Board of Health - June 22, 2026

Good afternoon and welcome to the Westport Board of Health uh meeting for June 22nd, 2026.

Um under Mass General Law, chapter 3A, section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. And please join me in 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.

Okay, we'll move on to um the director's written report. Um any questions on that?

Um doing fine actually. Well, it's maybe too much to ask, but um since you're doing two jobs, would you list what you do for um in place of John? You know, like inspections and stuff like that.

Yeah. So, um so the health agent role is more than just septic, but it's it's housing. Joe takes care of pretty much all the food. He's got that under control. Uh but septic plan reviews, application reviews, we have a grant person helping with perks but occasionally I have to do perks. All the letter writing for plan deficiencies, review of revised plans. Um a lot of research into um different systems and

the requirements for the different systems, all the septic inspections, uh whether it be bottom or final inspections.

Uh I mean that's just to scratch the surface really right I what I'm saying is I think we need to document the fact that you are doing all this extra work so I know it's extra work to document but just we can have a offline discussion about that but anyways um okay um uh let's move on to your um updates so I'll just say that the uh just um you

know we talked about it at the work meeting but we'll talk voted here since uh about the transfer station uh closure over the um uh 14th and was it the 14th and 15th the Sunday and the Monday. I'll just uh reiterate that our truck went into the shop for a regular PM. They identified a safety issue on June 8th.

It stayed in the shop because they were waiting parts to get parts and um the parts, you know, we were told we get the truck back on that Thursday. It wasn't ready. Um, we were told we'd get it back on Friday. The truck wasn't ready. We borrowed the highway department truck on Friday, uh, the 12th. That truck broke down on the highway and we had to have it towed back to the highway department.

We opened uh, we stayed open all day on Saturday, but we filled the capacity on all of the on everything basically. So, there was no point in having people come in just to yell at the staff because they came in with stuff and they weren't able to dispose of it. So, we did our best to get the word out on um Saturday afternoon. We posted on the web page. E

alerts went out. We put it on the sign at the transfer station. But that's really we're limited. I mean, on how we get the word out. So, other going other than going doortodoor for people who have transfer station passes. There's no other way to effectively get the word out right now.

So, we did our best since um to get the word out.

Okay. But we have the truck back. We had the truck back. We got the truck back Monday at after 1:00. Our transfer station foreman came in, made the runs to clear up everything between Monday and Tuesday, which is the normal day off for the transfer station. Um, but it was an overtime day and he he was he said no problem. He came in. So, between all afternoon Monday and all day on Tuesday,

right to the end of the day, we were able to get 90% of everything um emptied and ready to open on Thursday. Uh, which we did.

Thank you. I know that was a lot of work to get that resolved.

Yeah, it's frustrating more than anything. You know, you want I know the public rely on the transfer station. I know they weren't going to be happy, but our hands were tied. I mean, had this happened on a Monday or a Tuesday and we knew definitely at that point we weren't going to get the truck back. I would have see alternate means of disposal. I would have called contractors, I I would

have maybe looked into renting another truck. But because it happened on a, you know, right to the end of the week and then Saturday, there's no options.

Everybody's closed. Nobody's answering phones. So, is what it is.

Okay.

Okay. Um, just say that, uh, you know, it shouldn't be any surprise that we're in a level two significant drought in our neck of the woods. Um, you know, so just a few recommendations uh for residents and businesses to just minimize overall water use, follow local water use uh restrictions, which we don't have any particularly because we're 90% um private wells or 99% private wells at this point. We should

probably look into putting some uh local water use restrictions in place for the the people on the water line. And since it's expanding, it might be a good idea to look at that.

Um, and just basically, you know, try to limit the water use until the drought subsides at least a little bit.

Well, I think people who have private wells um especially if they're shallow wells um need to prioritize um human consumption and avoid the lawn watering and stuff like that. That's discretionary. Um, everybody's got brown lawns at this point, so join the crowd.

Everyone's got what?

Brown lawns, you know.

No, I have a couple of neighbors that don't have brown lawns.

