Oh, we've been having a long conversation about mice. Um, >> I'm vacationing. >> It wasn't that long, Cat. >> Well, it was kind of long. Uh, so the recording is on. This is the board of
health meeting of uh May 20th, 26. And we are all here plus Claire. >> Um, >> congratulations, Claire. >> Congratulations. What what is the start date for the transition? >> July 1.
>> July 1. Okay. Thank you. >> Right. So, Norine has to come to a few more meetings. >> Uhhuh. >> Before she becomes a free woman. >> I don't have my notebook any longer though. I don't take notes anymore. >> Well, that's a good idea, right? That
would be less useful. How long have you been on the board, Nor? I think 14 or 15 years. >> Yeah. >> Well, it would have to be divisible by three, so it would have to be 15. >> Yeah, I think it's 15. >> Yeah.
>> Well, >> I finished someone else's term. As I recall, I was appointed by the select board and I finished someone else's term. >> Jackie K, maybe. >> Yeah, maybe. So, >> maybe.
>> Yeah. I don't I don't remember. I don't either. >> Anyway, anyway, let's get on with it here. >> Yeah. >> Um, the minutes of the previous meeting, did I send them out? >> I think so. I think I recall reading them. Yeah.
>> Are they okay? >> Yes. >> Problems. >> Shall we approve them? >> Yes. >> Anybody want to move to approve them? Uh, I move to approve the minutes of the
um meeting of May 6th. >> Second. >> Okay. Discussion hearing? None. Let's vote. Whim, >> yes. >> Arlene, >> yes. >> Garrett,
>> yes. >> Norine, >> yes. >> And Cat, yes. No surprise there. Um, before I do anything that's actually on the agenda, I got um I got an email just
now from Mike Thorough who's doing our inspection kinds of things and it was about I think let me check the exact address. um
53 West Pelum Road. Um there has been a a septic system installation and um Mike wants us to vote to issue the certificate of compliance.
Everybody has signed it except us. We don't usually do this, but since we've been asked to do it, and since we're trying to merge with the collaborative and kind of get into the same way of doing things, I
figured we might as well. So, this is 53 West Palm Road, septic system. Um, it must be a repair since it has a um an address. Do I hear a motion to issue the
certificate of compliance on the advice of Mike Thorough acting as our agent? >> So moved. Norine >> second Arlene. >> Okay. Any um any discussion on that
question? >> Just just a question. What is the difference that we're voting to issue the certificate is different from what we usually do. that >> usually I just go ahead and issue the certificate of compliance once um once certain conditions are met. Bill would
Bill would have called that acting administratively. So the the designer, the installer um and the agent all sign it and um and then it comes to us, >> right? So, we're doing it after
completely after the fact and everybody signs it versus what we were doing before was oftentimes giving you the okay to go ahead and do it. >> Right. This is this has actually been done I think it was done today because Mike was up here today. >> Yeah. I was just trying to clarify the difference. It's
>> and in the also to clarify in the past certificates of compliance have been issued by the inspector without a vote of the board. Am I right? >> No. What we have done normally is the board has issued the certificate rather
than the inspector and that go >> that goes back to the days of Charlie Kcki and Bill Elliot and um Charlie was issuing certificates of compliance on our behalf and Bill didn't feel like he was he was checking all the boxes
correctly in some way. I think it had to do with the watershed protection act or something. So we took that function back. Okay, >> we've had it ever since, but basically it's just a rubber stamp because we get all these other signatures.
>> Um, and so normally because all those conditions are met, I would just go ahead and issue it, >> right? >> Um, >> okay. >> I thought, okay, well, we can vote on this. No problem. >> Yeah. >> So, we haven't voted, right?
>> No, we have have just have the um the motion. This is discussion, >> right? Any further discussion? Hearing none, we will vote. Whim, >> yes. >> Arlene, >> yes. >> Garrett,
>> yes. >> Norin, >> yes. >> Cat, yes. Okay, so that's done. So, also on West Palm Road, we have a rather bizarre situation. Number 305.
um a guy, I can't remember who it was, some subject system inspector, and I think Neil Jackson was involved in it, and maybe he actually did the the inspection. Anyway, somebody sent me an email, as often happens, it says, "Can that said, what can you what information
can you provide about 305 West Palm Road because I'm going to do a Title 5 inspection?" and they are in fact required to to ask us for any information we can we can provide. So I
looked and I found in the database a failed septic system inspection report from 2008 and then nothing else. So we kind of dropped the ball on that and so did they apparently. So, what I've what I've
pieced together is that the family was in the middle of a divorce and presumably there was not a lot of communication and whatnot. In any case, nothing ever happened. So, Neil Jackson comes in now 16 years later, is it 18? I
don't know, long time later, and um does a title five inspection and finds that it works fine. >> Wow. I have no idea what to think about that or how it could happen, but possibly. >> Wow.
