Good afternoon. Welcome to the board of health meeting of April 13, 2026. Uh pursuant to Governor Healey's March 29th, 2023 signing of the acts of 2023 extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency
suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law until June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the Chattam Board of Health is being conducted in person and via remote participation. Please note this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any
smartphone or tab smartphone or tablet. If anyone else is recording this meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chairman. Every effort will be be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for
in the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling 1508-945-4410 and the conference ID is 989305932 pound or they may join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is
a live broadcast simoc cast on Chattam TV Xfinity channel 1072, despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide real-time access. We will post a record of this meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. Now, I'll turn the meeting over to our
chairperson, Carol Boyce. It is the policy of this board to conduct its meetings under the open meeting law so as to encourage public participation whenever time permits and as part of the
agenda item discussion. And let's take attendance. Uh Ron Wisha >> present and Carol Gordon >> present >> and myself Carol Boyce. Uh
so we have a quorum today. We have two items on our agenda and the first is a variance hearing for Jason Hall and Jill Zelikus
80 Bayiew Road Ryder and Wilcox Inc. >> Hi, good afternoon. I'm Stephanie Sequin with Ryder and Wilcox. I'm representing Jill and Jason Hall and they are the owners of the property at 80 Bay View
Road. There is an existing three-bedroom dwelling on the property. The Title Five system is a consists of a thousandgalon tank and a leeching pit. They are uh proposing to uh construct an inground
swimming pool in the backyard. Um the dimensions of the pool are 40 feet long and 14 feet wide which that 14 foot width is a a fairly standard um dimension for pools. Um this property is
actually uh has frontage on three sides of it. So, uh, under zoning, the swimming pool has to be 25 feet from three of the property lines, um, and 15 feet from, um, from the line that is not
abudding a road. Um, so in positioning the proposed swimming pool as close to the road layout as we can get it, you can see at the um, the southwest corner is 25 and a half feet from the property line. um that puts the the other edge of
the proposed pool uh just over 17 feet from the existing leeching pit. So um Title 5 requires a 20 foot separation between a leeching system and an inground pool. So we're requesting a three-foot variance from that requirement.
the um septic system was inspected. Um the health department has a copy of an inspection report from 2015 um just prior to the current owners purchasing it and that inspection report found no
indication of failure criteria. Um we are able to show a um fully compliant reserve area. So, if this existing septic system fails in the future, there is adequate room on the site where it
could be replaced. Um, and I think lastly, the um I I don't have a copy of the Title 5 plan, so I don't have soil logs for this property, but I'm familiar with other properties in the neighborhood. And typically we find very
well- drained sandy soils here. So I don't think there's any uh significant lateral um movement of the effluent from the leeching system. So it's very unlikely that it would have any adverse impact on the um proposed swimming pool
and vice versa. Um so I think that's all I have to say and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Um, Carol. >> Okay. I just, uh, want to talk a little bit about the swimming pool. All right. Um, okay. And beginning in May, I
believe we're under a water ban. And I was wondering about, uh, the the water for the pool. It says here that it may be uh, served by municipal water, which is our drinking water, >> our town water. Is that true? Or is is there going to be water trucked in,
which sometimes they use for pools, and then top it off with our water? I hon I don't know how they intend to fill it. Um I would think you could make that a condition if you wanted to that it >> that the water would be tucked in. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. I think Carol brought this to my attention and I think there is a rule that they can't fill pools with municipal water. So I can double check that but we certainly can add that as a condition. >> Okay, that would be good. Thank you. >> Good to know. >> Okay. Thanks. Okay.
>> Any other questions? >> Um I I don't know. I just this this just strikes me a little bit wrong. I mean, we have a rule that it has to be 20 ft and we're going and so 17 is off by
three. Is it not possible to make the pool a little bit smaller to accommodate, you know, our norm? Mhm. So, we'd have to >> or could it not even be turned in a different direction? >> That's a good idea.
>> We we are right at the 25 foot um set back from from the curve in the property line. We we add an extra six inches just to have a little room for error. uh to to make it comply with the 20 foot setback would have to take three feet
off the width which would bring it down to 11 feet wide and is not is not a very I would say comfortable functional width. Um I know a lot of people worry about someone diving in from the side
and getting to the other side before they know it. Um, >> we're talking about um the the area of the pool that is within 20 feet of the leeching pit is um 42 square feet. So,
it's not a very significant amount. Uh, I just did some quick calculations and if it was turned 90° and it was shortened from 40 to 33 feet, it would fit in that area without any
problem. Is that not a possibility? >> Um, I think aesthetically they've positioned it so it's square to the house and not at an angle to the house. Um, and yes,
it could be shortened, but >> that would >> Is this something you could bring up? Is this something you could bring up to your client about just turning it the other way? >> I I could and come back. Is that what you're asking?
>> Well, I I don't know how everybody feels. I just, you know, I mean, if we have a rule, it's 20 feet and this is 17 feet. Next week it's 16 feet. Next week it's 15 feet. I I don't know what's the point in having the rule.
Um I guess I would personally I'd like to see a different design to where it was turned and not quite as long. And I'd hate to I'd hate to change a rule based on aesthetic purposes. I mean anybody can come up with an aesthetic
reason. >> I agree. So, >> is that something you might be willing to do? >> I I can check with the property owner and and see if that's something they >> I just would like to see if it would be
feasible, you know. And again, as I said, I I'm not as I said, I think aesthetics is not a very strong argument for me. I don't think >> May 4th. >> May 4th, >> we have Yeah, we can speak on that. We have many things, but >> Oh, we're offline.
>> If we could continue to May 4th. >> So, continue. >> Continue. >> Yeah. If that's what you want. Yeah. And see if we can get some more, you know, if you can figure it out. Okay. >> How's that? >> Whose fault is that? >> So, do we have
>> Oh, what did we do? >> We're dis >> We can continue. I mean it says if we fail to, you know, in my readout though, I think we just continue. >> Just let you know. Thank you. >> Yeah, I saw that. >> I don't know who's online, but >> there were people on.
>> All right. So, why don't we continue this to our May 4th meeting? >> Okay. Very good. We'll see you on the 4th. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> He's going to try and reconnect us. I mean, >> I think we're still live on channel 18.
So, >> are we live? >> I I think we're still on ch on Chattam TV. So, um I don't see why we can't continue. >> Okay. >> So, >> I don't >> Yeah.
>> So, we may as well continue. >> Okay. for properties needing grinder pumps. >> So, um it was sent um was at the request of that it does out uh an agreement with the town um and moving forward and you
have uh some answers to some questions. Do you have a copy of that? >> No, I don't have anything with me. I'm sorry. >> I I rely on DL stuff. So, um, and I think these are these are good questions that Carol brought up.
Um, there will be about 1,200 grinder pumps needed. Um, and that number can fluctuate, uh, depending on how they locate their pump stations. Um, the grinder pump pumps are going to be free of charge to those residents that need them. Um, and they're going to give them
also, uh, they would be eligible for a stipen, which is currently set at $2,000. Um and any residential properties who installed grinder pumps at their own cost cost and still reside in the dwelling is eligible for reimbursement. Um
the reimbursement rates are the same as the current contract price of $6,779 each for uh with an additional 2,000 to help off offset installation costs. So that's all very positive I think to folks that are are required to have that
additional fee. So basically um we just need to lift the moratorum on enforcement. Um I know at our last discussion we did talk a little bit about enforcement and um there hasn't been a lot of that going on
up to this point but we're going to work on that. Um so it's just a matter of lifting the the enforcement moratorium on folks with requirements for grinder pumps who have been ordered to connect. >> All right. So, why don't we take a vote?
Any questions? No, discussion. No, >> we just need a motion. >> All right. So, >> I'll make a motion. >> You make a motion and I will second it. >> You'll second it. All right. So, we're voting to lift the moratorum. >> Yes. >> On grinder pumps. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> Carol. >> Uh, yes, that's fine. >> I agree. >> And I say I agree. >> Okay. So, I will put together um a a new memo letting the chairman of the um select board know that we've lifted the
moratorum. Um and also at our last meeting, we voted to um order to connect about 50 or so properties, right? >> Um so we'll be sending we're still working on that with it, but um we'll be sending those out in the next few
months. And we're going to include in that letter about what to do if you're a hardship case or you have problems financially, where to go? >> Yes, we will include information on um getting uh funding from the county, etc. >> Thank you. So, >> but are are there hardship cases? I
mean, isn't everybody getting the money or a rebate and the $2,000 install? >> Only those who have to put in grinder pumps. >> Okay. >> Right. But on the the orders that go out, not everybody's going to fall into that category. So, >> okay.
>> Right. So, if they're gravity lines, then they don't get that extra $6,000. >> So, all right, that's done. >> All right. >> Got probably a minute or you just sat down. >> So,
>> let's see. Are there any comments or from the um audience? Anybody else? >> We don't have anybody online. Okay. >> And we lost our internet connection. >> This is the second time today we've lost internet connection. So,
>> all right. So, we'll do the reading of the minutes. >> All right. >> Any questions or changes? >> My agenda in there? >> No. Anybody else questions? I I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. >> All right. I'll second it. >> Second it. All right. Um, so
>> yes, approved. >> Approve. >> Approved. and I approve. So, the minutes are are accepted and approved >> and >> well, >> that's it. >> We do have We're back online, it looks
like. Oh, >> okay. >> Um, >> all right. Should we take a >> Does Does anybody online have any comments? We did just move to um lift the moratorum on grinder pumps. connections.
>> Hi. >> Hi, this is Ann Ryan. Uh, no I don't. I'm just listening in. Thank you. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for listening. >> All right. >> All right. >> All right then. We'll uh adjourn the meeting.
>> I'll make a motion. >> You'll make that motion. >> I'll second that one. >> All right. And I'll agree. The um the meeting is adjourned. >> Okay. I think that's all here. World record