This is Terry Putnham and I'm calling the board of health meeting to order. And it doesn't look like and here present we have Erica Prrowy, Tom Hbert, Terry Putnham, Hayen Clemens.
Hello. Hi. How are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. And it looks like we have no public comment at this time unless there's nobody online. No, just Kaen and Cindy. Okay. And did we have a chance to review
last last meeting's minutes? Probably not much because I only got them out via email two hours ago. I apologize about that. We're back. So, this video call is now like a FaceTime. So, Jim's gonna have to edit
this. Yeah. from BNI. Lucky him. Um, yeah. So, what happened? The main laptop that they use here, the it became unplugged underneath the table and I got a I got like a low power notification.
So, I just adjusted the plug on the side of the computer and thought it was good and then the screen went black. So, and then once I fixed it, it did turn back on. So, I just got my laptop. So, here we are. Okay. I think we were at talking about
the review of minutes and and that that was a a nice little um nice little uh uh segment so that we could a silent segment so we could review the minutes. Yes. Does does um Erica, do you have any
changes to the minutes? I do not. Okay. Do you want to make a motion that we accept the minutes as written? Tom, you did well, you wrote them. Do you see anything that um you and Cindy see anything that needs to be and Kayn see
anything that needs to be changed? To give credit where credits do, Cindy wrote them, but uh but I do not I think they're good. Okay. So, can we have a motion? Um Erica Prrowy, uh I make the motion to accept the minutes from May 1st and Terry Putnham, I second. So, we
passed those. All right. All right. Since you're both in person, I think legally we don't have to do this, but just for a matter of so we know um
which minutes are the right minutes to give to the town clerk. If you want to sign these and then we know that they are legit. They used to do this all the time and
then we found out you don't need to do it. But um but this way makes it a little a little neater. I did it again. I am so sorry. There I keep spelling Erica's name wrong. It's
a K, not a C. I will get the hang of it. Like the soap opera star from long time ago. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. When we had time to watch those things. And it is 62 12.
Okay, Cindy, I will put these fancy ones in your folder if I can find it. Sounds good. There it is. And I guess it looks like
the next two agenda items are electing a new chair and then looking at the board of meeting board of health meeting day and time. I'm just wondering if we ought to table those until possibly um Trish gets on the line so that she has she has
some input in that. So, okay. I I do I hear a motion to move those to the end of the meeting so that we have potentially more input? Oh. Oh, sorry. I don't probably second. Um, technically you just say you second
and then we do a roll call and then you both say yes. You say your name and then say yes. Okay. Second. Okay. Okay. Eric. Terry Putnham. Yes. Erica. Yes. Okay. So, all righty. Then we'll go ahead with
the And you said Trish is not here. Yeah. And was is this her last? Okay. So, this is her neighbor. Yep. So, the May for the pre we get the report for the previous uh previous months. Okay. And Kayleen, any any Why don't we go to
you? Any general updates from the WHDU that that or not DU, but uh that's a mouthful. It is. Yeah, it is. Um, so a general update is we had our last meeting on Tuesday of this week, the 10th. Um, it was a very successful meeting actually. We're able to have all
six towns at the meeting, which is very rare. So, we were very excited about that. We were able to vote on all of our items. So, our work plan and budget are set for FY26, which is exciting. Um, we were able to switch the meeting days to nights and we're going to do quarterly
meetings just to try to get the most attendance because obviously we've struggled with that in the past. Um, so the nurses and I are excited for the work plan. I think we'll be able to do some good work. Um, so yeah, it was a exciting month actually. Well, good. And
and what time again on Wednesday? On those Wednesdays? Yeah, it's going to be se the second Wednesdays of the month at 5:00 PM. Um I believe it's going to be September, uh December, February, and June,
um is going to be the schedule. Okay. Second Wednesday at 5. Yeah. Yep. So, the next one I think would be September 10th, I want to say, at 5:00 PM, I think.
Yeah. Okay. Anything else? That's all I have. Do we have any questions of Kaylee? Um I did on while we're kind of on the the
public health district and uh nursing and everything and Kaen. Um I did want to just say we had the health fair last month. Yes. I think that was after our last meeting. I honestly can't remember. I don't know if we ever talked about Yeah, I was going to bring it up and I
was like, if we already talked about it, I'll feel bad. Yeah. No, I don't think we did. I think we talked about it at the grant at the district meeting, but not at this meeting. So, Oh, okay. Um, so that was a I would say a big success. Um Trisha and um I think kind of Trisha
led the charge, but um all three Kaen and Maryanne and Trisha did a lot of work and um the auditorium was full of vendors and there was a good number of people that came through as well. So, um, that was a big success and the
board, the advisory board decided that we would do it next year again in South Focus on some smaller events, having some smaller vendor like maybe at the flu clinics or something. But, um, there's so much so much less foot
traffic in the smaller towns that it doesn't really make sense to put all the work into doing a health fair. for example, in Montgomery where we wouldn't get that many people. So, would there ever be any need for like
actual like medical professionals to be at the health fair? Um cuz if there's some type of idea um I can always um I work collaboratively with a bunch of um MDs, PAs. Okay. Nurse
practitioners. So, I didn't know like depending on their needs, maybe grab one of the residents or medical students or thing. Yeah, that would be a question for for Trisha, but I'm sure there's something they could they could offer and or any outreach would be would be
great. So, and would that be something that we would also run past the physician that signs all the orders? Is that a um is that what he is that's all that he is contracted to do? Yeah. So pretty much our agreement with him is
exclusively to be the physician who oversees the the nurses. So we we maintain standing orders for vaccines um even though we don't have a vaccine program. Mhm. Um but you know in the
event of any sort of if epidemic if we needed there it didn't end up happening on a local level during COVID but we kind of keep that just in case if we had to do a um a mass vaccination clinic or something like
that. Um but so the only standing orders he reviews that we actually use is for the the blood pressure. Okay. But we we maintain the other ones and um TB as well. So we So these basically practice for them overseas. Okay. Yeah. So um so
not involved in anything yet? No. Okay. No. Um so I don't remember what I was going to say with that. Well, if I think of it, I'll come back to it. But um you only
um the for the advisory board since it is moving to Wednesdays. I do know that um Trish Leiniac had said for our for the board of health meeting she can only do Mondays and Tuesdays. Um so if that's
going to be on Wednesdays then she wouldn't be able to do that. So um if Terry is currently the backup for the advisory board and Sue was the primary.
