Okay, we'll just wait. Matt, let me read about the 45 Ready? Okay. Okay. Uh, good afternoon and welcome to the Westport Board of Health meeting for January 21st, 2026, um, which I'm
calling to order. Um, under Master Lock Chapter 3A section 20F. This meeting is being recorded. Um, and please join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Okay. Um, we have the director written report. Any questions on that?
Otherwise, I'll let Matt go to. >> Okay. Um, so we have uh so Massachusetts is reporting very high flu activity with cases climbing. Uh the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reporting
very high and rising levels of influenza activity statewide as the Commonwealth moves through the peak flu season. Thousands of residents have become ill, forcing them to miss work, school, and other activities. Many are experiencing serious
complications leading to increased visits to urgent care centers and emergency departments in higher levels of hospitalization. Right now, Westport has 45 reported influenza cases this season. And what I
mean by reported is um if they don't go to the doctor and it doesn't get reported through the um uh Maven system, we don't know about them. So the cases in Westport, I'm sure, are much higher than 45, but these are the only ones that are being reported at the moment.
Governor Healey condemns the CDC roll back of childhood vaccine recommendations. On January 6th, Governor Healey um condemn the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention's decision to significantly
reduce the number of recommended routine childhood vaccines. Governor Healey and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are making clear that despite these misguided federal decisions, Massachusetts will continue to recommend and provide easy access to all vaccines
um all the vaccines that for decades have enabled families to protect their children from preventable diseases. Um, DPH has put together a childhood immunization discussion guide um that are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics and if you go to
www.ap.org and just click on discussion guides, it'll take you through that. Um, on January 12th, 2026, the Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Ta declared that central and northeast regions have worsened to level two
significant drought. Conditions also declined in nearly all other regions, moving the southeast region to a level one mild drought, which that's our region. So um for for regions in level one mild drought, residents and
businesses should minimize overall water use. For larger buildings and businesses conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities. Communities and municipalities should establish a year-round water conservation program that includes
public education and communication taking advantage of the state's library of outreach materials. provide timely drought and water conservation information to residents and businesses. Check emergency interconnections for water supplies and
develop a local drought management plan. State agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help federal, state, and local agencies prepare additional
responses that may be needed in the future. And do you want to talk about the cold? >> Yeah. So, um, it was very cold today. It's going to be cold tonight. I think it's going to warm up through the day tomorrow or maybe even tomorrow night. But after that on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, and even Monday, it's going to be pretty cold um with temperatures down possibly the single digits. So, um residents um or anybody for that matter should just be be aware of that, prepare and um as we get new information, we'll
post it on our web web page. >> Yeah. >> Have to be out um driving, you know, in really cold conditions, make sure you have emergency preparedness kit in your car, you know, an emergency blanket and
um food and, you know, snacks and water in case you get stuck. somewhere. >> And also pets um to have pets indoor to bring pets in that are normally outside because it's getting too cold for them. >> Okay. Um let's move on then to director
of plans. >> Okay. We have a onebedroom. It says repair on the list, but new construction for 226 Old Harbor Road for Robert Delgatoio. This is for a um
uh an ADU. Um yes, this is for an ADU add-on. Just want to make sure of that. >> Yeah, it's a separate >> separate ADU um add-on to the property. One one bedroom and um
it's been through Concom. Lot size 175,517 square ft. We have a threebedroom repair. >> Can we backtrack? Is this the one you said Lynn wanted to design it for twobedroom?
>> Yeah. So, it technically because there's already a home on the property with um a septic system. The um the system can doesn't have to be designed for the minimum of two uh three or two bedrooms like it says in title 5.
the ADU uh uh regulation allows it to be designed for one bedroom, but they wanted it to design it for two. So, I mean, the lot square footage would allow for it. Um it just um you know, if they wanted to put a second bedroom in it someday, they could.
They're already doing D9. They're doing a singular system there. >> Um >> so, but we should just record it as a two-bedroom system then. We should go. It's a onebedroom with a two-bedroom system. >> Okay. Okay. >> Right. And technically then if they if
they're going to go that route, we should we should do a deed restriction. >> So >> because in lens's application, he's citing the title five requirement. And the requirement is if you're going to design it for two bedrooms, then you
have to have D restriction. But if you design it for one bedroom for an ADU, you don't have to have a deep restriction. That doesn't >> Yeah, >> it's the way Yeah. disconnect between the new ADU rules and the title five.
