recording in progress. >> Welcome to the October 6, 2025 meeting of the Yarmouth Board of Health. This is a hybrid meeting and people need some instructions of how to join us. Uh it's on our website if if you were unable to
make it here into the town hall. So um let's see about some attendance. Eric, are you here? >> Here. >> I'm Hillard. I'm here. >> Larry >> here. >> And Charlie's not going to be here. >> Correct.
>> And I think Mary's out there in Zoom. Is that correct? Are >> we on mute? >> We see you waving, Mary. We can't hear you. I unmuted. You have to unmute me. >> Okay, >> we can hear you now. >> Okay, welcome from home or wherever you
are. Um, okay. So, we have a quorum and the meeting will come to order and uh before we go to public comment actually uh we have a nice big event here tonight and Sarah, do you want to take this over?
>> Sure. If you guys want to come up to the table if you want to. Yeah, sure. Or Julie can do that if you like. So, we had a um September awareness month. The board of health is now doing an awareness month each month. Last month was childhood obesity and we had a
coloring contest and we sent that out to um the schools to the libraries and and in town hall and we had 46 um drawings returned to us. So, we picked the first prize, second prize and third prize. So, um Julie, um won the second prize and
she's here to claim it, which we're very thankful for her for coming in. So, we'll give you her um gift card and a snack bag that was donated. And thank you so much for participating. We really [Applause]
>> don't I get something? >> Don't I get something? We'll get you a snack bag before you leave. >> You guys don't have to stay for the rest of the meeting. Thank you. >> I will give you um a few other things, but um we just thank you for participating and we hope to um continue
to do these um events each month and bring awareness to the children and to other people as well. So, we really are excited that everybody participated. So, thank you for taking the time to do that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. 47 drawings. You say
>> 47 we received. Yep. So you did really well. Yeah. >> So thank you. And I'll I'll follow you out because I'll get you a bag for him. >> Okay. >> You live in Yarmouth? >> In Thank you.
>> Okay. Number three on the agenda is public comment. If it's opportunity for anyone in the public like to come forward here or from their remote site, please just come forward. Any questions,
comments? >> I don't see anybody on Zoom. >> Okay. Uh we're up to number four already. It's the pesticide use on town property. I had just mentioned put this the agenda to try to keep the issue
alive a little bit. Um we had sort of decided not to move on I guess the bill that was going to go to Boston. um was complicated and I just thought we ought to try to do something
um to move forward on a a big big problem but a complicated one certainly to educate enforce it and so on. Now in the packet okay Barry you had put in I think the state regs. >> Yep. State rigs are in there. Um, we
have those. And then also I I tried to get uh Lori Rosula from the water department to come in, but she was busy. She did send an email. I'll read it out to us. Great. >> Um, hi Barry. Thank you for looping me in on this. The use of herbicides and pesticides in groundwater protection are
zone 2 is heavy heavily regulated by mass D. Therefore, from a drinking water perspective, a local ban would have minimal, if any, impact on drinking water. I know a lot of people are concerned with Roundup. So I checked for the active ingredient in the state drinking water quality database which
includes over 30 years of data and all results from across Massachusetts were non-detect. I am not able to so she's not able to be here. I don't have strong feelings on one way or the other regarding local ban on herbicides and pesticide. So that's from the director
of the water. So they again with the town um DPW, the school and the parks department and the golf courses, they all follow the state D regulations to a tea. They're highly regulated. Um and
again, it's the local public, myself, yourselves, that the ones that are using the Roundup incorrectly. all the other the big players know they're licensed and and certified on how to use it. So, I think again education to the uh to the
public is is a must for us. So, we need to try to figure out how to get some wordage out and some education out to the public on herbicides and pesticides. >> Barry. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> So, spray 33 CMR 12.0 00 applies to private citizens as well as municipalities. >> Say that again, Mary. I apologize. >> Does this regulation apply to private
citizens as well as municipalities or retail business organizations? >> I think this is just municipalities. I'd have to look at it closer. I don't want to.
>> Oh, it says public drinking. >> Does say public drinking water, >> public drinking supplies, >> right? But it doesn't say >> that's >> I mean talk about pesticides being regulated. Although it does not give a
list of the it doesn't show the groundwater protection list number one but it also doesn't say who is regulated by this >> yes >> what ent >> I can uh I I will reach out to the state
and find out >> it it does say any person you know of under record keeping but I'm just I'm just wondering if if it applies to private citizens as well as you know people in the profession like
landscapers and people like that. >> Okay. Thank you for finding. >> Thanks very Yes. >> My my understanding is that that it really pertains to the commercial application of products. I I suspect that
by law, by actual definition, the homeowner is supposed to comply with this, but the Department of Agriculture doesn't have the resources to uh intervene on that that scale. Um
therefore, they're you know, when they track pesticide use and things like that, it's it's really the commercial application. So, anybody with an applicator's license, um,
school properties, town properties, golf courses, I don't I'm sure that their intent was to have everybody follow it, but um I think it's really geared towards the commercial application, PE people out for hire.
