[music] [music] >> Call this meeting to order of the Christian Board of Health Tuesday, June 23rd approximately 5:10. Um this meeting of this meeting is being audio and video taped. If anybody has a
phone, they can turn it on silence or off. Um I'm David Vigneron, the chair. To my right is Paul Medeiros, board member. We have uh another board member who couldn't make it due to an emergency, Tom Fortin.
He's absent. Um Wanda is our secretary. So, first on the docket, we have uh full correspondence, letter from community nursing home care statistics from May 2026. Review of matters presented, votes may
>> You're not too bad, huh? Well, make a motion to uh >> Place it on file. >> Place it on file. >> I'll second the motion. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Motion carried. >> I was just reading about the other That's why I hesitated. >> So, next we have a discussion
47 Pershing Avenue, adding one-bedroom ADU utilizing the existing septic system. Review of matters presented, votes may be taken. Um so, when this was presented to me
um through the building permit application, since we we don't have a health agent at the moment, we haven't for several months, so I'm the guy on the board that's going through the board of uh the building department applications and
if they're straightforward uh such as a pool not on a septic system footprint you know, sheds, anything like that, I sign off on it through the portal process. This is one I wasn't comfortable making that call by myself.
Um and I'll explain my reasons why, so I I asked one of you to just put it on the agenda. We certainly hear what you're you know, what you're trying to do, [crying] but um if I understand this correctly, I mean
you have a four-bedroom house now. >> Yes. >> How long have you owned the house? >> 2020. >> 2020. When it was advertised by the realtor company and you purchased it, was it advertised as a four-bedroom? >> Yes. >> It was. >> Okay.
And you had a passing title five at that time, I take it. >> Yep. >> Okay. The issue the concerns I have here is that you're I understand somebody's living there now and you want to make it a formal ADU. >> Yep.
>> But when you turn it when you convert or put in an ADU, you're actually creating a two-family house. And the two-family house automatically requires under the code a two-compartment septic tank because
you have multiple uses going together and that's that's a a minimum is replacement of the septic tank to current standards. Um but then when I looked at the leaching field it just gives me a lot of cause
for concern. Um I mean, when you start the records show that in 1964 it was supposed to be creatively a beehive to the side, which is a leaching pit for the laundry, and then a septic tank and a stone and pipe
leaching field to the right in the backyard for the the rest of the house. And I don't know whether that was installed and the leaching field failed and then they put in a pit.
But what the title five report shows is that there are two pits in a row. One of them is uh completely popped off and it was dumping into the second one. So, the first one's failed. And there is a there is a thousand
gallon tank, but so you already you have two leaching pits. And leaching pits are obsolete. They've been obsolete since 1996. Um nobody puts them in anymore because if you put a leaching pit in the ground, you have a six-foot deep leaching pit,
you only can count two feet. So, the other four feet doesn't count under the new code. So, if that's the case, you really you two-thirds of your septic system is obsolete. It really doesn't count when if you're counting daily flow towards the septic system.
The reason they did that is they want things spread out not deep and dumped in the one spot in the ground. Um so, I I'm in conflict here like within myself about it was supposed to be a leaching field that's not. It just seems
like there was I don't know what the right word is. Um manipulation of whatever the septic was over time. And now we're being asked to sign off on a a septic system that may technically pass title five, but
if I was asked to look at it as a consultant on for a buyer of the house, I would I wouldn't accept that buying a house. And the concern here is that although you own it, and I understand you want to put in it
for your use, you could immediately turn around and sell it and we can't do a thing about it. And you can say, "Well, we haven't We haven't passed the title five." And it turns around and the next family and they end up with the bag, holding the bag, if you will. Um
I I'm just I'm struggling with how how I How can I let this How does this meet the code? I I I just don't see it. >> So, I I talked to the inspector that was there in the in the health agent that I guess you guys contract with it that witnesses it and and speaking with It was Darren
Michaelis, who's the engineer, and he told me that it it's it's adequate. It's operational. It passes. He He says it's adequate for title uh for four bedrooms in his mind. Um I've never had that at uh service. I
have I've had the tank pumped. But since we've been there, I've never had that pumped because I didn't realize I I could or I should. So, I'll be doing that annually. For Darren's instruction, you should do that. Um but he he he believes that, you know, it it does
it's adequate for four bedrooms. And and that's what we're sticking with four bedrooms here. That was the whole design plan to to not, you know, add a bedroom and and have to deal with all this. >> See, the problem with the pit is the pits are in the ground. They put stone on them.