>> Possibly >> he's the guy I want to hire to inspect my system. >> Right. Right. Um >> Wow. My only guess about this is that
there were sort of local and um uh temporal conditions that >> made that system appear to be in a failing state and then instead of two people or more I don't know if there was a family there was only one person
living there and it kind of just >> got over it >> itself. Yeah. However, I told them um that I didn't want to all by myself accept this this inspection report since
it's so anomalous and that I wanted to bring it to the board and um and have us all vote on whether or not to accept it. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> What can you say which inspection is right? >> Well, you know, if one of them happened last year and one of them happened this year, that would be one thing, but that happened in 2008. >> Oh, those years ago. Yeah. >> And so, I mean, a lot of things could have changed and obviously did change
>> since then. So, you know, the inspection, the purpose of the inspection report is to tell whether the system works now. >> And it works now. And so I'm inclined to go with it.
>> I am too. Can we have a motion to Is it Well, first of all, before we moved, is there more discussion we want to have about that? >> How do you tell if it doesn't work? Like what are those signs of a failure?
>> Um there they can be um dramatic or not. There there can be backup into the house. There can be ponding where um liquid comes up from the from the se from the leeching field and and breaks
out into the open air. Um they usually uncover the debox and uh inspect it and that can be filled up. Um >> uh and that would be a thing that that part of it might be something that you
wouldn't see you know you wouldn't have a dramatic effect right but you would have a system of sort of imminent failure because the debox could be clogged >> and sometimes I think they actually will dig into one of the trenches and and to
inspect the trench and see if it's clogged right because if the basically what happens s in the normal course of things is that the the liquid gets washed out into the trenches and and is essentially
purified by contact with the soil. But if the system isn't pumped frequently enough, solids can get carried in there and then that clogs it and then >> then you're failed basically. Yeah, >> that's what I was wondering is is if
they hadn't done routine maintenance, if maybe that was the failure and then they got back on schedule and target with uh having it pumped and maybe that's why it's
now okay. >> That's plausible. >> Yeah, >> perfectly plausible. >> It it's the same uh owner as it was back at the time of the failure. Yes. Okay. >> Yes. There was a couple, maybe a family, I don't know, but one stayed and one
left and so there was less use and uh um just time went by and and the owner seemed quite surprised about this. I think it was one of those things where the maybe the divorcing
couple weren't really communicating. >> Surprised that it passed. No surprised that there was ever um a failed report was unaware of it or claimed to be unaware >> did not know about the failure saying at
least one person living there now is >> was also living there. >> Yes. >> In '08. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. It was a husband and wife and the wife is gone but the husband is still there and now he wants to sell >> and so he >> and he was surprised to hear there was a
failure. Okay. >> Yeah. He even asked who had done the inspection. Um he sort of had no idea what it was about because I reached out to him as soon as I found this and asked him. I thought maybe >> maybe they did a repair of some sort and it just didn't get into our records or
they did it >> sure >> secretly. But no, no, he had no idea what was going on. >> Interesting. Wow. A self-healing septic system. >> Awesome. >> I like it. >> I like it, too.
>> Yeah. If they could if they could market that, it would be a great >> Sounds like a lucky property. They should uh increase the asking price. >> Yeah. Right. >> Right. >> So, you're okay. I'm okay with
I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> I was saying do I hear a motion to accept this? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. Let's vote. Uh Norin seems
to have left the room for a minute. Uh Whim, >> yes. >> Garrett, >> yes. >> Whim, did I just ask you or Arlene. >> Yes, Arlene. >> I'm trying to go in the order of your pictures, but then I got confused.
>> Okay. And Cat. Yes. So, that also is unanimous. Um, speaking of weird Title Five inspections. Um, I we talked last time about the one at 80 Lake View where she has the the
leeching pit under the driveway and all that stuff. Um, I only just was able to get that title five inspection to Mike Thorough today. Um, uh, I sent it I copied it and I sent it to Megan, but it didn't arrive and, uh, so he came by and
picked it, actually picked it up today. So, we'll be hearing more from them. So, because it's been a little while, I sent a letter to the owner saying that we were we were having it reviewed and it should be considered neither passing or
failing at this point because we just don't know. >> So, it's under review? >> Yes. >> Okay. Claire, are you familiar with what we're talking about when we say title five? Okay, great.
Uh um Kat I have a quick quick question because I think we do get records of this too. Do you know if um that system has been cleaned out on a regular basis because that might be helpful information.