>> Okay. >> So, how how is it enforced, Eric? Um the this is just a portion of of the regulation, but um pesticide applicators
um have to have to pass an exam. There's there's three different levels of lensure. There's um there's a dealer license to be able to sell and distribute product. There's a regular applicator's license and then there's a um
a private applicator's license which would be for um really agriculture privately owned property. So, one one tier of license is to sell, one tier of license is to apply on somebody else's property for hire,
and then the other tier is for uh private golf courses and uh private privately owned farms, things like that. So um you know first first the license holders have to test and pass an exam
and on an annual basis they have to submit a pesticide use report um outlining what they used, how much of it they used and um weather conditions, things like that. And that's all
reported to the Department of Agriculture. And in addition to that, um, licensed applicators have to complete, um, ongoing training, um, and submit continuing education units.
Does that does that answer your question? >> Very much so. Thanks a lot, Eric. >> Yep. So, that would include small businesses in town that are taking care of people's houses, you know, properties. That would include
management stuff. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But where it doesn't, I think it's kind of a gray area. You know, if if you went out and bought a product and applied it to your own lawn, >> right? >> I don't want to say I don't want to speak incorrectly. I don't want to say this doesn't apply to you, but it it
might be a bit of a loophole or gray area >> and certainly not enforcable, >> right? They did about the sale of these products >> or only
>> Mary I lost you there for a second. The last part >> uh it would be unenforcable for private citizens unless there were something that um didn't permit the sale of these products to anyone but licensed
applicators, dealers. or someone on a privately owned property. >> Yeah, I I'd agree. It would be education and it would be an ethical issue, I guess. Um, now
just to remind everyone, our bylaws can be more restricted restrictive than state. We went through this with tobacco, for instance. Um, what happens with town properties that are not the golf courses, not the
school? What about playgrounds or what about around town buildings? What is being done there with I'm more concerned about herbicides and just general pesticides? So again, that's under the DPW and they follow the they
have the same restrictions they have to follow within even if it's not within a zone 2, they follow the the zone 2 regulations outside of even the zone 2. So here at town hall or the public libraries, the the parks and stuff,
but I'm not for sure what kind of applications they're putting down. I can ask about those, too. >> For sure. I mean, do we need herbicides put down on the cemeteries or on the playgrounds? I mean, is that something
that we want to take place or not? Part of it is, I guess, aesthetics. Um, I guess versus some health issues, >> Barry. Are you aware of any like formal
training for these applicators um that work for the town? Um do they go through a formal training >> to like >> like Eric said, they have to you have to take a test and pat be able to pass a test >> records kept of their usage and dates
and that sort of thing. Very similar to probably what what we would have to do with the DEA type of of >> Sure. >> Yeah. So, so every application that takes place, the the the licensed applicator is required to keep a log of
the date, the product, the amount used, um the weather, the time of application, and then >> inventory probably. >> Yeah. And then and then at the end of the year, they would sort of comp compile all of their applications. Okay.
and and divide them by product and submit an annual use report. >> Yeah. >> So >> So actually it's more regulated even than the DEA because we're required to keep records but unless they come and investigate us.
>> We don't have to submit a a >> yeah a a use right >> form at the end of the year. We just have to keep records of our purchases and our usage. >> Like Scott was saying from the local golf courses that there's only six of
them that have the the qualifications, credentials to do it, and they're the only six that are allowed. They're not even their part-time help or anything if they can't touch the stuff. So, they're the only ones >> to non-golf course location. >> I'm pretty sure that it would be the
same thing. You have to be a licensed applicator. So, the same group that would be applying products to the golf course are the ones who are doing the parks and >> No, no, no. The DPW has their own um license applicators. I can find out how
many they have, too. >> What I'm asking is at other sites in town, non-golf course locations, are the people who are working on the golf courses, are they, the trained people, are they applying products
elsewhere in town? the not the golf course people are. It's the DPW has their own staff. So, I'll find out how many applicators DPW has. >> Yeah. D the DPW should have their own staff members that are licensed. >> Yeah.