Um, so I think if Trisha can't do Wednesdays, it would volunteer the two of you. Um, and the primary and the backup. Um, it doesn't totally matter. And I like I know some if it's
at five, if you're in a different time zone, it might not work. Um so so so we can coordinate that between yeah by default um for the most part I'm around. Okay. So if you guys So it makes sense.
Maybe you're the primary and then I can kind of told the whole Yeah. place I was primary. Okay. I'm good with that. Good. And u told I've been voluntto. And it's only quarterly too. So it's not
No, it's not a big deal. Okay. But Kaine, thank you for helping spearhead it being in the evenings. That's a whole lot better. And quarterly is a whole lot. Yeah. Yeah. What was it monthly? It was every other month. Before that it was So this this grant
was in existence before I started. I started I'm like two and a half years I've been here. Um, so this grant was in existence, but it they had just got the money and then the previous health director left, right? And then they had
the health director who had just retired came back to help out. They got a new health director. He was only here for like I want to say like eight months if that. And he was only part-time and then he didn't want to go full-time when he
was done school so he left. And um so that we had this grant this whole time, but it was like too many hands. So it was um they did hire the nurses when the previous director was here. Um but
it was like the Southwick Board of Health was doing everything for the grant. The advisory board was never set up even though that's how the the state like has it supposed to be. So um It's a grant by the state or by the federal
government. It's a DPH grant. So, um I think some of the funds indirectly come to us through the feds. Um so there's the grant goes through we have two more fiscal years.
So it goes through FY27. Mhm. Um, so hopefully there's I mean obviously everything's up in the air with all the federal funding, but um it feels safe though until FY27.
I think after that it will be a little bit interesting, but we'll see. Right. But the state the state has invested so much into the infrastructure for the grant. Um, so it's run through the DPH Office of Local and Regional Health. Um,
and like during COVID, that office was like five people and I think now they have a staff of like 40 something. So, um, so they've there the state is really committing to the shared service districts. I think there's three
as of like last year there was like 329 out of 351 cities and towns in Mass that are part of a a shared service district. So um so they're trying to instill confidence if I mean if when push comes to shove if they don't have the money
because they're not getting any money from the feds then who knows what they're going to do but um I think they there's a very high interest in keeping this going. So, okay. Um, hopefully it it won't face too much uncertainty after the contract term ends and they'll keep
renewing it, but um I guess nothing is for certain. So, I think we just have to deal day by day. Yes. Yes. But for it seems like for in the meantime, we're safe for the upcoming year. We got our full fund from
300,000 that we got last year. So, um so we should be good. Good. Um, and so if one of you wants to make a motion for our I think you could just do one one vote for primary and secondary.
Okay. Do you want to move that you be primary and I be secondary? Um, I make a motion that I am the primary representative for WHCPHD and
Terry Putnham. You second and I second that. All in favor? Terry Putnham. I Erica I. Okay. All right. Perfect. So it shall be. That was a success. Okay. Um, and
then so we want to move on to old business. your fog regulation or do you have anything else under the western Mass um public health? I think I just want to take a quick second if anybody wanted to even know Trisha's not here but um just want to
take a quick second to look at Trisha's report and this is I think added to the minutes. So is this not a good time for Trisha? Um I think it usually usually is. I think she just happened to um because we
switched our week, she happened to have something to stop the bleed. Yep. Yeah. FOG is that oil. Yes. Fats, oils, and grease. Lovely. Yes. So, I we've kind of tabled
that um just because we hasn't been my highest priority, but I know um Randy Brown, the DPW director was interested in um getting something passed. Um but I think I can it was in the paper so I
can say it. Um Randy Brown just accepted the job in Westfield. Um, so I think that it would make sense to table that until there's a new um I'll I'll probably I'll
just take it off the agenda. Um because Randy and I had talked a little bit like a year or so ago about it and um and he had some ideas. But
um another you can do so legally wise um there's town bylaws which have to go to town meeting and the town has to approve um there's also board of health regulations
um which have to be um reasonable the board the law allows boards to make reasonable health regulations um and those are just we have there's steps we have to follow uh public hearing and this and that which we we just did for the tobacco. Um and I think
you were coming to the meetings at that point. So um we're all a little familiar with that process but um it but that is just you follow the notification and hearing process and it's just a vote of the three board members and you can pass
a regulation for the for the town. So throughout the state, um it's probably like 5050 for the towns that have a fog, whether it's a board of health regulation or in some towns it is a um
a town bylaw or a city ordinance. Um, so that that is something that it's the the tiein to board of health is the restaurants. Yep. Um cuz it's the restaurants that need the grease traps
and all that. Um but then it goes into the to the town sewer system. So um I don't think many of our restaurants are on septic. Um so so it's kind of different towns. it makes different
sense to do it a different way. So, um, so I think that one I'll take it off the agenda and then whenever the whenever the new DPW director whenever that happens, um, hopefully it's not the Westfield's been using an interim DPW
director for about 5 years. So hopefully it's not that long here in South. But um, but I think, you know, I don't I wouldn't want to pass go with what Randy wanted and then have someone new come in and not not be in agreement with it. So,
um so I'll take that off the agenda for now. Um and then another we're talking about regulations. The next one on on my to-do list um which I think we've talked about a little bit would be updating our well
regulation. Um, so that that one's a little up in the air, too. Um, because the there's a draft regulation which we could use. Um, and
I'm just trying to summarize what we had talked about a few meetings ago. Um, the the hangup on the draft regulation is it creates the requirement for wells to be tested at time of sale. um which is similar to what we do for
septic. Um but that would just be an increased um an increased burden in like for myself and for Cindy and Karen to just track that it's actually been done
and make sure we know who people are doing it. And um not every house that's on septic is on well and vice versa. Um so I wouldn't want to pass something that
we can't reasonably enforce. And was it there's some requirement that they be tested periodically if I remember correct? Yes, that was as well. It was I think every for rentals they had to be tested every year and then for every house it was a cert. I don't remember
exactly what it was, but it was going to be kind of cumbersome. Yeah. And there's a good number of wells in town, it's so it's not, you know, in some towns with mo mostly city water, it might not be a big deal, but um but that would be a lot of track. Maybe once it's up and running
it would be smooth, but the process to get there could be pretty tough. Um, so I was thinking of um maybe we could take some of those things out. But then the other kind of variable that's um out
there is the state um there's been a push from some private like statewide advocacy groups. Um, and there's been, I think, a bill passed for DP to study um, what it would take to
pass a statewide well regulation, which would be similar to what we title five is the septic regulation. So, um, that process will probably take a few years, but, um, depending on how we feel about it, how
our well rag is currently and compared to the model rags, maybe we want to, um, get a better idea of what the state is going to do first. So, do we have a good idea about what the rest of the state does? Um, what other towns do? Yeah, I
think so. I I t I asked around. I don't think a lot of um I don't think many towns have adopted the latest model which had is the one that has all the requirements for testing. Mhm. Um,
so I was hoping there'd be more towns that had adopted it and either either to get some reassurances from them of, oh, we did it and it really wasn't that bad or um or if they, you know, just the exact
language of what they took out and what they replaced it with or um or whatever. So, um, so that one it but it I think we need to do something because our regs are I think they're based off of like the
1999 model wellre rags. So, um it's not consistent with the um the state well drillers are licensed by the state u and there's guidelines for the well drillers to follow when they're drilling wells.
Um, so they're supposed to follow those, but our rags aren't 100% consistent with the guidelines and um and like what the chemicals to test for aren't consistent. So um so I think it
definitely should be we should do something. Um but I think it will be a little bit of a challenge to figure out what's best. Okay. So um so we'll talk about that at future meetings. Yes. Yes. That will be
an ongoing I'll I'll replace fog with well. Um so my my report so one note on the um on
the agenda and the and my report um I I kind of did it this week because I was just I had Monday was my first day back and I was slammed um just trying to get everything done. So I just put my report and then had it as a separate document
so I would have a little more time to um to work on it. But um and I've done this once or twice um but the way the way Southwick has always done the agendas and like listing every single um
inspection and all of that. Um I've I had just been doing it because that's how Southwick had done it previously. Mh. Um, and I think that's a relic of I think even like 20 maybe 30 years ago,
the board of health members were doing a lot of the inspections themselves or the the they didn't have a health director, they had a contractor who so that it kind of made sense at the time. Um, but most other towns that the agendas that I've looked at, they don't go through
every agenda item. And like one thing, especially with the housing cases, I don't one thing I don't like about doing it that way is um you know, you put the address on there and just because someone has a housing inspection, it does, you know, people jump to
conclusions and are going to think condemnation or it's terrible, but um and I'm going to drive by and see what right, right? So I and it we the town puts the agendas on online. So you can
you can Google you know the address and it's going to come up that it was on a board of health agenda. So I you know it's maybe a bit of a stretch but I'd hate to for someone to see that and I don't want to shame anyone. That's not what we're about. So, um, so I I'm if
you guys are okay with it, I think I'm going to try to keep it a little less information on the agenda and then I'll send you the report. Um, which legally the report is still public record if someone wanted to see it. Um and then and then if there was a if there is a
housing case that rises to the level or a restaurant that rises to the level of we need to do enforcement or condemnation or anything like that then in that case it would go as an agenda item. But um for the ones where you know
there's a leaky faucet and the landlord didn't fix it and or the tenant wasn't happy with it. I hate to have that on there. So, I think there's a couple that we talked about, adnauseium that you had to keep revisiting and revisiting and then the the RV, right? Um issue would
would bear talking about, but but no, I mean, if if there's nothing that I think if you have to visit a couple of more than a couple of times, we probably need to talk about. Okay. That would be my feeling. Yeah. Great. Um Yeah. So, the
the RV, that one, I've got to follow up with him because I had sent him a letter and then I got back a certified card for a meeting in March, which we ended up cancing. Um, but I do know he he's working on his building, his uh gas
and electric permit. So, um so I don't he hasn't done everything yet. As far as I know, he's not staying there, but I don't maybe he is. I don't there's impossible to prove it one way or another, but um but I know there's still progress there. So, I'll follow up with
him and maybe maybe we'll have that on the agenda for the next meeting. Okay. Um just so you're aware, there's a um house Well, yeah, there's a a house on um North Longard. Um there's actually
two lots. the gentleman that owns the house and the land there. One of the h one of the lots is just vacant and it's like land that um I don't know if it's technically agricultural but there's work to be done. He lives out in Eastern
Mass. He parked an RV there and um wanted to to be able to to stay there. Um, so normally you can't um do that, but you can get permission from the
board of health for temporary housing, right? Yeah. Yeah. And then and because it's because it's intermittent, um it might be it might be feasible. So, um I kind of told him what he would need to
do and I haven't heard back from him directly, but I know he's been in communication with the building department. So the biggest thing was illegal water connection and illegal uh electrical connection. So um because at
at first we got the call and there was a um a tank buried in the ground for the septic Mhm. and uh a garden hose run over and electrical cord run over. So I went with the bill from the house. So he
owns I think I trailed off before I explained that. So there's two lots that are um adjacent. One has a house which he owns, but he has a tenant there. Okay. Um so and then there's the lot with all the land on it. So the RV
wasn't parked too far from the house. So it was running from the house which he owned. Um but it just was not obviously an ex buried extension cord and garden pose is not uh is not legal. So, so he
disconnected that and al there was also an issue where where the RV was parked, it was like right in the property line with another neighbor. Okay. So, we were like, you can't be like, you're just going to make your neighbor unhappy. You can't be that close. Like, that's always
going to be a problem. Um, so, so he moved it and he's working on the on the connections. And then the septic, he he says he only uses it like a weekend or two a month, possibly even less than
that. Um, so if it's that infrequent, he can just use the tank on the RV and then as long as he keeps records of how he gets rid of it, whether some a truck comes to pump it out or if he drives it to the treatment plant in Westfield or
whatever he does, um, then I would be okay with that as long as he's keeping records. We don't want him he legally he can't I I guess it'd be safe safer but um legally he shouldn't be putting it into
the septic system for that um for the house there and then obviously you don't want them just dumping it out on the on the ground. So is this the same RV that I've seen like parked behind in I don't think so. I don't think this one really moves. Okay. So,
um, so, so that's, so that's that one. Um, but I got to follow up with him. Um, so anyway, that all being said, I'll get into my report. Um, so I did the second
page. I included uh this. This is a summary from our e-ermitting. Um, and I'm not sure if that's permit applications and payments
and issued. Okay. So, it won't always line up perfectly with what's um monthtomonth, you know, they'll apply and then it'll be sometimes a week or two before it's
issued and all that. But um but that's going pretty well. Um every month there's some new problem. Um but the company's been okay about responding and and getting things fixed. So it's getting uh getting better. So does it
look like it it looks like that it's about 5050 for those that are using online and those that are coming in or mailing something? Yeah, I think so. Okay. Um, some people just like to Yeah. do the check and put I don't blame them. And
they it it does say the it charges the permit fee plus I think the fee I think the fee depends on your credit card. So sometimes it's makes sense. I I remember seeing one one person had like included their receipt
and it said it was like 95. I've seen one that was like $5. So, it's not okay. Not a not a deal breaker, but um but some people are just want to pay as little as possible and I don't I don't
blame them. Yeah. So, especially now, right? So, um so that's going pretty well. Um parks were pretty slow in May. I think part of that was because I was gone, but they're definitely picking up now. I've
got two tomorrow. Um, I did a few housing inspections. Um, a couple were just exterior like traffic complaints. Um, sent the letter, got quickly resolved, and um, and I went back and it
was good. Um, another at uh, 440 College Highway, apartment A, I got another I previously done one at C, I got another complaint. Um, and there was a couple minor issues, but it wasn't bad. I think they had um talked to the tenants in the
other unit and kind of got a little uh a little nervous, so they they decided to call me, but they did. There wasn't anything too too bad in there. And um and the landlord is working on the other apartment, so I I have to do a
reinspection um hopefully tomorrow, but if not, next week. Um and then I got a couple other cases that have been lingering for a little while. um one at the housing authority and I reached out to the tenant to schedule reinspection.
I didn't hear back. So, um I've either got a pester the tenant a little more or go to the landlord. Um and then yeah, I think one on one down on 59 College Highway. So, um so I'd like to get those
closed out. Um we've done a couple mobile food inspections and all of the swimming pools have been opening up. So all of them except um Southwick acres.