>> I think so, but I don't know right off the top of my head. >> I think it has been regularly pumped. I you know when I when I look for things in the database then all the different all the different entries show up
>> and so I get a sense that of whether they've been doing the pumpouts or not and I think that that is the case. >> Okay. >> I I would think so. I mean >> yeah. Yeah. And um if you remember she's got the the leeching pit that's for the
actual septic system and then she's got a separate dry well for the washing machine, >> right? which might might be up in the house or behind the house. >> And is this inspection because of an impending um transfer of title?
>> The house is for sale, but I don't know if there's any action on it. >> Okay. >> So, that's all that's going on with that. Um this thing about medical resources for
undocumented people. Um, I've told a couple of you this. I I ran into a former member of the board of health who had an experience seeing seeing people who were apparently undocumented
at urgent care. And when they were asked for their, you know, ID and insurance cards and things, there was this all this kind of, oh, I guess I forgot my wallet. I'll come back later. Um, and it was pretty clear to her that these
people didn't have documents and they were afraid. So, she she intercepted them and she gave them directions to the um community health center in um um in Ammerst. But she asked me if there is
not a list of places where people who don't have documents can go. So, so I asked Mag Children if she knew anything about it and she was at that time at some kind of nursing conference and she
said she was going to look into it and I assume she did but I haven't heard back from her yet. So, um, I'll keep you posted on that. >> And Okay. So, so assuming that we can lay hands on such a
list, what do you think would be the right use of it? >> I mean, obviously, we want to get it into the hands of the people who would need it. I'm not quite sure how how to do that.
>> Well, I think one way is to to make sure Sarah's aware of it. and she may know of some families already that we don't know of. >> Um maybe also make it known to the school, the school nurse, for example.
>> Excellent idea. >> Um >> yeah, >> maybe um let Lenny know too. He may come into contact with with families that you know he you know he knows
you know, could use some help or use a referral. >> Yeah, that's a that's a good thought. Um, possibly another thing we could do is is sort of publish publish the list on Next Door so that it would be widely available. >> Oh, that's a good idea. That's a really
good idea. >> Make it available to the library. >> Yep. >> The library. Yes, indeed. Good thought. And um someone who who is um lives very close to me and I know very well works
in Amoris for the Center for New Americans >> and um I can let her know. Um I don't know that any of her clients is a shoot resident, but I will find out about that. >> Okay.
>> Right. Um yeah. And I don't I'm not terribly concerned about, you know, limiting this in any way to Shootsbury residents. I just like to get the >> get the information together and and get it out there. If your if your neighbor um has information about this and maybe
there's a list that Senator New Americans has, >> okay, >> that would be useful. >> I will talk with her about this. Yeah. >> Great. It seems like it's probable that these target organizations
uh do their own outreach since that is their mission. I I'd imagine um like the community health center in Greenfield. >> Right. Right. But really I think the more
information that's out there >> Yeah. Oh, it's great. >> The the better. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I could I could ask the uh the community health centers if they have if they have more information, but I'll wait and see. I'll I'll get
back to Megan. She has not been very responsive in the last few days, and I think she's really overwhelmed. Excuse me. But, uh, I'll see if she if she turned anything up. And if not, maybe I'll put Jackie Catz, who was the person who brought this up,
I'll put her on it and have her make some calls. She seemed to be willing to do that. >> Good. Got to delegate. Um, so
do you guys have anything to tell me? Nope. >> No, no updates, no reports, no meetings. Garrett, you must have something to say. I saw you just unmute yourself. >> Yeah, so emergency management team met on Monday and so two items from that
that I think are important for us. Uh, one relates to the oil leak at the school. Um and so in the report out um that Haley gave on that, I asked her for an update on
previously there had been conversations around doing offering testing, well testing for uh the neighboring private wells. >> Um and so I asked her for an update on that. The contractors that are doing soil
testing and drilling of testing wells related to the oil leak on the school property have said that they want to get uh results back from the testing that they're doing there first before they
offer out to the uh neighboring public wells. So that's the update on on that part. Well, wait before you go on to the the next part, does do you have the sense that the idea is if the if the
results are negative on site, they won't um they won't expand their focus and and test other properties. >> That wasn't specifically said, but that is kind of my takeaway. Mhm. >> that if if they didn't see evidence
um from the testing that they were doing that there were issues that they probably wouldn't proceed with offering testing to the neighboring sites or the neighboring wells. >> That seems reasonable. So they're testing the soil and they're testing the
old well and the new well on the school site. >> I I believe so. >> Okay. >> Yeah. was my understanding from from that conversation. >> And uh they I think that the uh barrels that they
have of the soil that they're going to remove are still there. Um because they wanted to wait to do the additional testing to determine if they needed to do further >> further removal >> removal before they
>> took everything away. You may do it all at once. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> so that's for that'll be for the soil testing. >> Yep. >> Uhuh. >> And then the other conversation uh brings us to our favorite topic of
beavers. Um, and so there seems to be interest particularly uh by the uh fire chief and police chief to having the board of health and the conservation commission
and emergency management team have a joint meeting just to uh develop a really good understanding of not only the emergency trapping procedures and the permitting process but also conversation with the
conservation commission about when and to what degree they have to go to them to remove dams, beaver dams, you know. So if there is the start of a beaver dam, uh do they
need to get conservation commission approval just to go in and remove, you know, seven, eight branches, >> right? Yeah. When is it a pile of sticks and when is it a >> right? Um so there may be a request at
some point for us to meet jointly. >> I think that would be a good idea. >> Yeah. And uh Lenny's also been doing some work around, you know, trying to identify some proactive, you know, so whether it's the beaver
deceivers or other items that can be used to uh so that we don't have to go down this road all the time. I think I heard Howard Kinder say the other day that um the beavers are
being very quiet so far this year. And that may be because um uh so many of them were trapped out upstream in Wendell this winter, but I don't really know how many.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, who know who who knows how the uh dam work and the lowering of the water is going to impact behavior. So, >> right. There's that.