Um, so what do you recommend? Should we >> because he's citing title five and not the ADU regulation, he's citing title five that it's, you know, they can design it for a minimum twobedroom. I think if he's going to follow if they're going to follow those rules on the minimum design criteria, then I think we
should deed restrict it. >> Okay. All right. Note that. >> I don't know. Just kind of going on off of both. So, um that would be my recommendation. I mean, at the end of the day, they got enough land if they
want to come in and add more or something, it would be easy enough for them to update that deed restriction or remove it. >> Okay. Okay. So, I want to be clear. Is it for onebedroom deed restriction or two? >> Two-bedroom deed restriction on the ADU.
>> House. Okay. Um Okay. Moving on. We have a three-bedroom repair on a 3.6 acre lot on 984 drift road for Joe Tape. Um this is Ben Con.
We have a three-bedroom repair on 149,411T lot 96 Forge Road for Nancy Reposo care of Mike Dunovven. This has been through Concom and it's replacing a cesspool. We have a three-bedroom new construction
on two Wayland Way for Katrina Pimemental and a Christopher Roso. Um, this is Pending Concom and we have a four bedroomedroom new construction at 673 River Road for 673 River Road
Westport LLC. And this one's pending compound. Um, I'll just note um that the um property at 984 Drift Road because I was entering the in the database was an unknown a house from 1920 didn't so we
don't know that it was accessessible. They say it's not but um it's one one more property that we don't have to worry tracking down. So that's great. >> All right. So, I move to endorse the director approved plans at 226 Old
Harbor Road, a two um bedroom deed restriction >> on the ADU >> on the ADU, 984 road, uh 96 Forge Road, two Whale
Way, um pending con view, and 674 Road pending con. Second >> motion made and seconded to approve um endorse the director approved plans um as noted. All in favor? >> I I see. Thank you.
>> Okay, moving on to minutes from the last meeting. I have no um changes or edits. >> I'm fine. >> Okay. So I move that we approve the minutes for January 5th, 2026. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Um okay. Um moving on to other business. Um >> um want to start first with um a board of health priorities statement. Um
well let me ask are there any comments or concerns with the statement from board members. >> There was nothing about um whether it's separate or not animal control in there >> and then we have >> um this is yes
>> it was it's for the health not but not the animal control. >> Yeah. Um, okay. Then I'm going to read this statement um for the record. >> Oh, I have a comment. >> Sure. >> Um, yeah. Um, so one I thought in the
core functions was it I mean one was the annual um I call them the farm inspections. We're still going to do that, >> you know. >> Barn books. >> H >> farm >> the barn inspections. >> Barn inspections. >> Farm books. >> The barn books. Yeah, >> we we've done them. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. That it remains a priority. core priority. >> Oh yeah, >> it remains a core priority. I just thought, you know, >> sure, we can add that. >> That would be worth it, you know, just to add that just so >> for the statement. Yeah. >> Yeah. For the statement. Um and then um
uh the um I mean I'm this goes to the pause program expansion um and uh on the U and so the no new programs but then the um this was more
of a not necessary but just to say where I'm coming from which is to review and potentially suspend low impact. And I thought that maybe there were opportunities, you know, to other than
full suspension, maybe some sort of revision or um so uh >> suspension or revision. >> Yeah. >> And uh and then uh
this is more the uh if we're doing this for the whole year just because the these the two things that I've been working on with um Matt
related to storm water and private wells and um uh and I don't know if we're saying we're just going to do nothing on those uh at all, you know, to move anything
forward on that because some of them we've made a fair amount of progress on. And [snorts] so um you know it's just and then there's what we were talking about
you know just about dealing kind of preparing for the cesspool closure date >> which I just started to to work on. Um and again I um
>> um I would just hate to just throw them overboard. >> Well, it's not. So I think we uh I'm just trying to still get my bearings of um not having a being down a full health agent. Once once I'm able to settle into
some sort of schedule, I think we can probably we're really close, I think, to just uh being done with the storm water. Yeah. >> I think that could be done quickly. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh but we're kind of still way off on the well rag. We still need to There's still a lot to that that we have to go
through. So, that's going to take a little longer, but I I still think uh >> we could probably get to it at some point and um start working on it again in the next couple of months. But even when we do that, it's still going to take a while to come together. But I
think the storm water would I think we're there. Maybe a couple minor things, but I think we could probably get that done by middle of February, end of February and and in retire the one that we have and put the new one in place. Well, so I don't want to
um I guess if there was even though it's nice to have it like this, you know, if we were going to uh even say, you know, revisit timelines for completion of or
uh uh so that as you were saying there could be a point in the process where you would saying okay now I have some time to devote to this based on everything that's going on because you can read this as this is like the
only thing that we're going to do whereas I was just trying to build in some flexibility of revisiting topics that oh there's a window of opportunity here to move this forward um or or to
you know not complete it but to you know make some advance on it and I don't I don't um I don't have language to that effect or maybe we are just agreeing to that