>> But by law. >> Well, yes. Oh, for sure. I mean, they gave a great presentation with details and so on. I'm just asking if those are the same people who are working elsewhere in town. >> No, the golf courses are separate from >> those my impressions. The question is uh
people who are putting the products down um who's following that? In other words, who who's making who's doing the applications in other sites? That's all I'm asking. >> I would think that we could request that. >> Yeah, I could find out. That's easy request. >> If I remember correctly, um the report
we got on the schools in town, they they claimed that they were not applying any Roundup. Do do you remember that to be correct? >> Yeah. No, you're right on that. >> They may be using other herbicide >> for sure. I mean, you look at the grass,
I'm sure they are. >> A lot of the herbicide is um mixed in with fertilizer. So, it might it might be a two-fold application similar to a Scots product, you know,
step one, two, or three. that that wouldn't be Roundup, but it might be another type of product. >> Yeah. I wouldn't address it just to one product. Yeah. And you you kind of educated us a little bit on that. Um this um this regulation
pertains to protecting groundwater sources of public drinking water. I know about our APDS, but because the keg has a sole source aquifer, does that apply
to the whole Cape? I'm not for sure. I'd have to do some further research into this. And and again, you know, this this whole thing came up because of the home rule petition because the state has said that
they are the only ones who can regulate this and this whole home home rule petition was to allow municipalities to regulate. So, so I I just want to jump in there.
The there I did a fair amount of research after some of the earlier meetings and there are some other groups that have been advocating for other bills or petitions um similar to what
the home this home rule petition was. And there was one in particular that's gone to the state several times and it was put forth by the NOFA, which is the Northeast Organic Farming Association. And this I can find the title of the
bill and send it >> out to everybody, but it was specifically written to restore local authority. Um, so it was a little bit different than the home rule petition that we saw because the home rule petition that we saw,
I I didn't understand it as necessarily restoring local authority. I saw it as more or less a restriction of application with
um the opportunity to request exemption. So I'm now that's not to say that it's going to have any more traction when it gets to the state level. >> Yeah. >> But there's certainly larger groups that are advocating and have been advocating
for it. So my understanding is that the only only real power authority that we have is to um you know we have some say in what takes
place on town property and and that's it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You know it's not just drinking water. You know, I just have this image of, you know, kids playing on the soccer field and they're, you know, licking their hands or whatever and they're wet and they're throwing it and um just
brings the product right right to their mouth or just think on TV, watch the quarterbacks playing. You know, the quarterbacks typically put their hand in their mouth before they get the snap. So, it's not just drinking water. Um, and it's something I'm concerned about,
just the toxicity of what's down and and affecting people. So, uh, Lori, I mean, she's on target about the drinking water for sure. So, for the small businesses in town, then
it's their responsibility to contact the state. So, on a town level, we don't know who has a license to apply the products. That's where things are. you it's public information so you can
you can look up licensed applicators >> you >> so it's it's out there but no we don't we don't really know you can search by name or by business name but but no we really don't know >> okay
>> okay I don't know any other thoughts anyone I just um Eric anything else that just >> um I mean I I I share some of the same concerns you do about kids going out and
playing in sports field and licking their hands. >> Yeah. >> The the school school properties are more heavily regulated than other town properties. application timing is very specific and >> sure >> has to take place when students are not
present and there's a a period of time that must >> go by before students can re-enter. Um and you know hopefully everybody's in compliance with that. Um, but I'm certain that there are
products going down there and >> yeah, I just have the image in June, everyone applying stuff to their backyard. Yeah. >> Um, to get ready for a beautiful lawn for July 4th and then you got kids in the backyard playing around and dogs
rolling around in it also. That's all. I mean, I I do believe that we have the authority to make some type of a a statement if that's what the board feels is feels they want to do.
Um, from my perspective, looking back over my career, I've certainly seen a lot of dogs that I suspected had uh a toxic gastrointestinal reaction to pesticides. However, it was a very acute um attack
from a a recent very recent application and I'm unaware of any cases where I was seeing patients that were affected by an application say more than a few days
afterwards. So, that's just from my experience as a veterinarian. I mean, I certainly feel like I saw some pretty sick dogs, acute gastroenteritis cases, um, even neurological cases that I may
attribute to a pesticide or insecticide. A pesticide and is is also classified as a insec an insecticide is a pesticide is a herbicide and that sort of thing. So, so we never did any forensics on these
cases, but I certainly felt like we had enough sort of um uh circumstantial evidence, an anecdotal evidence to feel like these animals were exposed to toxic effects. And it was certain dogs,
certain animals that seem to uh um really ingest a fair amount of grass or or things that they would pick up in the yard and and that sort of thing. But as far as I I don't recall any cases more
than that that that were sick subsequent to an application, you know, beyond three or four days. So I think that I think that all these products are pretty much water so water soluble, right? They just break down
fairly quickly or they break down very quickly. >> Yeah. I mean I don't know what the there's a term called halflife, you know, for how long it stays active in the soil. >> Um >> Sure. But, you know, I I think for our
um concerns here, we would be talking about fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide. >> Yeah. >> Um but, you know, it's the the school of thought, I think, is starting to change.
