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 4, 2008.

 

MEETING MINUTES ~ FEBRUARY 12, 2008

                                                                                                                                               

 

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

 

Minutes: A motion was made by Mr. Cella to accept the minutes of January 29, 2008. Motion seconded by Mr. Garabedian; the vote was 3-0 in favor.

 

Food Service – Municipal Sewer Line Grease Blockages: Brian Snay of Brian’s Restaurant appeared before the Board at their request to discuss a recent blockage of the municipal sewer line due to an accumulation of grease. Also present for this discussion was Mark Kuras, Superintendent of Sewers for the Town of Northbridge.

 

Mr. McKeon stated that a couple of weeks ago there was a blockage in the municipal sewer line at the low point near the Laundromat down the street from his restaurant. A discussion regarding the location of the sewer line as it leaves the restaurant property occurred. Mr. Snay asked if the manhole in the rear of his building was part of the sewer line. Mr. Kuras stated that it was not.

 

Mr. Snay stated that he met with our health inspector, Terry Gilchrist, and that she requested that his grease trap be pumped monthly by a professional. Mr. Snay presented the Board with a contract for those services. Mr. McKeon questioned if the trap was being cleaned now. Mr. Snay responded that it is cleaned once a month and that the grease is placed in a 5-gallon bucket. Mr. Cella asked if he had been maintaining a log of these cleanings. Mr. Snay stated that he has not. The Board noted that less than 5-gallons per month of grease from this establishment would indicate that the grease trap is either not functioning properly or that it is not properly sized.

 

Mr. Snay asked if the water from the Laundromat could be contributing to these problems. Mr. Kuras and Mr. McKeon stated that grey water from a Laundromat typically does not create a problem. The blockage of this line was due to grease.

 

Mr. McKeon questioned the size of his current grease trap. Mr. Snay stated that he did not know what size the trap was but that it had been there since he took over the building from the previous restaurant that operated out of there. Mr. Snay offered to meet with his plumber to discuss the current grease trap to see if it is adequate for his establishment and to determine if it is working properly and also to receive recommendations from his plumber for any possible corrections that may be necessary. Mr. Snay stated that he would report back to the Board.

 

Mr. McKeon noted that this matter will also be addressed with Pirate’s Cove, a food establishment in the same area of Providence Road where the blockage occurred to be sure that their grease trap is in place and that it is functioning properly.

 

Title 5 – Outstanding Issues: Several outstanding Title 5 issues were brought to the Board’s attention.

 

934 Providence Road: A building permit for an addition to this property was approved conditional upon the installation of an additional trench to the septic system. The trench has been installed and inspected by Mr. Malley but an as-built drawing and Certificate of Compliance has not yet been received.

 

32 Spring Hill Avenue: A building permit for an addition to this property was approved conditional upon a connection to municipal sewer. As of this date the connection has not been made.

 

1341 Hill Street: The leach field at this property was recently replaced but the required as-built drawing and certificate of compliance paperwork has not yet been received.

 

1674 Quaker Street: This property has received a failed Title 5 inspection and was issued a notice of non-compliance. The owner applied for soils testing but it has not yet been conducted. The issue arose again when the owner filed for an abatement on his taxes through the Assessor’s Office.

 

The Board requested that letters to each of these property owners be sent requesting follow up information an/or documentation.

 

Old & New Business: Ms. Gniadek informed the Board that the Region II Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition was accepting equipment requests.  She stated that she spoke with the Fire Chief Gary Nestor and Chief Nestor suggested the purchase of a 4-gas monitor kit at a cost of $1,445. Other supplies that may be useful were measuring tapes, thermometers, a document shredder and a 4-drawer file cabinet.

 

Ms. Gniadek informed the Board that the 2008 Rabies Clinic has been scheduled for April 5th at the Whitinsville Fire Station. Dr. Lawrence of Agape Animal Hospital has agreed to be our veterinarian. The cost did rise from $10 to $12.

 

Correspondence: Correspondence dispersed to the Board included:

1.      Berkowitz Trucking – February 2008 wood Chipping Notice

 

 

There being no further business, motion to adjourn at 7:50 PM was made by Mr. Cella, seconded by Mr. Garabedian – all in favor.

 

 

Attested by,

 

 

Jeanne M. Gniadek, Administrative Assistant