among ourselves that that's the way we're going to implement that. That's all. and that you felt comfortable with, you know, uh, finding time for things if there was time there and identifying continuing to
identify these these three things as priorities. >> Well, just I wanted to just touch on the um the regulation um uh where is that one? So the the two
regulations that you know as examples that were given we're not going to I guess it was never our intention to just shelf them 100%. But we're going to do we're going to uh eliminate certain aspects of those regulations the most burdensome part on the staff right
>> still have the regulation itself but eliminate what's you know the most just at least suspend temporarily part of the regulation. >> Yeah >> that's that was the intention >> right. No, I got that. Well, the ex I mean maybe it was um because the two
examples that you used, I I understood those as ones that were um more uh kind of the administrative burden, the cost benefit of doing that versus the more global, you know, changing how we manage
storm water or um or these these more major reggg revisions, which is, you know, more about the content of them rather than the administration of them. >> Uh, well, thanks, Phil. And I I understand and um certainly am
supportive of of being able to move forward on on what we can as time allows. Yeah, I think that the part of the point of this was that the staff, the board, health department office has been chronically understaffed. We need
more um clerical support. We've been asking for years and um maybe you know we'll get something at town meeting. It's not in the budget but we it's >> when the workload continues to increase and the staffing doesn't reaches a
critical point and we're getting at that critical point. >> Yeah. >> And the same >> the same >> holds true for Matt. We cannot afford to have him burn out, get sick, whatever, when he is carrying the load of two
full-time staff because we don't have an agent. We've had the posting approved, but it still hasn't been posted. Um, you know, we two weeks later, it just adds to the delay. And so, I want the
community to be cognizant of the constraints on the health department. And so we what are our f >> what do we have to focus on and just be really clear about that it is not to and also for us to be cognizant of the
burden on Matt's time and that we have to be sensitive to that sometimes there's not enough time to do something >> um right then or whatever and so it's really more of a broad brush statement um and um the next our next agenda item
is to schedule a working meeting where we can sort Well, maybe it was just maybe it was just because our >> well I wasn't sure necessarily who the audience was, you know, for this in that sense,
but it was um I think our practice was uh like look out for 6 months and then kind of back and revisit where we were. And so then I, you know, we're just having this conversation now, but as I read this, this is like our two 2026
priorities, which was kind of ways. So every nothing that's on if it's not on this page, we just should forget about it for the rest of the year. And that that's really all I'm saying, right? Okay. I mean, if if Matt said to me, I can't do anything for the next five months, I would say, okay,
>> we'll just deal with it. That's fine. I'm not I'm not trying to, >> you know, I I agree with everything that you're saying. >> I just didn't want to close the door on things if opportunities arose. >> This wasn't intended to be like specifically a priority statement for
our board members and what we're working on and what we want to prioritize. It is really the functional ability of the health department to serve the public with the >> mismatch in available resources. >> Okay, that's great. So that's really
where it's coming from. Yeah. So let me um before our 2:30 meeting, let me read the statement. Um so it's in the public consume that much time. >> Um and then we'll um we'll come back to the other business items after our
appointment. So, um, in 2026, the board of health will prioritize legally mandated and high-risk public health functions, including title 5 septic oversight, uh, while supporting staff retention, riskbased service delivery, and shared
services collaboration during ongoing staffing shortages. As I mentioned in our discussion, uh, those include um, uh, insufficient clerical staff and we're down a full-time health agent. Um uh so for the purpose is to protect
public health, maintain legal compliance and support staff during continued staffing shortages by prioritizing mandated and high-risk functions and adjusting service delivery where permitted. Um core functions that have to be protected include u the department
will prioritize uh activities required under Massachusetts law and regulation including communicable disease control and reporting. That's from the Department of Public Health. Food establishment inspections, Title 5 septic system oversight. Um, we have to
limit perks to emergency perks at the moment. Um, address housing complaints, u respond to imminent public health hazards and nuisances, um, emergency preparedness and response coordination, and of course, Barn Brooks is one of those mandated services that
will also be prioritized. Um these functions carry the greatest public health risk and municipal liability if delayed. Um with regard to septic systems and perk testing under title 5, um septic oversight is a statutory responsibility and will continue with
adjustments to reflect staffing limits. Maintained priorities include review and approval of title five system plans, oversight of failed systems, repairs and upgrades, review and observ review and observation of per tests when
required but on a limited basis. Again, prioritizing um failed or emergency perks. Um uh operational adjustments uh again risk based scheduling. So failed systems and sensitive areas will be prioritized. um
strict enforcement of complete application requirements, extended timelines were allowed by regulation and deferral of discretionary or advisory site visits. Um septic and perk testing are not eliminated but managed to protect public health and staff capacity.