And the stone gets contaminated with soaps and stuff, and it stops the leaching through out the area. When it reaches the soils, which you probably have decent soils in the around up there where you live, uh it makes like a liner on it. Now, the Now, the
the liquids ain't going to go through into the soils. If you open up that tank and pump it out, you're going to find that thing totally totally black and all scummy. And if that's the case, that thing is even if you pump it, it ain't going to work. It's only going to hold it and
come back up. I've seen any many many of them do that. That's why it's kind of frowned on, you know, the way David said, "He's an engineer. He He And the thing is it's kind of frowned on to say to you
people that the system is operable, but for how long? You know, you when you people bought it, you know, did they do it right to check? I don't know. I We didn't go out. You know,
I've been going out doing Title 5s because we don't have a health agent. And David is really up to up to here in work. But it was towards the winter and I'm going to be slow in the winter. But right now, I'm busy again. So, I can't go out there. So, we have somebody else doing it.
But it it's a difficult thing to, you know, you people bought the house in 2020 and now you have a problem. You know, it might have passed Title 5, but in my eyes, I don't know. I think in his eyes it's the same thing that uh
the engineer, whoever did the Title 5, should have failed it. That's my personal opinion, okay? >> I mean, this is >> Because it's going to cost you later on money because now you got two washing machines going in it and all of >> that for 6 years old. It's It's been operable fine. We've had no issues.
>> And I've lived there for what? 8 months? 9 months? >> almost a year now and we >> So, there's no difference to water that's going in cuz we've been >> We also used the inspector that you guys recommended to us. So, we we know we called Wanda. We spoke with Wanda and she gave me the What's the people's
Darren McAllister did it the first time in 2020. So, we had him come back out. He did it again and and again, he's he's verbally told me and I think over email he told me that that system's adequate for four bedrooms. >> Is there Do you have the 2020 report? Did he get it?
>> I'm just We've had a We've had a laundry on that subject since 2020. >> So, see, that's where it's to it. If you're using the detergent in it and all, it's just going to It's just going to stick to the rocks and the pits were great years ago.
I mean I John probably put in 500 pits. I probably put in 500 pits. I don't know how many pits. Something. I've been doing it for 68 years. But the thing is they were fine in its time, but nowadays there's modern stuff
that better and better and better, you know? Um the pits were good because they had a lot of stone around this to put like used used to dig down 6 and 1/2 ft. Am I right or wrong, John? Six about 6 and 1/2 ft. But you're only using maybe this much of
a pit. And after that nothing's going to happen because all the solids are going down to the bottom. And if you opened up that pit and pumped it, you're going to find that thing is black as coal. We tried washing them at times. It would never work.
It would never work. >> Yeah, you inspect the old pits. Yeah, I mean I >> I mean when you inspect the pit, what do you do? You look inside of the pit? But if the pit was pumped out, then you can make a determination if the pit is full. >> If you had there wasn't anything to pump
out? >> No, I think he said he said we should pump it anyway, but it he said it was still within within code as far as how it was all working, so >> Then they say here's that they're they're not adding anything more than what they have already. >> But the pit is old
>> I understand that. >> It's done it's done its job in two years. >> Right, right. >> Okay, it's like we all done our job and now we're getting old. Well, I know I'm getting old. >> How many How many people live in your household? It's my wife and I, my mother, and my
two kids. So that back bedroom she's in now >> we've been in there for like I said, maybe 10 months. >> So that's that's the bedroom we've been blowing out to convert to a bathroom and have a a hallway from the main house into the addition. So, even if we want to say it's an ADU, I think that's even there's even a
little legal room there because her entryway is going to be through our house. There will be a back door that she can use, but it's not a it's not like a >> It's just >> entry hall or anything like that. Yeah, it's just >> We're not trying to crucify you in any way. >> No, I know. And if if I can give you
guys reassurance >> Well, the thing is yeah, it's going to cost me over $200,000 just to build it now cuz prices went up and they're talking another $30,000 and it's like I don't have it. >> Yeah, she sold her house in the Cape. >> in the Cape but that's what I got, you know, and it's like >> So, we were hoping to utilize these new
rules in Massachusetts to get her affordable place to live and now it's it keeps stacking up against us. You know, we can assure you guys that we're not turning around and selling this house. We could do I saw that we could potentially do a deed restriction if needed. Um we're going to be there. >> to have the washing machine.