Um so the the we permit um public pools and semi-public pools. So we don't have any true public pools, but there's one pool at the condos off of Powdermill. Um, Ridge, Ridge View, South View, South View Terrace,
um, one at the Pioneer Valley Campground, formerly Sodom Mountain Campground, and one more at the apartments on um, Point Grove. I can't draw like on the name of the
apartments, but um, those Captain No on Feeding Hill. Uh, Yeah. No, I don't. Yeah. Now that I'm trying to think of it, it's going to be even harder to think of it. So, um but they So, I did all those three and then
the um the Southwick Acres campground on College Highway, they um they always tell me they're they're 55 and older, so they none of them want to swim. You know, all the other places
have kids, so they're they want to open like Memorial Day weekend. And uh and that place they're like, "Eh, we're we're no one's swimming here anyway until late June or or July even." So um so I haven't inspected that one yet. I don't I don't know if they probably by now they're working on getting it open,
but is that a year round campground or Yes, I think both the campgrounds are are year round. Yeah. So there's um Pioneer Valley Campground is right on College Highway. Yeah. Across the street. So, it's across
the street and kind of up the hill. And then the other one is um on South Lumis Street. Um it is it was for a long time it was called Sada Mountain Campground, but they recently got new ownership and changed their name. So, um so they are
Pioneer Valley Campground. Um then that you would other than the sign you don't you can't see anything from the road cuz you you see the driveway and it's halfway up the mountain um where the campground is. So
uh that one I think they both scale back dur obviously during the the winter but they I think both of them do have some people that do use it year round. Um so but yeah so all the pools were good.
Um, one of them, one of them their chemicals were way off, so I had to go back. But, um, but they got it, they got it fixed and I got to take Kaine out to that one um to train her a little bit. Um, but they had to
the there's two chlorines you test. You test for free and combined chlorine and then the combined chlorine was like really high. It's supposed to be like 0 to 0.2 2 parts per million. So, in order to get rid of it, you have to jack the chlorine
way up and then it um does I don't remember the name of the reaction, but it does something and it brings the combined chlorine down. And the free chlorine is what you want to kill the kill the bacteria. So, um so that and I've been doing pool inspections for
almost 10 years and that was the first time I'd ever seen anyone have to do that. So, it was kind of neat. Um and I was glad to that Kaylee got to be part of it, too. Um 256 College Highway. That is the property.
Um actually it abuts the campground. Um Oh, with all the cars. So that's vacant. Uh well, it's actually it looks like it's one lot, but there's a vacant house in the front. Yeah. Which is a separate
lot and then the back and the back the back is all the cars. So it's separate ownership between the two lots. So, the house is vacant. Um, and unrelated to this, I did a I witnessed a perk test there, and I think they're planning to
knock that down and build another building there. Um, with the where the vacant house is. Yeah. Building, not a house, but like a uh I think another apartment. I think they're going to it's going to be I think based on the planning regs that that house was four
units so I think they have to build or they can only build another four unit but I think they're planning to do another um 4unit apartment building um and then so 256 is a separate um separate ownership separate lot and that
was at one point it was a dairy um and then this guy's had it for I don't know how long and it's just been accumulating cars and junk. And um so how this came up um this predated both Kyle and I and
um we got us a notice for a court hearing. Um so the court was going through their old cases and was dismissing having hearings and dismissing anything that they didn't need anymore. Um, so we got the notice
for the here. They basically didn't think any was going to show up and they were going to dismiss it, but we were like, "What is this?" So, we looked back in the records and um it they had been somewhat active with trying to do some sort of enforcement from like 2009
up until 2019 and then it was it was like rescheduled for April 2020. So they they extend they cancelled the hearing because of COVID and then I don't think they were setting
follow-up dates and then by the time by the time the courts were back open the health and building inspector who had previously dealt with it were gone and Kyle and I didn't know about it. So, um, so we got the town town attorney
involved and we went and, um, we met with the magistrate and and the, um, the owner was there and, uh, we What was that complaint? Just um that the Did you even see it? Yeah, the hundreds of cars.
Not hundreds. There was probably close to a hundred cars. Wow. Uh but just all the cars and junk and um it's not it's basically a junkyard and it's not zoned to that. So it was um a little bit more of a building zoning complaint with the
court than a health complaint, but there was some health violations as well. Um so we the court decided not to um not to dismiss it, which we were happy about. Um and then we came up with a whole
timeline um of first step was to get rid of the cars and then there's a lot of like trailers and um shipping containers and things like that. So the next step is like metal stuff. Yeah. So the next step is those and then there's two
buildings. Um one of them is like a cinder block building and like the roof is caving in but it looks like the walls seem to be holding up. So, that building maybe could be saved. The other building was like a sheet metal uh garage barn
type building and that is like the whole front of it is gone. And there's the um corrugated sheet metal panels for the roof that are like there's always like a loose one like flapping in the wind that um half the roof is missing. So, that
one probably just needs to come down. Um, so, so first it was cars and then the other kind of junk and debris and the trailers and then the buildings and then and then I think he has to do an
environmental audit to make sure there was no like chemical spills and all that leakage. Um, over what time? So the first the first the whole thing is to be done by next March. The first deadline
was end of May for the cars. Um, so I went on the 29th and there was still he had done more than I expected to be honest, but um, there was still like 20 cars. Um, so the in that court first court
case or hearing, they had scheduled a follow-up hearing for this coming Monday, the I think the 16th. Um, so I I told he was like, "Oh, I've, you know, had a wasn't had a medical thing. I wasn't able to get everything done." And I was like, "I can't extend anything,
but we're not having a hearing until the 16th." So, I might as well come back out right before the hearing to see what, you know, if he is able to get it done, then great, and we can move forward. But, um, if he isn't, then what happens? So, um
I think there's a few different options legally. Um but I think probably the one of the front runners would be to um we can petition the court to appoint a receiver. Um and then the receiver would
kind of take control of the property, clean it up, and get it back to some usable status. And then at the end of that process, he would have the option to um
pay back whatever, you know, the receiver has to keep track of what the expenses were and I think there's like a set percentage that they can um they can add on to it for their, you know, time and efforts and everything. And then um
so he he would have the opportunity to to pay that back and take the property back or if he didn't elect that option that it becomes the property of the receiver. Um so they can they could auction it or or whatever. Um so that's
pretty su that's been a pretty successful program. Um it's the um I don't know if because of all the history on this one, I don't know if we would, but um a lot of times the AG's office will do a lot of the leg work. Um
there's actually one right where are we right there on Depot Street on the other side of those trees. The the green one part of it's like or caving in. Yep. The barn. There's like a barn or garage that caved in. So, that one um we're actually
going to be talking to the AG's office and starting that process. Um but the because this one's already in court, I don't know if the town might have to pay the town attorneys to handle that one rather than using the AG's office, but um
but uh but it's a pretty pretty successful program. Um then I don't know I don't know what the other remedy cuz part of it is building building violations and zoning violations. So um
so I don't know exactly what will what will happen with that but um but the hearing is Monday and I I think Nicole um the town administrator and the um the attorney uh Mark Beglane uh will be
there as well. So, um, so I kind of I just I get I have the fortunate position of I can just tell them what I saw and then they they deal with the rest. So, um, and then I did a um, HCHC, which is the
Hampton County Health Coalition, um, did a workshop on, uh, risk communication. So it was for uh we did like a scenario of a um chemical spill in a river and then like did like mock messages of what he would put out
to the public and um and things like that. So that was that was pretty informative and it was just like a morning so it wasn't didn't take up too much time but um that was a good learning experience and um so this week has been a little
crazy. I'm still catching up from being gone for a week. Um, and have some subject plans and permits. Um, one thing I'm looking forward to is the
um, the wick is the end of the month. Um, and anytime I log into our e- permitting system, I won't issue those permits until after I've inspected, but there's like 10 different food vendors who are going to be doing the event. Is
the wick the south again? The Oh, no. The wick is the motocross. Oh, okay. Um, so there's So all the food vendors um when I log into the system, it looks like we have a million um permits that haven't been reviewed or
issued yet, but it's a lot of it. Um there's some from me being gone for a week, but a lot of it is just those ones that I won't issue until the day before the event when I do the inspections. So, um, so that'll be nice to have those
gone and processed in the system and not every time I log in, I'm like, "Oh my god, I have so much to do." And then I'm like, "Wait a minute, it's not that bad." But, um, and those will show up in your e- permitting stats as well when they're done. Yep. So, some there's different
different reports I can print from there. So I I think they've probably already showed up in here because they've this has applied. But I guess that once I issue it, they would show up there as well. So it would be under mobile food or uh most of them are temporary food.
Okay. Yeah. So and then um and then one other thing Kaen that we forgot to say. Um, so the board um I think LA two months ago, yeah, the
advisory board um voted to allow um Kaen to do um inspections as part of her job. Wow. Um so I've been taking her out to more inspections. Um and then they also added it to her job description. Um, so
the idea isn't she's going to be doing like becoming a full-time inspector. Um, but um, we want to get her get her trained. Um, and that way especially mean I could use the extra help a little bit all the time just because it's
difficult to keep up with all the restaurants and everything else. Um but also the the five smaller towns have um you know a one part-time health agent. Um for example, I I happen to also cover
the town of Montgomery. Um I do that separate on my own time, not when I'm working in Southwick. And it's uh I probably there's one restaurant um in like seven or eight years I've been doing it. I've had like three housing cases
and uh maybe five to 10 perks a year. So most of the towns are that's Montgomery is one of the smaller towns, but most of the towns are kind of along that that level. Um so but if you know like I I just went
away and nothing happened in Montgomery and um and I got lucky, but none of the towns really have much of a backup. So, um, so the thought is I can I can probably in South I can use Kaine a little more regularly and get her
trained. Um, but then the the other part would be if the health agents in any of the other towns leave or just don't happen to be available um it would give those towns another option. Um, so and
is that for perks and also restaurant inspector? Is that for for all of the going out? I we did it we kept it vague. Um it will be eventually be for everything as Kaen has trained. Um so
she's taken more trainings for housing, um pools and and food. Septic would probably be like the last. I think he's saving the fog stuff for
you, Kayla. Yes, I know. I'm a little afraid of that. a fat bath. Yeah. Yes. Um so the she can some of the septic stuff you can do without the training. Um but the the training is like the soil
evaluator. So when we do a perk test and I'll be happy to as we talk we're talking earlier happy to take you both to a perk test and a a system inspection. Um, but what we the thing we look at with the perk test is the the main part is you dig a hole, you pour
water in the hole, and depending on how quickly the water drains, it determines how big the leech field needs to be. Um, and then the other thing we look at is you dig two deep holes. Um, you try to get down to 10 ft deep and based on the
coloring of the soil, um, or sometimes you actually see water coming in, um, but you can tell what where the high ground water is. So there's bottom of the septic system is supposed to be 4 ft above the um estimated seasonal high
ground water. Mhm. Um so the the course to be able to either do the work privately or to um technically for the board of health it a lot of times if there is high groundwater people will ask for a variance.
I don't remember the last time I saw a screen saver that is like That reminds me of like Windows 2000. Um, but sorry. Um, so you can ask for a variance for
reduction in groundwater. Um, so that's for technically for the board of health. That's the only thing that the training allows you to do. Um, in the hill towns there is a lot of high groundwater. So,
if Kaylee didn't have a soil evaluator, they probably wouldn't want her witnessing perks because um but I think there's going to be a lot of cases where people wouldn't be happy that they couldn't um cuz sometimes you can only ask for a one foot reduction in most cases. Um but sometimes that's the
difference between needing a pump and not needing a pump. Um which is can be thousands of dollars and then also your electric bill after that. So, um you like a sump pump. Yeah. So the um basically but just for some pump but for
your sewage um so you have to have an extra tank and then the pump is in the tank and um so that's that's a a significant added expense um to your to installing a new
septic system. self. Um, so I'll I'm planning to do what I can to train her on on everything and um and I'll get her as familiar as I can with septic. Um, but ultimately she'll need that training
eventually. So, um, and then I forgot I slipped my mind. I had talked about it with her. Um, I wanted to put it on the agenda for this meeting to um, so the the regional board um,
allowed her to do that. Um, but each individual board will need to appoint her as an agent so she can actually act on their behalf and do um, inspections. So, um I I don't think it's an is because I I think in the next month I'll probably
just be taking her out and training her, which is she doesn't need to be appointed for that. Um so um hopefully at the next um the next meeting we can put that on the agenda and um and you can appoint her as a as
an agent of the board in Southwick uh which would allow her to do um to do inspections here. Okay. So that is and then the one last thing is the building inspector's last day was
yesterday. Um and although we share space um but we we are separate departments but we share space and um so Karen is the full-time secretary. Um, so she is primarily for building, but because she's there full-time, she helps
us a lot with our day-to-day phones and things like that and does some processes some of the payments and and all that good stuff. Um, and then Cindy or um, Cindy's helping out for now. Um but we
had another another person who was like 10ish hours um who was just for board of health does the meetings and then does all of our um all of our permits. Um, so with with the building inspector
Kyle gone, um, normally that wouldn't really affect the health department, but because we share staff and space, um, I think that will be, uh, a bit of an extra burden for the time being, um, just because there won't be anyone to
answer all of the building calls and do the building inspection. So, I think there we might have some unhappy people who need a building inspection and you know, we can't uh can't do that for them. So, um but this is all recent. I think I know uh Nicole and Naen are
working on getting something set up for the for the interim and then obviously to get a permanent replacement. So, um, so hopefully it won't be too much extra, um, on our behalf, but, um, but if you do hear of any, uh, unhappy people
trying to reach the health department, um, that could be why. So, um, and it's 706 and no,
no, Trish is not all in. Yeah. So, if we want to go back to that Yeah. discussion. We could always if we want to make sure she is um you know part of the decision
we could always do like a temporary and revisit it or um she did for at least for the meeting um day and time she did email me um have we officially changed the day and time or No, we were going to talk
about this meeting. Okay. I think she just gave what what days were better for her. Yeah. So she said um Mondays and Tuesdays um but as in the o the other days
um she didn't have any particular time. Nope. No. So, um, Monday, the 1st and 3rd Monday, the select board, um, meets and I think Com
as well. Um, planning meets on Tuesdays and they're kind of I don't think they have they meet two days a month, but I don't they kind of jump around. They don't they don't have a set. Um
I don't think that's an issue though. They planning always uses this room cuz they usually draw a crowd. Um we rarely draw a crowd. There are two other meeting rooms. So I I think um
with Monday might be tough because there's always concom and select board that meet. Um but I think I would be okay. And I also wouldn't prefer Monday because it's nice to have like a little bit of time in the week to get ready for
the meeting um for myself and usually if I'm traveling I travel on Monday. You travel on Monday or Monday. So So that would probably So Tuesday about with you Erica does any you got any first of all? Yeah. Okay. And and or I think the the
the most concern of mine was the time right? Um uh because if I'm in California, six o'clock is I'm I'm just that's three o'clock there. Oh, right. And it's it's tough to finish up and get back to the hotel room. Okay. Um but I c
you know certainly can can you know I'll try to adjust. Okay. But um I mean what you're you drive how far to get home? Uh half an hour. And I don't mind it's it's only once a month so it's not okay. That's not a huge uh would it be a
burden? And I'm throwing that out because I, you know, we're not it's not all about me and my schedule. I do that by choice. Um would 7 o'clock is 7:00 too late or can we split the difference and say 6:30?