Um risk based service delivery uh the department will use risk based prioritization rather than first come first serve. Examples include high-risisk food establishments will be prioritized. Housing and nuisance complaints will be triaged by severity.
Septic failures and emergencies will be prioritized. Um board support is essential when lower risk services are delayed. That means we as a board have to support are are are supporting the board the health
department in um in uh the prioritization method of uh service delivery because we can't do everything that we would like to do uh with the um staffing limits that we have. um
workforce stabilization and retention. Staffing shortages are a governance issue, not just an operational issue. Um so part of our focus on 2026 is retention of existing staff. Um restoring staffing levels um to what we had before and increasing where we are
understaffed, which is especially in the clerical realm. Uh cross trainining for operational resilience and realistic serv level levels to reduce burnout. Um key indicators there will be staff retention and uh hopefully some staffing
um increase at town meeting. Um shared services and contracted support. Um again we um were the are the lead in a grant and we're going to use that where possible um to share inspectors or agents from the collaborative and
contract services for overflow or specialized needs where we have the resources to do so. Um part of this will also be um pausing any program expansion. Um we will not we can't adopt any new programs unless legally
mandated. And we review um potentially suspend or revise low impact staffing intensive services such as dumpster permitting requirement and portable toilet permitting requirements. Um and and part of this uh is we need to
maintain transparent communication. Um, we're supporting clear and public messaging regarding services that are delayed or limited so people understand um there's only so much we can do and that these are related to staffing um
constraints and that um that we're focused on continued protection of core public health functions. Um okay. Um we don't have time for further discussion on that. We can come back to that. Um, in the meantime, I'm going to call the 2:30 um, appointment.
Um, Len Potter representing 198 Cabin's Neck Road, the Riveras um, irrevocable trust. This is a three-bedroom pair with a quick four and singular. >> Thanks. >> On a 5,116 lot. >> Good afternoon.
>> Good afternoon, Mr. Len part of Westport Environment Design representing the Various Trust and also Thomas Loftus. When I submitted the applications, I submitted them together simultaneously
and what happened was the board had decided when they were going to have that next meeting after January 5th at the time. So the secretary mistakenly just scheduled 198 and not 200 the same day.
I set my letters out to the abutters because all the abutters concerned with 198 are involved with 200. >> So I think the first order of business should be that uh open hearing for both
198 and 200 and just continue. They're both probably going to get continued anyway, but continue 200 to the next meeting which I think is February 2nd. So I don't have to readvertise or resend letters out. >> Sure.
We can accommodate that. I'm sure a second correct. >> Okay. >> Is that okay? >> Yep. >> All right. So you want to give a a time on >> um I'm going have to ask >> for the
a we can just a 200 C and snack road. We're giving a timeline. Yep. It's probably going to be a continuence on this, I believe. But yes, I want to open up 200 on this on the 2nd also. >> Okay. So, that's going to be it's already in the book for uh 440. >> 440.
>> Yep. On February 2nd. >> That way, everyone knows what's going on. >> And those cards, the cards I submitted, I sent the same letters out to all the parties involved. So, those cards will suffice for the next meeting. >> Okay. >> It's just one of those things that
happened. two. Okay. >> Okay. >> I represent the Megan Beveris Trust and Anton Beveres is here and this is these are both very difficult repairs. I was
here a year or so ago and asked the board if I could relocate a well, two well points in the back of these two properties. We put a well in a well point in at 200 and there were two large oaks oak oak trees in the rear of those
properties and all I was coming up with brown water which is tannins from the oak tree. So that that was no success. So therefore I was left with what I had to work with. And what I have to work with on 198
is uh I'm installing a two trench system along the side of the house in the front of the house. And I end up being 35 ft away from Mr. Beveris's well and 36 feet away from the loft as well at 200.