I mean, I could have them do the laundry downstairs. I just thought it would be easier for me. Um >> You know, under the terms that I've I've researched under title five is that if we're not increasing flow by definition of the bedroom count, do we even need a title five inspection?
Like it should just be allowed. >> It doesn't make sense to me. >> Well, you guys you're increasing the intensity of the use. >> When was this house When was the house built? >> Like '64 or something like that. >> Yeah, '60s around '60s. >> What if we didn't have the washing
machine? What if I didn't have a washing machine? >> Still have one was one The thing is still the same. >> Maybe the compromise maybe the compromise is an upgrade of the septic tank
and approval of the use of the system only up until sale of the property, at which time it would have to be upgraded. >> Yeah. >> That's reasonable. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we plan to stay there. We have a two-person
they've been they've been warned by that we we had serious concerns and then they'd have to >> [clears throat] >> they'd have no choice but to upgrade it find the money upgrade it even though I wish they [cough] could upgrade the thing then the problems
would be over for a long time. What? The funds are not there can't take blood out of a stone. That's what it is you know what I mean I've been explaining that being a lot cheaper to build I didn't think it cost that much but prices have skyrocketed. Well it's
not the square footage you know that really matters it's it's you know you know if you turn around and if we make a provisional approval that clearly says you know in writing
we'll give it to them in writing that the the we we sign off on the building permit basically she's already living there there's a room there's no increase in bedrooms but it is being approved as an ADU which the house could be then sold later and they could rent it out
you know so at that point when the house is sold we don't consider we could we can make a determination that we don't consider the title five passing for the sale of the home. But find it acceptable for them to move ahead with the project.
That seems reasonable. We just don't want to be bitten in the butt again. We try helping people but we don't want to get they're going to say well why the heck did the board of health allow this to go and we're in we're in a line but you know we can do whatever we want. The
title five is good for two years right? So after two years if you go to sell the house you have to do it anyways, right? It's a 2 years. >> Well, wouldn't you >> Well, no. We're We're making it you wouldn't have to do a title five in the future. What we're saying that in if 2 years you decide to sell in the 2 years,
if you decide to sell the house, we're not considering that system is passing. >> You have to do the >> You have to put in the leaching field. Septic head. >> All right. But right now >> At a mean at a minimum you got to put in um 1,500 gallon two compartment tank
with a effluent filter and proper covers to grade. That's There's no ifs, ands, or buts about that. That's flat out the code. There's no way we can wave that. That's just >> I saw I saw one variance that I understand that's I think that I'm fine with that, but there was a variance for
it there was a a an effluent filter already that we can potentially not do a two compartment tank. >> Um >> That was on if if It's up to the board, of course. So, that was one of the appeals routes and all that. >> I think it was like 30 years old. Well,
we're talking about a 60-year-old tank and tanks you know, typically you you probably could dig up where the pipes are coming out, poke it with a pencil, and start getting holes in it. That's They really get to that point. >> have no idea how old this system is. Like there's no records with the town at
all, right? >> Well, >> Cuz that's not >> We have a 1964 plan that >> But that's not what's there. You know? >> Right, but it is a 1,000 gallon tank and this did show a 1,000 gallon tank on the ground. It also showed a a leaching pit for the laundry water.