Well, so I am going to slip um the drought information into their mailbox or draw or stop by their house and give it to them because I don't think they're aware. I just don't think they're aware.

[clears throat] So, uh, okay. Um, anything else? Any other updates?

Um I should we don't yet uh we have not yet had the opportunity or board of select select board has not yet taken up our job postings. So um we will be without um a town nurse as of July 6th.

Right.

July 3rd and um is our last day.

Okay. So, what we what I've done is I've contracted out to a nurse to help us, you know, meet the Maven requirements, the reportings for Maven. And um so at least that'll be covered, but we won't have a town nurse um I don't know until I don't know when. So, until uh till the town administrator um has time to talk with me about the job descriptions and you know, we can get that sorted out and

get it to the select board for their approval. Wow.

Okay.

I can't tell you when that's going to be.

So, just for people to be aware that the town nurse services will no longer be available until we can hire somebody.

Do we have that posted on our site? I haven't looked at the site.

We can't post until the select board.

No, that Linda is leaving.

Oh, no.

That that in, you know, until further notice after July 3rd, there will be no nursing. No, I I am going to put the message up uh probably tomorrow, but also um you know, we need to think about what we're going to do with the uh shocks program and think if we're going to do that because um we have to suspend it for Yeah, I think we might end up suspending

the pro. It creates its own problem by doing that though because people just leave them in the hallway um unattended and it sometimes in the wrong containers which is a hazard. you know, somebody walks through, you know, by picks it up and gets jabbed because somebody left them in the wrong container or something. Um, do you think that the fire department would be willing to take that until take

care of that until um we have a Northtown nurse again?

I can ask.

Just so that there's a place that's open for that people can go to to do that safely.

Yeah, I mean there's there and um I know the police department do other medication takeback.

They have Yeah, they have the med box there.

They have a med box, but it's not a shops container box. And I don't I'm not sure um you know I know the apothecary doesn't have a shops container. So um yeah. So we um maybe CVS.

No, they have medication drop. They have a medication drop off, but they don't do anything with with sharps. But the long and the short of it is I'm going to suspend it until we we have somebody that can actively monitor it.

Um so it's not a hazard. And we'll also put that message up with the message about Linder as well.

Okay.

Okay. Um we wish Linda, we're going to miss Linda. Linda has been a very valuable member of um the board of health. um the number of um people that she's helped supported um blood pressure checks uh the vaccines um uh her her availability in the community is going to be greatly missed and she's well known um for the people that really need the support from a town nurse that that uh it is going to be really

difficult to replace her. I don't think she's replaceable, but it's going to be very difficult because she's built relationships in the town with the school department, with the nurses in the school department. Um the blood drives that she's organized.

Um she's uh quite an asset that we are um we're going to miss. We certainly are.

Um and so people um who want to say goodbye to Linda could stop by her office. Um she's there except for Tuesdays and until July 3rd needs to say goodbye. Okay, thank you. Um moving on to director approved plans. I just note a typo on the Mark Drive is a four bedroomedroom new construction [snorts] um on our agenda but um okay um Matt, why don't you take us through those?

Sure. We have a uh three-bedroom repair on a 35,100 foot lot on 343 American Region Highway from Norberto uh Cabin Cabina.

Um this one has been through Concom.

We have a three-bedroom construction on a 60,800T lot on nine Berseron Lane for Riley Homes.

It's pending Concom.

We have a three-bedroom repair on 223 Reed Road for Thomas and Kathleen Le Point um on a 20,082 square foot lot.

This has been through Concom and it will need a 3-bedroom deed restriction.

We have sixbedroom new construction on 124,159t lot on 38 Sison Farm Lane for John and Julie Mccardi. Um this one has been through Concom.

It will be three-bedroom repair on a 23,248 square foot lot for 7 Keith Drive for James E. Campbell.