I am 51 ft from the well at 192 Cadmin's neck. Shirley Robbins and Dorothy saying I am 97 ft away from hers. So all these walls are less than 100 ft. The
u in order to put the system between I've got no room to to be less than 10 10 ft from the line and 10 ft from the house. I can't do it. So I'm asking for a variance to reduce the distance between the house and the side
trans to 2 and 1/2 ft and from the front of the house to Canada's neck road by 3 ft and 6 ft from the town road. Um the the outfront trench will also be 4.8 ft from the property line.
The distance of the uh septic tank to the well is only 27 ft. Uh that's another variance that that I'm looking for. The only fortunate thing is the sun room
shown on the pro on the plan is a slab. So, it's not a basement and the house itself is a is a a basement and there's a crawl space to the rear. So, my intent is to dig right up against the
foundation of the house and install a PVC barrier and the system is completely below grade. The water table's good and that will allow me to uh to get something on the property. the I've asked for a reduction in the in
the flow uh by by 50% reduce it by 50% because I am using a ditrification system now um and that's that's exactly what I'm asking for. So the waiverss I need
proposed system is less than 10 ft from the property line at the road. Proposed distance is six. Proposed system is less than 10 ft from the slab and crawl space. Proposed distances 2 and 1/2 to 3 ft. Distances from proposed system to
the well at 192 is 51 and 204 is 97. The exist that's those are the waiverss. The variance is existing well at 198 cadman's neck is 27 ft from the proposed subject tank and 35 ft from the proposed system. The distance from the existing
well at 200 cadm's neck to the proposed system of 198 is 36 ft. A reduction of the leeching area to 50% of the minimum required due to use of a dite component installed in system and there is no room on the lot without this variance. The
distance of the proposed leech field is less than 10 feet from the property line. Proposed distance is two and a half feet. The line has been surveyed. It was surveyed for Mr. Visas a few years ago and I forgot that I needed a
land surveyor to stamp the plant. The I've got a land surveyor going out there now and he is uh doing a survey work. So I once he once he completes his work, he'll give me a plan with the exact distance from the side of the home to
the property line. There is a fence there. And Mr. Rivera said the fence is actually 2 in uh from this property line. So I know I'm close, but I can't give you an exact measurement. >> Uh but I just want to open up the hearing until I get that. I can't do
much about it >> to give you exact measurements, but this is the problem that I have. So, I'm asking for commentary, suggestions, or anything else that I can get. >> Um, can you walk us through the um uh well test results?
>> I don't have the well test with me. >> Okay. >> I think they're okay >> except for 200 nitrates are high. >> What is it? I mean >> 200 um cabin's neck. It's located
8.6 >> 8.6 >> 192 is actually 10. >> Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. >> I read the monst. Yeah, I was looking at the wrong column. So, um Okay. Um then then the only one
of concern is 200 which will be you're doing a new system there too, >> right? >> Okay. >> They're both going to be denitrification units. >> Mhm. Um Okay. [snorts] Other question? Oh, let me sorry.
>> Glenn went through it pretty pretty thoroughly. I don't have anything to add. >> Okay. What was that? >> I know. She was going to ask me if I had anything to add. I said you went through it pretty, you know, pretty thoroughly. I don't really have anything to add um no >> to this. It's a very tight squeeze.
>> Okay. Questions from the board? >> I don't have questions. It seems from the variance that what we we would be saying is in terms of the uh uh the justification for it you know
being um that there's no other you know feasible alternative and that is generally going to be an upgrade and that using the denitrification system is a way that we are getting equivalent environmental protection. So
>> maximum we can achieve. >> Yeah. >> So I I think it covers the >> variance criteria. >> Okay. >> We have to wait for we have to wait for the surveyor's report to make sure update the plan. Right. [clears throat]
>> Um okay. So um what I'm hearing is there are no additional concerns to be addressed. Um we get the surveyor's plan. So, we can continue this to um >> So, you want to continue this one as well? Yeah. 450.
>> No, I'm sorry. Um Yeah. 4 450. >> Uh 200 is already continued to 440. Do we have something at 430? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we'll continue this one to 450. >> 450. That's fine. >> Is that right? >> Yep. >> I'm I'm just No, I mean, that's correct.