>> So, I think I think what you know, they used to freelance back then. They could do whatever they wanted. They did it all the way up to the '80s. So, they probably put the pit in for the laundry. They put the tank in and they're like, "Why put a field?" And we'll just put another pit. And they put another pit in. And then when one pit started failing, they connected it to the other one, you know, and and that's sort of
how things move along over time. >> I I assume we were on borrowed time. I was surprised that it passed when we were buying the house cuz it was the house was vacant for 10 years and you know, John Alfonso had bought it and flipped it and then we bought it from him. >> That would be a reason it would pass. There's no flow going in. >> I got it. Wouldn't they
Don't you guys look at that? I don't know how that works. >> [laughter] >> Actually, there's nothing in the provisions when you do a title five is that nobody used it for 10 years, but somebody buying it might >> Yeah. >> ask for another opinion. >> Right. >> You know. >> You know, there's still five people in the house. >> Yeah. >> You know, five people taking showers and
baths, whatever you do and >> Yeah. >> and the two minutes a lot of water in the course of a day. >> They know what they're getting into. So, that being said, I'll make a motion that we
approve the EDU to be built pending uh with a contingency that they have to put in a 1,500 gallon two compartment tank with an effluent filter covers the grading on the inlet and the outlet per code
and they'll be allowed to continue use of the septic as long as it functions for their personal use and ownership of the property and we do not consider the system as a viable passing title five system for the sale of the property in the
future. >> Have you got all that down? >> She's got it. She's got >> Wow. >> [laughter] >> I'll say he said it three times so I I kind of >> We got it all down, right? >> She's good. >> So, that's my motion. Is there a second? >> Yeah, I have a second. >> Thank you. >> All in favor?
>> Yep. >> I. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Good luck. >> Just one one question. We can >> Watch your water. Take it easy with your water. >> Of course. We can She showers once a week so that's good. >> [laughter] >> So, that's not bad. It's been a while.
As far as moving >> I've always been my comedian child. >> You have to get um an excavating contractor to come in and pull a permit to put the the new Take the old tank out and put the new one in. After the tank is put in the ground, have the guy who did the title five, Darren,
>> Yeah. >> give us some sort of as-built sketch of the new tank. Just a sketch, nothing fancy, just so we have something on record >> That'll save you. >> Yeah, that goes it'll be attached to the title five and then the file I have that, I'll have this, and then I'll we'll issue a memo that's basically
covers my my motion and the board vote so that everybody knows exactly what's going on. >> So we can start with the construction at the same time. >> Yeah, well, um tomorrow I can go into the portal and check off that Board of Health has
approved >> Okay. >> the uh building so you can get your building permit. >> Okay, great. >> We won't issue the occupancy permit >> until it's done. >> until you get a certificate of compliance with the installation of the tank. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And that's one of the things that's in
the file there. It's It's been tough without a health agent. >> Yeah. >> I know. >> This girl's been doing a lot of work. >> Yeah. >> And uh And David, he's a busy guy. I'm pretty busy myself. >> And And to be quite frank, me and Bob we're of the same opinion. We don't know
if the agent that we had, Joe Correa, for 10 years, we don't know if he would have agreed with Darren. >> Yeah. >> And that's where my doubt is because I was very very comfortable with Joe over a decade. I really don't know Sophia. I'm not questioning her credentials, >> He was He was there in 2020. He signed
off on that one. >> Yeah, we got the we got the paperwork on it. >> Right, but I did notice that there's a difference in the in the title five reports whereas uh the first one he said the liquid level was 18 inches below the pipe, and
this one he said it was overflowing into the second one. So it has progressively gotten worse. Just so you're you're forewarned, and at that rate the pit might fail in four or five years. I don't know. >> Okay. >> Hopefully not, you know. Hopefully you get your life out of it. >> But at least you can have a new tank in.
So that will save you quite a few dollars on the tank installed and all. And then if eventually the system really does go on you >> Yeah. >> and then you already have the title five tank two compartment tank. >> Right. >> You don't have to have to put the leaching on. >> Okay.