It's been through Concom and this one will also need a deed restriction. There will be three bedroomedroom repair on 169,68T lot for 164 Old Pine Hill Road for Brussa Breu and Biola Mones. Um, this one's been through Concom [snorts] and we have a 4 bedroomedroom new construction on 110,737 ft lot on Marott Drive for BPH Holdings and it's pending con.

So, and do we need to approve the CI analysis for 343 American Legion?

Yes, that's um we do. We're just instead of putting them on as an agenda item for civ analysis, we're just going to include it in the director approved for the board to Okay. I just want to make sure that and Berseron is concom pending correct.

Uh at the time that this list was made, it was pending.

So do we know if it's I I didn't see it come back. So I'm not sure.

Okay.

If it came back today just to be on the safe side.

Yeah, I will say that.

All right. So unless it is I have no I have no um issue. So, I would like to move to endorse the director approved plans for a 343 American Legion Highway with a 3-bedroom uh no restriction uh with civ analysis and for nine Berseron Lane um 3bedroom Concom pending 223 Reed Road uh 3bedroom with with a three-bedroom deed restriction 28 System Farm Lane um sixbedroom with new construction 7 Keith Drive um with a

three-bedroom deed restriction 164 Old Pinehill Road um three-bedroom repair and Marott Drive a fourbedroom new construction concom pending second um motion made and seconded and can we just clarify is it 38 system or 28 8.

Wait a minute. I looked it up.

It's 38.

When I did the database, it was I thought it was 38, but the um uh it's 38 on here.

It's 38.

It's 38.

38 on your on the agenda.

Yeah. On yours, but it's a different one right?

It's um I'll look into that.

Okay. So, um just we'll we'll clarify for Bob. So Bob will clarify if it's a 38 or 28 C farm Road.

Okay. Motion has been made and seconded with those conditions. All in favor?

I. That's unanimous. Thank you.

All right. Um we're moving on to director approved I mean sorry to the minutes of June 8th, 2026.

This is the last regular meeting.

Any questions or concerns about the minutes?

I was fine.

I was fine as well. So, I u move to approve the minutes for June 8th, 2026.

Second.

Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of June 8th. All in favor?

I. That's unanimous. Thank you.

Um moving on to other business. We have board member updates. We'll start with um you want to start with Liberty?

Yes.

Mr. uh Weinberg and myself, we held down the tent for River Day. It was a very windy day.

Um but we had a table and we focused on um a lot of it was focused on tick uh tick born illnesses and prevention. Um and we're encouraging people to do tick checks every day and to um I I had de I had sunscreen and um uh uh de combination and then I had sunscreen as well for kids. So, um, we handed out, I think, all of the tick kits

and I think all of or most of the bags that had the tick in a circle with a cross out, no tick. So, um, uh, so I think that it was a really, uh, good connection with the community and education in the community, which was the the purpose.

Yeah. I just say we had very good conversations, you know, with people, many of whom had because it was a lot of families, somebody in that three or four group had had it at least once or twice. And uh so people exchanged war stories and you know we just talked about what had to be prioritized in terms of checking you know yourself every day if you're out in that kind of environment where

you're going to be exposed and you know taking you know precautions that you you know and um so I think it was well received.

Great. Well thank you both for for um yes we had fun. I'm very sore from holding the tent down, the canopy down because of the wind, but um it was a It was a nice day though. Nice day.

It was a It was a nice day. It was um I don't know how many people actually came to the event cuz we're also divided by the river. So, half of it's on one side of the river and then there are others in the like the parking lot area side of the river.

So, it's really hard to gauge how many people were there, but there were a lot of kids there and yeah, so it was nice.

Any other updates from um I'm taking down the um deconstructing stigma um displays. They need to go back to MLAN hospital.

Okay.

Um I've gotten some positive feedback about them. I just wish we were able to have them for the month of May and have them around town so that it would be a good conversation piece for people and making um there'd be more awareness and openness to talking about various forms of mental illness and substance use disorder. So, but um other than that, that's it.

Okay. Thank you.

I didn't know if this is going to be a a piece on a separate agenda, but I think I brought to Matt's attention and I think I circulated to both of you this proposal um by a state rep to um give Mass Housing Authority the ability to give um low interest loans to um people to restore contaminated wells.

and um and they have a program which if it's parallel to which I think it was I haven't really read the legislate full legislation um you know you can be at an income level where you get a 0% loan which doesn't have to be repaid until you sell the house. So, it's makes it very affordable um very affordable to people.

And I had just suggested in the email as to whether or not we could do this next time, you know, have a conversation about whether or not we would want to contact our state representatives and have them support this bill, which is part of the um environmental bond bill, you know, you know, which is a multiund million dollar bill that covers a lot of territory. So, um, and you know, I just thought it could be,

you know, something that that we should support and, you know, reach out to our reps because it's u it's money that's sitting in house in mass housing, you know, that is not currently, you know, being fully distributed.

Um so when you say um for um wells that need rehabbing, what what are the um what's eligible? What would be Well, that's the part I really haven't dug into it and, you know, and I [snorts] thought if we were going to um if we thought it was worth having, you know, putting on the agenda, you know, then I could I'd dig into it and circulate the legislation and, you know, we could talk about it.

Okay.

Yeah. Um, when is the environmental bond bill coming up for vote?

Time.

I'm I know that they're they had up they met.

I think it's well um I think it was going to be a while.

Um because I think a there there may have been a period where everybody had to get in their um their marker. So you know their request to be considered in the bill and then I think it's going to go to each of the house you know the house and senate committees and go through and then it you know it's so I think it's going to be a while.

So it's not like a it's not it's not an imminent Yeah.

That's not think I think the whole I think that's a good idea to put on our future agenda.

Yeah.

If you um and in fact if you want to draft a proposed letter of support okay as part of the package that would be great.

Okay.

Um so we have to talk about actually our next meeting July is scheduled for July 6th. Um but I will still be out of town and I believe Matt is taking the day off. So, I'm wondering whether we should if you guys want to man the fort solo. I don't think that it's possible, but I think it would be preferable to have Matt here obviously. Um, and me maybe. Um, so neither of you would be here,

right?

Oh, okay.

Well, I don't think that's a good idea then.

Um, so I don't We can either cancel that meeting or we can reschedule it.

Reschedule. When are you back? What do you do you know what your concom schedule is?

Um well it usually is on the now I'm the same week that we'd have the board meeting we'd be having the okay um the concom meetings you know unless something threw it a holiday really threw it out of whack.

Okay. So um July 6. So you would have um come on July 7th right?

How about we look at July 11th? I mean, um July 13th. Just push it back a week to the following Monday.

Um as far as I know, I don't have a conflict.

I can do the 13th.

Let's uh tenatively and if if we we can if there's not enough business to make it worthwhile, we can just push everything back to the 20th. So, are we going to go on a new rotation from the 13th or we just going to have an extra meeting?

Um, I know someone in my family who wouldn't mind us going on rotation.

Oh, okay. Um, so new rotation meaning 13th and then the 27th which I will be out of the country.

Um, so but you guys could handle that.

Um, what's the pleasure of the board? I think I will probably be away too.

Well, we can keep the same schedule and just if there's nothing really pressing for a meeting, just skip it all together and then just pop one up if something urgent comes up and then just stay just have the stay in the same schedule for the 20th will be the next meeting. But if something comes up in between, we can pop up a meeting if something urgent comes up would be my

suggestion. So, so let me uh entertain a motion to cancel the July 6th meeting.

Um and um so the next regularly scheduled meeting will be July 20th and if something you know if there's an urgent need we could reschedu we could pop up a meeting on the 13th.

So moved.

Second.

Motion made and seconded to cancel the July 6th meeting. All in favor? I I That's unanimous. Thank you.

Okay.

All right. Anything Did you say the 15th or the 20th? I'm sorry.

Um you were talking about the 13th as a possible popup date.

Oh, a possible possibility, but right now it's just cancelled and um Okay.

The next meeting would be the big comes up and we meet we we must meet then we can meet.

on the 13th.

Okay.

Anything else? Any other board updates?

Okay. Um well, we're cutting out shy. Do we have um a butters for 11 Harrison Court?

I think there's one.

Yeah. Well, when you come up, you can bring them up. Um it's just we got to wait till 4:30 in case comes.

Right.

yourself up so we can be ready to go.

Yeah. Do we have um a plan for shorelines?

Ooh, I was actually um sorry, go bank backtracking. I thought that um maybe we could do something about the drought and well safety, you know, like I don't know if that's something I could do something. I mean, I'll just post the um you know, the drug alert thing anyways and we could do something on that, but I do not have a plan.

Yeah, we Yeah, we should have something coming up cuz I July in July.

Oh, in in July and January like next week.

So, heat or drought would be a topic, tiny topic. So, um, does that ring a bell for anybody? You know, I can put together something on drought.

Oh, sure.

Can you do it, Fell? Are you um Um, well, uh, I tell you what, why don't you do something on heat for August?

Oh, okay. All right.

Then I'll do drought.

Okay. Yeah.

Then I'll do something in September.

So, I just did two in May.

Yes, you you've been a busy beaver. Um, okay. And then September. September.

Okay. Very good. Thank you for bringing that up. Mhm. Okay. Let me see.

It's 4:30 on my clock, so we'll go with that. Um, I'm going to call the variance hearing um for 11 Harrison Court. Um uh represented by um James Borabach. Um owners are Plymouth Bay Associates. Is that right?

James Borbach is with my office. I'm James Shores. So Okay.

Yeah.

Sorry. Um uh this is Oh, the owner is Nine Tiffany LLC. This is a four-bedroom repair um with the Geomat um on a 15, 519 square foot lot.

So let you open the floor with your presentation.

I was going to say good evening, but good afternoon. I think this is probably the first afternoon hearing that I want to hold this.

Good afternoon. Uh my name is James Shores with Plymouth Bay Associates. Um I'm here on behalf of my clients, um Kayla Howerin and Ariel St. Germaine um who have a purchase and sale agreement for 11 Harrison Court. Um the property is owned by Nine Tiffany LLC and we're we we are here requesting an MFC waiver as well as uh four local upgrade approvals um for a septic repair on the site. Okay. Um the existing system it

failed to title five back in August um of 2024 due to backup of and backup in the distribution box um as well as its proximity to a um to a well um to the well for the site. Um the power as you said is 15,819 square ft and it supports a four currently supports a four bedroomedroom home. Um, that house today is being used as a short-term rental. Um, when my clients finally purchase the property,

this will be their year round residence.

Um, I think that's important to note.

Um, you can see there's a lot constraints here. I don't know if you can see my um my plan here. Um, but this is South Waka Pond up to the west of the property north if you're looking at it up up here. Um there's a paved driveway. This is your existing well here. Um and with the proximity of the pond, the property constraints, the only place to put an existing system is in the front yard

here. Um it's it's very constrained.

That's where the existing system is now.

Um the existing system is has a tank, has a debox, and has a leeching facility that kind of hubs the road this way. Um, so as I said, you know, we're here looking for a waiver due to the um due to the site constraints where we wouldn't be able to put a fully compliant um title 5 system. Um, two seconds.

I think it's also important to note for this with um with your MFC um waiver checklist that I went through, you you you look at it from a financial aspect as well. Um, part of the purchase and sale for my clients is that they are responsible for the engineering and construction of the septic system, not the owner of the house. So, I thought that would be important to um to important point to make. Um, we are

proposing a Geomat system with it which is an innovative alternative system under remedial use approved by NASD come out of the house there. There's two um currently there there's two pipes coming out of the structure. Pipe coming out of a full basement area um in the main part of the house and then this looks like a smaller addition that was put on sometime later. They have a pipe

coming in. So we'll bring these two uh pipes into the tank out of the tank into a debox and into the uh geomaping system.

Um we're looking for the local upgrades being um the proximity of the tank to the to the basement. Um we are looking to bring that to 5.68 ft. Um we're looking to bring the uh soil absorption system uh 2 1/2 ft to the basement over here, which these aren't full basements.

They are it's it's a crawl space. And I'm pretty sure this is a slab. I couldn't get in there, but let's just assume that it's it's not a full basement. Let's assume it's it's a crawl space. Um, so we're looking for that upgrade. Um, we're looking for to place the system within 50 ft to the existing well, the existing shared well. Um, and during um during the perk test, we were

only able to do one deep hole. Um, just with the system itself, there just was not enough room to do a second deep hole. Um on top of that with the MFC waiver to the um to the existing from the well to the existing system um I pushed the system as far away from the well as I could within reason. Um I do want to note that this again this is a

shared well. Uh we did locate um number seven there. I I don't know what their I'm assuming their system is assess pool. Um, so I located the cover assuming an average size to the to the cesspool. Um, that that's existing 48.8 ft plus or minus. If there's any fingers coming off of that, that's going to get closer to, uh, to the well itself.

Um, we did do testing, uh, water testing for the well. That was the first thing we did. Um the nitrates came up at uh 6.76 millgrams per liter below DP's 10.

Um and all the other parameters were not detected in that test. Um and then for that um we're requesting these four upgrades in the MFC waiver and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Okay. Thank you. Phil first we'll go to uh Matt and his comments.

Okay. Um, so thanks. I appreciate the time and effort you put into the plan here. Um, so I don't have any additional comments. It was, you know, plan was pretty well laid out. The only thing I have to say is it's up to the board to address the MFC waiver. How they want to proceed with that.

Yeah. Okay. Um, whatever comments.

Mhm. which you know and whether there was overlap there. I wasn't quite sure about that as compared to what was in the what was in the the the form because the the form has the installation at 29,524 and then um I'm not sure how that matched it matched up to the um you know cuz then one of the um estimates was 53,500 and and I just wasn't quite sure how

those aligned. Am I Was I just being confused?

Um well, I think the the um standard installation for a standard title 5 is the 295. That's the middle quote.

And then there are two options. One is for a fast system at 414 and then the other one is the nitro system at 535.

looking at two different alternative um dite um systems and looking at the cost differential because it's more than the default 10,000 that we um say you don't have to get quotes for um okay so is that yeah I was just cuz it okay I think the the just saying in the form then behind the the 29th 252 two, it says for the nitrogen reducing system, it's $11,000.

That's the increment above Okay.

29 that goes up to the 41,000. So that's more than the 10,000. So I see that.

Okay.

Okay.

Um we use a sort of a 10% threshold. So it's it's below that. But I think I would focus on the site and water quality conditions. I I'm personally, you know, I'm concerned about the 6.76 that's starting to get up there. But I think you're right. There's two systems that are impacting this. You're fixing one. Um the a buttering property with where the shared with the shared well is probably

another contributing source and I don't know you don't have any influence directly on that. Um, but we will be needing to do testing on both on the well.

Um, and um, there's not two wells. Um, so that's a, you know, that's for us.

Yeah. I'm fine because I I I don't think it, you know, with the cut off point or the trigger for the this examination being five and this being just slightly above it with the max of being 10. I'm comfortable um giving a a waiver of the maximum feasible. And I don't know if there if you if you know anything about the gradient, but you know where Yeah, it was actually I was going to I

didn't want to interrupt. Yeah. But everything's pretty much on a level gradient. The site slopes to the pond.

So the existing system, the proposed system and number seven system compared to the well it's almost on a level gradient. So most of the raft limit league is going to exactly come this way not towards the level.

Right. which being so close to the pond is probably what I thought that that that's going to be the direction of groundwater flow.

Okay. The assessed value of the property is 602.

Y So is it above the with the with the dite system?

It is not. So the from a financial perspective it doesn't meet that it doesn't meet the criteria. Right.

Um but it also is also asking based on water quality conditions.

Yeah.

Um we all we will be doing the well testing for 3 years. So but they will be doing not us.

So, I mean, always my concern is when it's above our threshold, which is five.

And um hopefully the new system will help bring down the nitrogen, but um you won't know until the next door neighbor does something with their system, right? Because they're sharing the well. We don't do Do we know what the next door neighbor has for a system?

I think he mentioned it's possibly a cess poolool.

I'm next door. Ah, you have I'm sorry. Number seven, do you know what kind of um what your septic system is?

It it is assessible. Okay. So, um probably contributing to the deteriorating water quality of the shared well. Um and those so uh we currently have a regulation that requires cesspool upgrades by uh February 1, 2028, although we're re-evaluating that timeline. Um, I would encourage you to consider um upgrading the cesspool. Cesspools don't treat waste water. They're just basically big

hole in the ground. Um, the higher nitrates mean basically um in a u blunt way sort of diluted urine um is is one of those is is probably what's happening. um very dilute, but still um given the how close all the the small lots, the close proximity of the wells and septic um you know that it would improve the water quality for both you and your new neighbors um to um to upgrade um that

system. we, you know, until we have a title five inspection, we can't say that it's failed, but it's cusp pools are just very old technology. They've been in the ground probably 60 70 years. Um, and it's sort of time [clears throat] uh for an upgrade. Um, so that's that's the advice I'd give you as the abuter.

Um, and it would likely be a benefit to both property owners to improve the well water quality, but um, uh, you had a failed system on the existing property that we're discussing today. Uh, a title 5 upgrade is certainly going to be an improvement.

Okay.

Any other comments or concerns?

No, but there's a lot of var there are several variances. Um, yep. Um, is somebody prepared to make a motion?

Okay, I will do that. Um, so I move to approve the plan um for the property at nine Tiffany at 11 Harrison Court owned by 9 Tiffany LLC. a four bedroomedroom repair on a plan dated 52726 subject to concom approval two-bedroom deed restriction.

There's a number of it's just clarify.

You said two. I believe it's Oh, it's four.

Four. Yeah, it is.

Thank you.

Yeah, it is four. I mean, I had written four, but anyway. And um there's a series of um local upgrade approval waiverss which are described in detail in the plan. So um our condition would be to you know implement those but just um one one it relates to um the septic tank set back from the basement uh to be reduced the um setback from the SAS to the basement distance be res

reduced the SAS distance to the private shared well be reduced and uh allowing a one deep hole observation uh 3 years of well testing and hold harmless agreement.

Okay.

Did we miss anything? You said whole harmless fourbedroom deed restriction, three years of water testing concom can can I inter and I apologize just procedural. Did we ask the neighbor if she would like to comment? Is that part of the procedure or um I just want to make sure procedurally we're correct.

Sure. We sort of had a conversation. And I'm assuming that if she uh she would have expressed concerns, but I'll Okay, it's an improvement.

Thank you. Thank you for being precise. Okay.

Um so I second it.

Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the project for 11 Harrison Court um of all those um local upgrade approvals um with the conditions so enumerated. Um all in favor? Hi. Hi.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

And thanks for coming in.

Yeah.

Um, so they need a document for closing for their um for the bank. How do you how do you folks manage the uh once we stamp the plans? That's the the document. We don't issue a letter.

Okay. uh a letter will be issued but uh probably uh end up with a stand plans quicker.

Okay. Thank you so much.

Thanks for thanks for your presentation.

Okay. I will call the 440 um parents hearing. This is for 100D drive owned by Robin Barubi at three-bedroom pair with a quick four on a 19,600 ft lot represented by Glenn Potter.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr. Potter.

Glenn Potter here. Whisper environmental design for Robin Barabby 100 uh D drive and we're asking for a one waiver to replace the septic system. The septic system currently is um a septic tank going into 4ft galleys which they used quite a bit in the old days.

uh the system fails in the water table.

Did a perk test out there. I'm 100 ft from their own well and the closest neighbor's well is 160 ft to the east toward J drive. So there no wells involved.

Yay.

Um with water table was 54 in. Uh it's a small backyard, small lot. