meeting on Thursday, March 8th at 3:30 PM at the new Wal-Mart with their architects and engineers and Jim Malley and herself to ensure that all matters are properly addressed including floor drains, holding tanks, and the septic system. Mr. McKeon stated that he would like to attend this meeting also.

 

Ms. Gniadek also informed the Board that Terry Gilchrist, restaurant inspector, has an issue with the concrete floor in the food service areas of the store. Mr. Garabedian will meet with Ms. Gilchrist on Saturday at 10AM when she does another inspection.

 

Advance Auto Parts @ 277 Church Street: No new information at this time. Mr. McKeon stated that he did not want to hold up the development of this property. Mr. Chase stated that the Board ordered the abandonment of the system in accordance with Title 5 prior to signing off on the building permit and that we should stick with that as right now that is all the leverage we have to ensure that the system is abandoned properly.

 

12 Wards Lane: Ms. Gniadek informed the Board that the abutters, the Lavallees, contacted the office and stated that they would be doing the water test on their well themselves. Ms. Gniadek advised the Lavallees that a chain of custody on the water sample from the lab would be required to certify the parameters tested.

 

48 Prescott Road: No additional information received at this time.

 

Correspondence: Correspondence dispersed to the Board included:

1.      Heritage Landscape Inventory – Informational Workshop – March 29, 2007

 

There being no further business, motion to adjourn by Mr. Chase, seconded by Ms. Thompson – all in favor.

 Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 PM.

 

Attested by,

 

 

Jeanne M. Gniadek, Administrative Assistant