>> That's expensive part. >> Yeah. Right. >> But >> Yeah. >> We're trying to help you people out the best we can. >> It buys us >> And I think David explained the whole thing. I think >> Plan for the future. I don't know. Maybe 10 years. I don't know. >> No Nobody knows.
Come on. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> Now you can go home and take a nice nap. >> [laughter] >> And a shower. At least at least you can shower. >> Wait a second. It's Saturday night yet. >> [laughter] >> Thanks for coming in. >> Thank you. Take care. >> Take care.
>> Have a good night. >> Uh Austin, did you need a lift? >> I hope you guys install Yeah, if you could email it to me. >> I'll email it to you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> All right. >> You got it. >> And she's been great to deal with, by the way. >> Okay. Sure. Thank you. >> All right. Moving on. >> Okay.
>> 12 Carol Street. Okay. Owners Joe and Regina Spinola. Enforcement order update review of matters presented votes may be taken. >> So I sent you an email of what he said. >> Was that last week?
>> Yes. I just got the seven hours back. >> Yeah. >> Webby's a one-man man when he man company needed more time to put the plan in place. >> Okay. All right. So Um >> But that was an update. >> I'll make a motion to just keep it on the agenda till the next meeting and hopefully we get a stronger update.
>> I second that. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Motion carries. All right. So the next one on the list is 23 Frank Street. Owner Susan Almeida. Enforcement order update review of matters presented votes may be taken.
>> Okay, Danny got in touch with Tom Thornton and also with me. He's getting prices. The prices are astronomical. He wants to get a second opinion and possibly have it a plan looked at to redesign. >> Okay.
I find that acceptable because I think there I think I think there there are things that they could do differently and I find that I you know I looked at it back, you know, wait, so >> I sent him the plan a PDF. >> Okay. Um
so I will uh make a motion to keep it on the agenda until the next meeting. Is there a second? >> Yep, second. >> All in favor? I. Motion carried. The minutes we're going to table until the next meeting.
For our information, we have an outbreak of E. coli. Raw Farm LLC through raw cheese product September 25, 2025 to March 2026. Known areas of Florida, California and
Texas. I don't see Massachusetts on there, so It was just a notification sent to the Board of Health, so we have it in our minutes. >> I was talking to the people that set the traps up last week
and that they did find um some traps along the riverbank here that had um uh that had the viruses from the mosquitoes. He says that they didn't find a lot, but they were they did find traces of them in the in the traps. >> Okay.
>> So this way if we know about it, I I couldn't make the last meeting. But um I wanted to present it to >> So down by the river, people be careful. >> Yeah, down by the riverbank all through the Quinsigamond River area, be careful, you know, if you're out there at night,
you know, put spray or keep clothes on, keep a jacket on or shirt or something to cover yourself up. So, word to the people of the town of Acushnet and whoever is watching the program. >> I don't know what to make of the next bullet item, but similar to Operation
because it doesn't say where it was. >> Good thing, yeah. >> Not in Massachusetts, though. >> I don't think so, no. It's some kind of powder. >> Dietary supplement of some sort. Probably whatever. >> All right. So, next Can I get a I'll
make a motion to sign the vouchers and permits. Do I hear a second? >> Yep. >> I'll second the motion. All in favor? Say "You second." All in favor? >> Yep. >> Aye. Motion carries. Schedule the next meeting date. Um we'll just see what everybody's schedule
is. Shoot for something in July. >> to go for that. >> Procedure. Okay. >> Uh July either the 20th or 24th. >> Okay. >> That'll be on a Friday, I think. So. >> Maybe we'll shoot for
the Tuesday before that. We'll see. We'll We'll I'll check my schedule with Wanda and then we'll circle it to everybody. Does that sound good? >> Cuz I have to go. >> Okay. >> Because I I went through my treatments and they didn't work. >> Okay. >> So, I got to go through it again. >> Okay.
Um all right. Is there a motion to adjourn? >> Motion to adjourn. >> I'll second the motion. All in favor? >> Yep. >> Aye. You are now adjourned. >> [music] [music]