People are I seated my lawn this my backyard this summer. Um, I did one very light fertilizer application. I have no weeds. It's beautiful. It's, you know,
good cultural practices will promote healthy plants and healthy plants can ward off disease and pathogens. You know, I'm not suggesting that, you know, I think the golf course
is doing a a a good job and they, you know, they have pretty strict standards that they have to follow. But, you know, I do have some concerns. You you apply an insecticide and basically nuke the whole yard, you're killing beneficial
organisms and >> harmful organisms, you know. So, >> it's not going to go away, I don't think. >> Probably not. >> Yeah. But I think, you know, that's where the education piece I I don't know what we can do with education, but I think a
little bit of education will go a long way if we can maybe start to to do some of that. You know, pe people, you probably have seen red thread in your lawn. It's the grass turns pink in
the spring. Have you seen that before? >> I don't recall. >> No. Well, when it gets humid out, the lawn gets red thread and the people's first reaction is to go get a fungicide and put it down and you know the grass will will grow out of it in a couple
weeks. You know, you don't need a fungicide application. It's not it's not the green on it's not the putting green on the golf course, you know. So, I don't know. You know, overwatering causes fungus. I mean, we all we all see
the sprinklers going all at all hours. So, some education and cultural practices can really go a long way. >> Right. The other the other thing that concerns me is, you know, we're aware
that there are you may want to speak closer to the mic. I'm not sure it's picking up. The the other thing that concerns me is that that we are kind of generalizing um all these pesticides, but yet we don't really have much factual
information as far as the individual pesticide effects and to so I feel like we may be sort of getting into an area that's beyond our perview by trying to legislate this sort of thing, you know,
uh That's sort of where at least from my perspective. >> Well, when we think about ed, you know, how best to educate people, including ourselves. Uh, if there's some groups out there, there's some some ideas that we can take a look at, that would be
great. And would it be worth bringing in somebody who is an applicator from the DPW or the the school to >> We reached out to them. They to have them come today. So they were busy. >> Okay.
>> We'll give one more shot at it. Okay. >> Yeah. Just >> We could certainly request the what their uh their report or their application log. >> Sure. You could probably interpret it, Verus.
Okay, great. Mary, anything there? >> Nope. >> Okay. All right. So, we move on to the uh plastic product waiver form review. Um
and um one thing Mary you may not be aware of because you don't have a hard copy. I had made one edit on it or suggested it. >> That's a hard copy. >> Not but there's we're having a correction made here tonight. She um I
can tell you what it is assuming everyone agrees or not. And on the second page, um you go down underneath duration of waiver requested. Underneath there, there's um three lines
and all the way to the right on the third line it says please list as >> to me wasn't clear the way the number signs and and commas or whatever would be. And also I I thought it's supposed to include
number five. So it would be 1 comma 2 comma 4 comma and five. You would know this better than I would, Mary. Um >> it's not number four is not one of the waiver ones. We we went back and relooked at it. Okay. >> So it's just it's on the new one that I
highlighted that I handed out. >> Okay. It's here. >> Pass that down to Hillary. >> I thought that was just an example. Please list as one number two. >> Yeah. >> Two. >> That kind of thing. That That's what I
thought that was. >> Okay. So, you're saying I'm missing the point then. Why are there two number TWs? >> Two. Two. There's They're listing one a number two plastic and two number four
plastics. That was how I read it. >> Yeah. But using I agree with you. It it if they're gonna if you want to do it that way, I'd spell out one one number two plastic two TWWO number four
plastics. >> Yeah, I I agree. I mean, we're board of health. We have a better chance of understanding it than just someone coming in with this. We have a lot of people going to going to be u sending in over the years coming up for a waiver. So
>> we do ABC then instead of one, two, three. >> Mary, what do you think's best? >> No. Why Why did you do ABC? What? You're you're you're you're
talking about the plastics that you have numbered down at the bottom in the right >> which also I have a comment about. Might as well make it now. Polystyrene is already prohibited by the town. So that needs to say that
as a reminder polystyrene >> number six >> already already you know prohibited by the town and put the date. Um so what you're saying is they are you
saying they can only request a waiver for number twos and number fours? >> One, two, and five. >> Eight and five. So, you have to put down five also. That's what you're saying. >> We we we did change it on We have a hard
one that We'll email it to you. >> Yeah. I mean and and also because if you're going to list three different plastics that they want to get a waiver for then you know this
relief is necessary due to how do you put down so underneath do you put down for number two it's no suitable alternative for the cost and for number five it's other you you know what I'm
saying It's you've got you've got the opportunity to um list it on the first page, but on the second page here, you're wanting them to list three different plastic, not give
them the opportunity to to put down what you want by way of relief purpose for each individual one. Okay. Uh, I'm finding confusing. Um, c
>> can we just get rid of the can't they just list the number plastic? C. Can we just get rid of one, two, and three? >> You're saying the ones that cannot get wavered or >> Well, why do we have additional numbers?