There's nothing else. So this is um will be continued but I I know that there's an abutment just asking do you have any questions or the property owner want any questions or comments? >> I just wonder why we don't do um tight
tanks >> either one of you. >> It's certainly if you found this not to be feasible it's allowed for this specific situation. Um it's not new construction and um and certainly I could view this as
not feasible with all the different variants and local upgrade waiverss. I could see a tight tank being you know allowed if that's what they wanted to do. Well, tight tank is
a tight tank is acceptable in a in an extreme situation, but I think it's always preferred that you have if you you can get a subsurface system in and that's what you want to do. >> Okay. >> Go ahead. >> No, no, no, no. I was just trying to,
you know, refresh my recollection, you know, knowing that um well, these seasonal homes. >> Yeah. So, I my recollection is that uh if you're not in a seasonal criteria,
there's very limited exceptions that allow for a tight tank. >> There is if it's determined that it's not feasible. Oh, >> and I could this in my opinion this could go either way, but because there's a sheer amount of >> variances in local upgrade approvals,
>> that's you know my thinking. >> Yeah, >> this would have been an ideal place for a shared system. Um >> there's not much room even with a shared >> Well, not just but for the all of >> C. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I agree with that. >> Um it's, you know, just uh has to be
something that the community wants. Um um >> can I ask a question? Um I'm not sure what property you're >> excuse me >> 192. I'm 51 ft away. >> Um fortunately the nitrate levels
indicate that there has not been um contamination. So, um, you know, I think we could we can we'd have to make a determination that it wasn't feasible. Um, and there
is some sort of manifest um justice kind of argument to be made um for this property to be able to do the 50% reduction in leech field. Um, so, um,
I think that's a it's a kind of a, um, judgment call on the part of the engineer. >> I'm not opposed to him doing it. Yeah, because it's it's tough down there in tough. >> Oh, understood. >> You know, I don't want him to have a problem. I don't want to have a problem.
I don't want anyone to have a problem. >> Right. tight tanks come with their own um risk profile. Um so it's it's sort of it's not necessarily an ideal solution. I mean that's why they're very limited in
general. Um okay. Um any other comments? If not um I'll take a motion to continue to 4:50 p.m. on um February >> second. >> 20th February 2nd >> on 198 road.
>> Yeah. So moved >> second to continue to February 2nd at 450. All in favor? Thank you Mr. >> Thanks. >> We open the two 200 cabinets neck road
>> copies of the above letters. >> Okay. Is this for both? Not >> for both. >> Okay. >> Um at the same time. >> Okay. I'm just going to officially open the 200 cabinets neck road um project
for Thomas Loftess. This is a three-bedroom pair with quick four and singular on a 5570 ft lot which will be continued to February 2nd at 4:40 p.m. >> So move second.
>> All in favor? I unanimous continue. Um now we can return back to our other business. Um so uh scheduling a working
meeting and this is um sort of uh something we had talked about last time. Um we wanted to talk about the cesspool um upgrade um situation. We can talk about sort of our board priorities. you
know what how do we want to sort of um line things up for based upon staff availability and resources. Um so priorities um other things that we want to uh delve
into at that working meeting >> I think we should um [clears throat] talk about the cesspool closeout strategy and you know it I know it's two years away but two years moves quickly and um >> we need we need to be well prepared and
ready for what that's going to look like and I don't >> even if we replace the health agent. If everybody waits, you know, we we're getting a good amount of turnover, but there's still a whole lot more. And if everybody waits and decides they're going to all do it, you know, in, you
know, January of uh 2028, I don't know how we're going to handle that. >> So, we should probably strategize a little bit about that. >> Yep. I will work on getting updated data from the database um about where, you know, so what progress we've made. Um >> and those are just for the known. We
still got to figure out the unknowns. >> Yep. Well, we we have addressed um a reasonable amount of the repairs that come in turn out to be unknowns. We they don't you know the engineer doesn't know it's unknown on our list
necessarily. Um so we've had some reduction in unknowns. Like the example today um at Groo Road I believe was an unknown. So now it's a known because we have a repair plan coming in. So I converted that to a pending um in the
database. So um so anyways I'll you know I'll have some more information on that. Um and we do have that first trunch of about 50 unknowns. We were going to try working on a strategy for doing a mailing there. Um so yes so cespool
closeout strategy will be the major topic of discussion. Um but we can talk about other priorities like you know when do we think we can tee up storm water um or um other >> activities. Um
um I also will want to talk about household hazardous waste planning. Um we were scheduled to have a meeting with the selected contractor which is Trident tomorrow but he has CO um so that's been postponed um um for us. Um we have been
given guidance that um for now for this year you know we have to live with the amount of funding that's available which is below the estimate um and not we're not in a good place necessarily to charge uh or charging a fee um doesn't help us because the revenue wouldn't
come to us to pay the bill. So um um we have to figure out a way to manage that so that we stay within budget. Um any other items for that meeting and then we can schedule it. >> Um
so our we next week is a nonmeating week. So that's a possibility. Um I would shoot for later in the week. So we've had our meeting with household hazardous waste guy. So, I was thinking
more that I I I I wanted to try to meet with Phil and talk about the storm water and because I think we're pretty close to to getting that done. Okay. >> And if we can do that and then have the working meeting and bring it to the working meeting for the board to review
and kind of like a final approval thing and we can move that into if we're going to have a public hearing and and and finalize that. >> Um that would ultimately be workload reduction strategy. So that would fit in with the priorities. >> Okay. So I don't know if that's you want
do you So I guess my question is do you want to have the meeting next week or do you want to have an opportunity to sit and go through it and then have the meeting like two weeks from then? >> Yeah, I I was just looking at the calendar strictly that if if you think you're close enough to um get a a draft
version for a working meeting, I'm happy to >> Well, I um Yeah. Well, I think that um just maybe for both of those it at least I like a fair amount of lead
time like if you circulated the data and then I have other stuff I could try to put together for the um for the cesspool part of it just kind of get the statutories you know like any of those kinds of stuff give people like a chance
to really look over the material before we have the meeting. >> Yeah. Okay. >> You know, that's what you know and so it's like >> next week is not on the >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I mean I know it's >> I don't know if I mean so I don't mind doing it >> waiting
>> like the two week like two weeks >> the week of February 9th or the week of February 23rd. [clears throat] >> I don't want to wait too long before that household has this waste piece of >> it. Okay. Yeah. That's that's okay. Well, maybe that's okay. Yeah, I know
that I have a CRC meeting coming up >> coming up and I think it's the third week in February. >> Okay. >> So, that would be a lot of meetings. That' be like four meetings during that week. >> Okay. So, well, I'm looking at the second week of February, the week of
February 9th. >> Um, and that if that's too early for the h the storm water, we can schedule another working meeting. >> Yeah. What can you just refresh my mind? When's the household hazardous waste day again? >> March 28th. >> March 28th.
>> So, we need to get agreement on the plan for that pretty relatively soon. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm a little anxious on that. Um because we do have the funding and we
have the vendor lined up so I don't want to cancel it. >> No. So, what do you mean getting you mean getting it advertised? >> Yeah. you know, just figuring out what's our strategy. Are we gonna have people sign up? You know, all that kind of stuff. How how are we going to manage it so that we don't uh exceed our budget?
>> So then what was the suggestion? February 21st. I mean, >> no, the suggestion is the week of February 9th. >> February 9th. and what you know if we if that's too early for storm water we can have schedule another one later but at least I want to talk about >> um
uh >> some assess pool stuff and um >> hazardous waste >> like >> so okay >> the 11th maybe that's a Wednesday >> um sure >> I don't know if that works for everybody but
>> okay so I'm flexible Yeah. I mean, we >> I have a doctor's appointment at 1:45, so anything in the morning will go. How about >> 10:00 a.m. >> on the 11th? >> Yep. Yep. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> 10. [snorts] Would you say 10? >> Uh 10:00 a.m. >> Oh, 10 a.m. Okay. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to uh schedule board of health working meeting for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 11th. Um
discussion items include the household hazardous waste day planning um some sessful closeout discussion at least preliminarily and if we get to it storm water but we'll just you know sort of priorities discussion we can leave it
generic at this point. >> I second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I >> uh that's unanimous. Okay. >> And then our regular meeting is on the 9th. >> No, our regular meeting is on the 2nd. >> Oh, it's on the second. Okay. >> And then we have um we have already
rescheduled the President's Day meeting >> to the 18th. >> Okay. >> At 2 p.m. at >> Wednesday the 18th. Do you have that? >> Wednesday the
>> 18th of February is our next uh is the replacement for fe for the president's day. >> Oh, okay. >> Um we talked we voted on that. >> Okay. And what time is that? >> 2 p.m. >> Okay. 2 p.m. Okay. [clears throat]
>> Okay. Um board member updates. Bob and I had a very frustrating meeting last night. Um we're really having a hard time moving forward. Um we did meet and discuss some options. Um
finding out that uh the police department lost their grant to do their um uh followup after overdose and homes. Um the school department is also looking at creating a position, but we can't
move forward until the RFP is um and the the town manager um is giving some direction on how do we proceed. Um we were waiting for his input. He has not um yet uh reviewed and got back to me on
the RFP that I sent to him. So we we're trudging along. Um we're hoping, you know, to get this moving. so we can start allocating some funds. But but that's it. And I haven't um I haven't begun to think about how I want
to do mental health awareness month in May. Um so I take any suggestions uh for topics um uh to move forward with that so I can start scheduling uh some people and um
uh some presentations. Would you mind if I ask Olive to work with you on that to help? >> Sure. >> Do what you just asked. >> I love working with Olive. >> So, I I'll ask her. >> I think I want to do something again on the opioid stuff. So, um and I know
that's her area of expertise, but I think that she may come up with some other ideas and have some other contacts so that we can put something together in town. We'd be great to be able to put something together like uh she did at UMass in the at the high school.
>> Thank you. >> Um no, I I'll I'll pass on updates. >> Okay. [laughter] Um I I of course got the column out. I'm trying to remember what we
um what we were scheduling for the next columns. You were going to write. I was going to and um uh don't commit me to a particular week in February, but um I
was going to do a um kind of presentation summary of the um hazardous mitigation response plan that the select board approved um a few weeks ago now.
>> Okay. And uh it's still it's still out for federal and state review, but um I still think because the town has kind of formally adopted it, you know, that we
can talk about it and I don't expect the um those other agencies, you know, to turn anything upside down. So, I'm I that was what I was going to talk to at least one of the things just to talk to Matt about and because there's kind of
an overlap. Um so the climate resilience committee you know has been working on its plan and you know for some of those topics um you know storms and floods and there's
an overlap and um and so they're going through the process of now trying to rank the different impacts based on their magnitude, the disproportionality of the impact and what we call the adaptation gap. meeting where we'd like
to be and where we are right now. And so I was going to talk a little bit to Matt about that and uh Don, I'm gonna actually try once I get a draft together soon, you know, connect with you and maybe Michael and
just to um so it's just not like Phil's idea, but it's like the three of us have, you know, just some sense of it. So uh stay tuned. Well, we have been work I mean we've worked together on the >> Yeah. >> the health part of >> it's it's
>> climate change. >> Yeah. without belaboring at all. You know, it's it's complicated because the scale of the data is statewide and even regional which includes all the Cape, the islands,
South Coast, but then you're trying to refine it down to the town of Westport >> and um and and then even within Westport, you know, how does this affect the north side of town. How does this affect the south side of town? Is it
just, you know, anyway? So, it's, you know, it's it's kind of complicated. Uh, but that's what we'll be working on. >> Life is kind of complicated these days. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's, you know, but >> Okay, >> that's that. >> Okay. I'm going to give this to you
because make sign and then pass it down if you can. >> I can't remember. >> Um, yeah. Well, I talked about I do for mental health awareness month, but that would be in April. I would do it at the end of April. >> So I I'll I'll put myself in for March is both household hazardous waste but
also cesspool kind of close out. We'll have something by then. Um okay. Um and then for my update I scheduled to meet with a representative from the watershed alliance um because
they are uh sort of evaluating where to go next around sewer um and uh um talk about our data and what we can share with them on that um and that might help us um think about the susp We'll close that.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, I think that I Yeah, >> not that we're starting with a clean slate, but I think we should come to that discussion just with with an open mind knowing just like thinking about, okay, we, you know, we're like treading water to keep
our head above water. we have this you know big lift to dig into all the sessful stuff and like what's realistic >> right yes >> you know and what we should focus on >> but I think it's also important to um
take some lessons learned from the failure past effort um for the wershed >> oh yeah yeah no I you know I yeah >> it'll be an interesting discussion I'll report back at our next meeting >> yeah yeah no it's you know just yeah I mean even from a targeting point of you
you were looking at what we did, you know, where's likely sewer to be, how does that overlap with set schools? How do we want to factor that in even >> as we did when we extended the date for last time?
>> Yep. Okay. Um All right. I think that's all that I've got. Do we have any topics for the next meeting? Nothing unanticipated, I don't think. All right. So being there, no further business, I move that we adjourn this
meeting at 3:02 p.m. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> That's unanimous. Thank you very much, everyone. Thanks, Bob. Thanks,