I'd be okay with 6:30. Seven might seven might be a little late for me, but um but 6:30 wouldn't be because a lot of meetings were less than less than an hour lately at least. Mhm. Um we're just And I think with this
organization, I think that the the way your your new kind of organization, I think that may be a trend that that we see. Okay. That it might not an hour, you know, I'd love if we could keep it to an hour. Yeah, that's my that's usually my goal.
Well, I you know um if if we want to do this like gradually, if you want to say Tuesday and we keep it at six, um with once a month, I I could try to arrange my schedule, but sometimes I get sent different places without a lot of warning. Okay. Um so that would be the
only thing. Okay. Um yeah, it's up to I'm okay with whatever. It's up to you. What would work for you? Um, ideally not too late either. Your kids and the people who if I need somebody to watch my kids so I can come here. Yeah. They
like to go. So, um, yeah. 6 or 6:30. Yeah. Yeah. So, should we should we try Tuesday and stick with six for now and see because you're not necessarily going to be in California every month. No, you
could be anywhere. kind of heavy deer right now, but not everybody. And then if um if Tuesday works for Trish, then with for a while that for the past year, if uh if you couldn't make it to a meeting, we didn't have a quorum because
Trish could almost never do Thursdays. So, um, so if we did Tuesdays, you know, even if worst case scenario, if you weren't going to be able to make it in time, if you were if you were in the wrong time zone, um, we'd still have a quorum at least. So, and I'm thinking
if unless I'm traveling or in California, you know, I should be able to do that. Yeah. And then if if we know, so the the agenda um has to be posted 48 hours before the meeting. Um so if
if we know you know if even if you get short notice if you find if you know a month in advance at the previous meeting we can just discuss and we can always change our meeting another day too. Um but even if it's um you know a week before the meeting um if you you know
let me know hey I wouldn't be able to be there until you know 6:30 or could we switch to another night or whatever. Um, you know, I could reach out to the other board members and Sure. We could we could do something that way. Um,
so, so why don't we go or or I I I move if if I can. So, move that we try Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. And now, do we need to give the town any any um notice that we're switching days? Um, I'll office
though. Yeah. Okay. So, it'll be Tuesday, July 1st. We probably don't want to do that month. I mean that that now was there also not and I could be speaking out of turn. Did we take a month off or whatever during the summer
or did we keep I know we used to be two times a month and that was really laborious. We we can't do that. It was um so maybe that's what I'm thinking about that we just kept it as is. Yeah. Yeah. We went to one a month for the summer. But um that was wonderful. But
yeah, I mean we could um I Trish actually said she was available the third which was our Thursdays. Um I I mean we could we could also say we're going to be the second, third or fourth week. I mean historically the board was
the first and third and when we went to one week we just stuck with the first. Um but we we could also I'm actually in town on July 3rd too. If Well, if we did Tuesday, that would be the the first. Oh, sorry. Which is fine. That I'm I'm here that day, too.
I'm here that week. So, I'm I'm How about you? The first works better for me than the third or the eighth. So, we Why don't we not Why don't we change it and and just stay in the in the right in the same cycle. Perfect. So, first Tuesday.
First Tuesday. Tuesday, July 1st. And we're going with six. Yep. 6 pm July 1. And maybe we touch bases after about, you know, four months, five months, maybe even six months to see how
it's going. Perfect. All right, that sounds good. And you'll communicate all of that to Trish. Yep. Yep. That should be good. And be nice to have all three. Yeah. You don't know how to You don't know how to handle yourself
with all three of them in the room at the same time. Yeah, we'll be good. So, um, but what about the chair? So, oh, did we vote? Did you I move motion? I move that we uh move to the first move that we
move uh to the first Tuesday of every month starting in July and go and remain at 6 pm. Second. All in favor? Terry Putnham? Yes. Erica Prrowy, yes. All right.
Um, and then for our new our new chair, uh, I think I guess kind of the standard, uh, and most the way most boards do it, uh, there's no rule, but usually it's
the most tenured u member or and then sometimes they rotate every year. Um, so that would be that would be you, Terry. Um, and if you so I guess you wouldn't be able to make
the motion. Um, or if you want to discuss or if you want to wait until we have a full meeting. Um, I think you were the vice chair before. So, I think kind of by default you're in the meantime you're serving as the chair. So, um, however you guys want to handle
that. Maybe save it for next. If you feel comfortable, you can you can move. You can make a motion. I make a motion to make to have Terry Putman be the chair or to help and I second. All right. All in favor? Ericas. Cherry
Putman. All right. Perfect. Congratulations. With this little asterisk that you and I Yeah. are going to talk because I I I'm Well, we'll wait till we're not recording. Okay. To talk about that. Okay. All right. So, is there anything I think we've covered
everything on the agenda? Yes. Is there anything um Kaen or Cindy that we didn't cover that was on your mind? No, I think we're good. Nope, I'm good. Oh, anything, Tom? No. Erica, think
that's good. Okay, then. Do I hear a motion to adjourn at 7:16 p.m.? I make a motion that we adjourn at 7:16 p.m. And I second. So we are adjourned. All right.