Please list as one period number one plastic, two period number two plastic, or three period number five plastic. Can't Can't it just Can't it just show the pound symbol and the number plastic?
It's it's confusing to have all of those numbers, >> right? >> Well, don't have one, two, and three. Just have number two plastic or number one plastic and then have relief is necessary due to and then number two
plastic relief is necessary due to number five plastic relief is necessary due to. >> Right. That's that's certainly clear for me. Um, now I don't think people necessarily going to know what 1 through seven
means. In other words, are those the only type of plastics there are? Or I mean there's no asterisk there saying why that list is below signature. >> That is the list of plastics. Yes. And they are marked on the container. >> They're marked on the bottom of the containers.
>> Right. So >> no, I'm talking about on the bottom of the page. um those that information happens to be there. I somehow it maybe needs a title above it. What what are those? You know what what does that mean? >> The list of different plastics. I mean
that >> plastic common types of plastic used in disposable foodear. types of plastic used in disposable food
wear. But then again with the polystyrene, you have to say and and and then I'd also say um for number three, no waiver. For number six,
no waiver, of course. Well, number six and number seven, no waiver. >> Good point. Yeah. you know, so that they because otherwise they're going to look at the list and think they can get a waiver for any of these. >> Can I
can I just interject for a second? >> Okay. So, um, would it be helpful to Mary's point where if we just take that section where it says identification code number, product is included, the reasoning that they're asking for it
on the front page and just put those checks box underneath each line item and say why they're asking for the waiver. So, under number one for each product above, answer the following question. Um, what is the product used for? Number
one would be um high density polyethone and the reason we're asking for the relief would be one of these items and it would be all in that same block. So they're answering the question they're identifying what the product is and they're asking identifying why they're
looking for a waiver. So it's would that help? >> When you say product, are they going to think the plate or they going to think of the type of plastic? >> The plastic. So they have to identify like to Mary say the types of plastic used in disposable food wear that will
give them the list here. You know you could say refer to list below >> right or just an asterisk to go on the next page down there and find >> kind of get rid of this section here and include it as part of what they're filling out if that would be helpful.
>> That' be less confusing. Yeah. Okay. I mean, I'm just trying to So, we just want them to identify the product name and um and then explain what they're using it for and why they're asking for a relief. It would all be under one umbrella rather than as a separate check
mark on the back page. We can redo that. >> Wait a minute. A separate check mark on the back page. >> Get rid of those check marks that are on the back page and put those on the front page where it says number number one. you would have the reason that they're
asking for the relief and it would be one of these reasons per the regulations and it would be under that, you know. >> Okay. But then where do you have them put the um the number of the plastic that they're >> the product name the plastic product
details on the first page. So their product name would be number one cost per unit monthly quality in the material and then >> that on my form here >> are you I'm not sure which
>> says for each product above please answer the following questions what is each product used for why is this product essential your operation are there health safety reasons for its use >> correct and then in that same block we would put why are you you know relief is
necessary due to what reason? And it would have to be one of the regulated reasons. >> And so where are you putting the type of plastic though that they're >> on the top section the plastic product details?
So it would be the product name. Do you have that? So it says business information and then the second section says plastic product details. Does yours not have that? >> Business information. plastic product details. >> That's where they would list the the um
type or we could add a type of product where it says material. So, it would >> put I'd put material. Uh I I'd put type of uh type of plastic and then put by number. >> Great. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because it's not material, but type of
plastic. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yep. and and you could say um by number, but um you know that's what you're going to list on on the second page. >> Correct.
>> Okay. Okay. Yes, I think that make it clearer. >> Okay. We we will um Riley and I will make those adjustments and resend out to the board. >> Right. >> Good. >> So, who makes a final decision? Is this just something that Barry would deal
with? >> Oh, I'll bring it to the next meeting. >> Yeah, we have time before all this goes into effect. >> No, but I mean each applicant >> once they fill this out then uh do they have to come before the board or you >> if it's if it's small and I can do it
and or fill but if it's a larger one, we'll bring it from the board. >> So you you'd certainly be able to sort >> Yeah. the issue out that we're >> talking about right now. Yeah, >> it's the same with the septic system. If someone kind of needs a variance, it's a
very simple routine one. We don't we don't see it. I mean, the health department takes care of that. >> Sure. >> So, it's complicated. >> No, what my point was that rather than be laboring all this, Barry's going to pick up any any uh um issue with the
application when when he sees it. Exactly. You just want to make sure the person filling it out knows what they're filling out and then so you don't waste time making phone calls and trying to interpret what what they wrote. That's all. You have it on on your plate. Okay.
Anything else on this? Anyone? >> Okay. Mary, thank you again. Want to do some uh reviewing of uh and approving of minutes. Come on, let's go for it. Okay. Looks like we have one set. September 15th,
2025. That was in your packet, anyone? Any edits to it? >> I didn't see any >> I didn't Okay. Anything in it? Eric? Mary? >> Hey, Eric.
>> The motion? Sure. Go for it. Let's go. I move we approve the uh meeting minutes from September 15th. >> I second it. >> Okay, let's let's skip. If anyone has any comments, let's just go and vote.
Just raise your hand, say I if you're in favor of passing it. Yes, they're accepted. Mary, which way did you vote? >> She raised her hand. >> She did. Okay, great. Okay. New and old business. And there
also a couple things in the packet here. Uh so why don't we start with with this Sarah? Want to start here? >> Sure. Yeah. Um so as we saw we had the September awareness and now we're moving
on to October. So we are um asking people to come in to fill out a pink ribbon and we'll display those onto town uh property here. We'll probably replace the colorings with the ribbons. Now, going forward, we will also be giving
out pink light bulbs, which we did today with Cape Save has donated generously uh 200 pink light bulbs. Um and we went to the senior center today and um sat there for a bit with Capes. Um Ryan McCcluskey, who's a very, very nice man.
And um will also be coming here on the 10th of October to give them out at town hall. So, the first 200 residents of Yarmouth um pick them up and display them at home, take a picture, email them to the health department, and we'll put them on the um you know, the website and
uh our and hopefully on you know, some sort of social media just to show support for the breast cancer awareness, which is October. And then the town hall staff is going to be wearing pink on the 17th. So, if you come into town hall, please wear a pink shirt. Um so, we're
excited. the we September's awareness month went well. Um I think it you know we had some um great participation from the children in the schools and bringing awareness and so each month we're going to learn from what we're doing and very
exciting you know bringing fun stuff to you know health awareness. >> Thanks for all the work. That's great. Barry, you want to take us through a few of the things in the packet here? >> Yeah. Uh in your packet you have the rental pre-insspection checklist. We get
a lot of questions from local homeowners of what we're going to be looking what the our housing inspectors look for. So this is going to be available to all them. It's just a it's not everything we look for, but it's just a it's a good guide of what what to expect for the big
um health issues when they go through to do an inspection. So the come a long way putting this together. Uh, when I first started, they didn't have anything like this. It was just kind of willy-nilly.
Now, Deb and Brian and Sarah and Riley, they have put together a great program. So, Riley, do you have any numbers on the rentals you could give us off the top of your head? >> Or how many are left for 2025? It's
under 30. >> So, under 30. And when we first started this program, we said it's not going to be perfect. We were hoping to have at least 20%, probably not. And we're down to one less than 1% of people who
haven't done it. And a lot of those are homes that have sold and new owners that don't that aren't renting or don't realize that they need a rental permit. So Riley's sending out letters and getting lots of response back. So that's that's a huge um shout out to to the to
Sarah and Riley up front. So I I have a comments or and a question. Um how do you know you know the affidavit? Um, how do you know to whom are you sending
these out or are you delivering them when you get a complaint that somebody's h how is this being used? the affidavit. That's if we Riley sends out emails and letters. If they call and say we're not
renting anymore or we're we we're not renting, they'll Riley will email them this and they'll send it back to us so they can come in and grab it and fill it out. >> Go ahead. >> And actually, I'm sorry, this is um we've also added this into open gov. So, it's actually now an applica, you know,
similar to a permit or an application they can fill out online as well. So, um we've done that now this year. So um it is sent Mary to your answer out with the um if we get you know question it is mailed out with the application but most
of these affidavits aren't we're not made aware of until someone receives the notification to ask them to renew their they'll contact us and say we're not we're not renting any longer. So, we'll now ask them to just go online and fill out the affidavit or if they don't feel comfortable doing it online, we'll mail
it out to them. >> And the com Thank you. That sounds great. The comment that I had is under um the responsibilities for refues um and I know you you probably use you know some
other forms as a basis but it says um like um as required by the municipality um but you know we don't have any trash pickup by the municipality in there's
private trash companies But there's no municipal trash pickup and some of these things um you know like arrange regular collection and final disposal through a municipal or private system and that's
under owner requirements on the um you know responsibilities for refues and duplexes and multif family homes. So I think that municipal should be taken off because people that are renting they don't know whether we have
municipal collect trash collection but we don't you see what I'm saying? >> Yes >> probably but this is the first place of it that didn't have one but >> could pick up. Yeah, I agree.
I think what we meant there was just to purchase a dump sticker, but we can um tweak that to make sure they understand that a little bit better. >> Right. Separate than a a collection of something. Yeah. >> Right. Thank you. >> Does that mean purchase a dumpster? What
do you mean? >> Purchase a disposal sticker from the town. Um arrange collection. I understand what you're saying. I'll definitely um tweak that. But I was I think what we were leaning towards is making sure that people understood that we have a disposal sticker they can
purchase and use that in lie of a private. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you though. >> Nice work. >> Yeah. Great. Um I just had uh couple thoughts. Uh, one,
do people who buy houses, do they get information that this is a requirement? In other words, they may be buying a house that someone already is renting on the property or someone buys a house and wants to rent uh on their property. When
someone purchased a house in town, do they learn about this or not? And there's so many sales and transfers of homes that for us to track that it would be it would be a task on its own. Um I
wasn't thinking of the town. I wasn't thinking of the health department. I was thinking what happens when you purchase a home. I mean I did this 30 years ago. I don't recall exactly where in the process that could be provided that information. Um >> do you have something? I was just going
to say for the properties that have had a rental at any point and then we noticed that there was a sale. Um I've been sending out letters to the new owner saying this once was a rental property. If you want to rent and then we send them the application on paper and the affidavit and just say if you
don't want to rent, please fill this out and let us know so that we can update our records and then we'll make notes that it was it was sold and they're no longer renting or that they'll require a new inspection. >> That's perfect. There's the answer. Great. Thank you. Okay. Um, the other
thing I was wondering, um, on the rental registration application, bottom it says the rental certificates expired December 31st. Um, and then you need to register your property no later than April 1st. Are
there any issues there of a threemonth gap that are problems where people may be renting but they don't have it? the owner doesn't have an active license. >> Yeah. I mean there I mean we try to catch them now. I think with the
short-term rental um that's being inspected annually now whereas before it was maybe every other year. >> Sure. >> I think we're catching those a little bit. >> You know short terms are usually the the issues. Um >> yeah I would think so. Um, so those now
because those are required annually. I think we're going to see less of an issue with that hopefully. Um, but yes, there are, you know, people that do wait until because they're not here till the summer, so they like, well, I didn't know I had to renew. >> But, you know, overall, we just try to,
like to Barry's point, we're trying to catch as many as we can. Um, you know, just to >> make them aware. And I think the more we um send out notices and emails and stuff like that. >> Great.
Well, the other is the issue which probably most people here uh don't think about too much and that is the idea that on the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors um not everyone can get up on the ladder
and change it every 10 years or change their batteries hopefully on an annual basis. That's something to think about. What should a person who doesn't feel comfortable because of a disability or just based upon age? I mean, they probably don't belong on a on a ladder
and I don't know if it's >> talk to the senior center or I mean, how can we arrange for people to get their batteries changed every year? >> So, that's a great question. And I did reach out to the fire department to see if they would come uh to one of our meetings and do a how-to and a safety
guide on how to change your um batteries and keep them dustfree and how how to properly do it safely and what services they provide. So I'm just waiting to get a email back. So hopefully in the next meeting or two, we can have the fire department in one of our meetings. So
>> Okay. Yes. Yeah. Hopefully, we don't have the the firefighters on coming in to do the battery changes. Obviously, I don't think that's going to be the way to go. I'm not sure what the answer is. Um I'm sure most people just ignore putting the batteries in. Um I'm sure um
understandably so. Um it could be tricky to get the batteries in. Y >> um sometimes um I I guess the units don't screw in as well and they're tough to kind of get it in a little bit, especially on older house. >> The new uh multiple ones, the battery
isn't even accessible. It's built into it, so you can't even they're they're 10-year batteries, so you can't even get get to them. So, >> okay, there's these batteries. Pardon? So, >> some of them they don't even use batteries.
>> Oh, they all have a battery backup in case you lose power. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Even if you're hardwired, um you have batteries, as you say, for a backup. >> And those batteries when they get weak, you'll hear a little ping ping ping telling you you ought to change the
batteries. Um you have to have pretty good hearing to hear, you know, hear it. Um but yeah, let's see if the fire department would come in or I don't know. Anybody have any ideas? Because there a lot of older people in the community are not >> any electrician would do that would
could come in and do that for you for a fee of course. >> I mean they're going to charge $100 for the visit. >> They would. >> Yeah, they should. I mean that's you know they're in business. Um >> I think we could also >> know what's available. >> Yeah. Okay.
We can also ask the senior services to maybe see if that's something or we can put it out to some high school kids. Maybe they can make a living out of doing that. Going in and changing batteries, you know, >> right? As long as there's some coverage if somebody gets hurt on your property. Okay. So, you have a high school kid
who's, you know, on a sports team, incredibly well coordinated. Maybe the ladder is not in good shape. Yeah. So, it's complicated, but we're talking about smoke alarms. >> Yeah. >> Um Yeah. I'll see if the senior center has some thoughts on it. >> Okay.
>> I'll call I'll reach out to them also. >> Anyone else? Anything else on that? >> Any other old and new business? >> Uh, one last thing. Um, the Arma Health Department is collaborating with the Arma Senior Center and the Cape Cod uh
healthc care system. We are doing a flu clinic. They have both doses of the flu shot and COVID is available. The newest version of CO is available uh Tuesday, October 14th, 1 to 3 at the senior center. Again, um you can go on to my
chart Cape Cod Healthcare web page and schedule your appointment or you can call 5088627000 to schedule. Also, hopefully we see everybody there. Um just a couple things that I'm going
to say that are really uh my opinion just being on the board of health and I'm not speaking for the board. Um today there was an announcement by the CDC is the center of disease control and we're saying that the
measles ms and reubella vaccine should be given each one should be given separately and not all together. We've been giving them combined since early in the 70s. That's how long this has been on the
market and followed. It's school kids have had to have these in order to come to school in September. They have to be up to date. So that means um person may need to bring their child three times for a medical appointment.
And I just think that that's a real hardship for people. It can be the expense of going to get it. It's taking time if let's say a caregiver is, you know, or parent is working has take time to get a doctor's appointment. Um it's
also giving three shots to the kid instead of one. Um so it's just be aware of that and stay vigilant of getting um vaccines for your kid. Um and another
point once again it's it's only my opinion and it's not for the board. Uh the White House announced that um pregnant people should not take Tylenol when you know when they're pregnant. Basically >> Can you pronounce it? Can you pronounce
>> acetmin? Yeah, I'm good. better than how it came out. It's true. And that's a medication. That's the generic name, right? Tylenol is a brand we all know about. It's a medication that's uh used u to treat fever and pain generally. Um
and there are certainly serious um medical problems that can develop if you don't treat fever or pain. and that could be for the mother as well as the
fetus. So I the message was that the Tylenol causes autism and um I'm personally not aware of any medical literature that supports that. So I just encourage pregnant women to speak with their health provider, get, you know, get
their advice of what to do, whether it's okay or not to take Tylenol while they're pregnant. And I would also say um if um
if a mother has taken Tylenol during their pregnancy and they have a child with autism and they feel guilty about it, it's another reason to speak with your health provider. Okay? if you're feeling upset of hearing that news and connect with a
medical expert. So once again, that's all my opinion just as one member on the board of health. >> Hillard, >> yes. >> I thought that the MMR MMR
was not available separately anyway. >> Well, I agree with you. I wouldn't know um whether it does exist. It's available, but that's what the message was and it came out today without any explanation of it.
So it may not be realistic. I don't know. Um but it's been 50 years that this is how those vaccines have been given. So we'll see. We'll see what develops. Yeah. Um I don't know if there are indications why kids sometimes would
get one or two and not all three in in the uh combination. I don't know that >> from a from a Oh, excuse me. Go ahead, Mary. I think your advice is spot on for people to go to their own private
physicians to discuss their medical needs. Uh one comment from a veterinarian looking back through we gave you know there are certain vaccines that we like to give separately but dister parvo
hepatitis parinfluenza uh they play very well together and those vaccines actually in any vaccine the main issue that I've ever had with vaccines is a reaction to the adgivant and if we're talking about
three separate vaccines That's three exposures to aduant that could be avoided. Not to mention the adverse effect of or the adverse psychological effect to these kids that are going to be getting three injections. I mean, I
look back when I was a kid and I was really I think that's going to result in a lot of non-compliance as far as vaccines go. That's my perspective. >> Yeah. But the adivant in my and I can document that that in my experience it's
the adgiant that caused most of the reactions in dogs and cats not so much to the the actual vaccine. >> Just give a definition of what that is the advent. >> The adgiant is a um a a byproduct of the vaccine that enhances enhances the
immune response. It's it's there to drive it's to there to attract um immunogloabbulins and and cytoines and other inflammatory um mediators to the injection site so
you can get a maximum response to the vaccine. And that's uh that's definitely a a a it's been documented it's the major cause of most vaccine reactions >> at least in veterary medicine.
>> Thank you. I know in cats for example it was been well documented the adgivants uh were were a cause of uh uh fibro sarcomomas you know uh and so we went to all non-adgivvented
vaccines for cats because of this genetic predisposition predisposition they had to this inflammatory reaction from the adgivants but that if that was the case in humans they would have had that well documented it and that's not the case. The other
thing is as far as acetamophen goes, there are many many documented cases of autism in in women that never took Tylenol. >> Right. Right. >> A lot of this started by one uh medical journal came out years ago.
um the idea that about autism and um the article was uh was was attracted um it um essentially the author admitted the information was incorrect.
So um okay, anything else for new or old business? How about a date for the next meeting? >> 20th right here. I'm good. October 20th. >> All right.
>> This is great. You did this. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> Okay. I make a motion that uh we adjourn. >> Oh, thank you, Eric. Second. Thank you.
Let's No discussion. Hopefully. Raise your hand if you want to leave. Okay. All right. >> Okay. Meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you guys. >> Recording stopped.