>> Okay. Well, yeah, I would be happy to to meet with them and kind of get our protocols because everybody everybody always seems kind of surprised >> when this happens. Excellent. Thank you, Garrett. Is there
is there more to tell from anybody? No. Sounds like not. Claire, I don't know if you have to wait until until July 1st. I I don't think you do, but you're going to have to you're going to have to sign a bunch of paperwork and be
given a bunch of paper on on about um open meeting laws and sexual harassment and ethics training and all kinds of stuff. >> So, I've already had to do it. So, I went >> Oh, you already done that? >> Yeah. They um basically told us
immediately like, "Hey, I'll be here at this time this week." So last week I went and picked up all the paperwork >> and signed a few forms and I still have to like I I have 30 days within that being sworn in to um do the um
one of the certificates. It might be the uh code of conduct one. There's the sexual harassment one, the code of conduct. There's um reading through the pamphlet on the town moderator information. So, I have all of that.
>> Okay, great. >> Setting up an email. >> Great. >> Right. It works. >> I just haven't gotten to it yet. >> Maybe open. Did you say open meeting law as well? >> I think so. >> That's Yeah, that's another Yeah. >> Yeah. Is that one of those online trainings? I can't remember.
>> I can't remember either. >> Yeah, >> they're all online now. >> Yeah, I know. I know the ethics training is. And uh um and I'm way behind on it. I did it and I got almost to the end and it I
lost it and somehow and I just haven't come through. >> I might be behind on something too. >> You Well, you know, I I I kind of object to it because it's exactly the same every year. They don't change anything. And do they really think that we've
forgotten >> how to be ethical? >> Yeah. It did seem like the sexual harassment one is extremely outdated. I think it's from 1997. >> Oh my gosh. Wow. >> Ridiculously outdated. Um >> Wow.
>> But like we have to do those trainings at work every year as well. So >> yeah. And >> but those get updated. >> So the ones you have you have at work get updated but ours is not. >> Yeah. And does is that is what you have
at work is that generated by the college or does it come from somewhere else? >> I think it's a third party pe uh group that the college works with. >> H oh I wonder why the
Well, I don't know if it's the state or the town that's not being caught up on this. If we ever get a a town clerk, maybe we can find out, but we probably aren't going to find out before that. All right. Anything else we need to talk about?
>> Okay. Well, why don't we adjourn? >> Okay. I'm just >> I'm just going to declare the meeting adjourned at 7:35. >> Okay. And we'll meet again, not until June, right? June 2nd, I think.
Something like that. >> Sure. >> Let me see. Let me check that out. Um, >> I think you're right. >> June 3rd. >> Yeah, June 3rd. >> Is anybody not going to be able to make that meeting?
>> I'll be here. Sounds like everybody can be as far as we know right now. All right. Well, I'll see you all then and >> Okay. And maybe we'll plan a party. My favorite agenda item.
>> Right. I am gone from June 19 through July 10th. >> I think just for party planning. >> Okay. Good to know. Anybody else have any travel plans that we should have in
the in the mix? Not that I ever remember. I have to ask every time, >> right? >> It'll actually come up, but I think June 15 or sorry, July 15th for me, the second meeting in July, >> I will be away.
>> Okay. Um, okay. July 15. So it'll be is that the date of it? July 15th, >> I believe. So >> calendar. >> Okay. So let me look at that for a second. So yeah, it's July 1st and July
15th. So presumably we can have those meetings on schedule. Uh sometimes because of the fourth we have to change it. Um and possibly we might change it anyway.
Um depending on what's going on. Mhm. >> Um because we we'll be meeting what the 3rd and the 17th. Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll see. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night.
>> Good night. >> Good night. >> Good night. >> Good night.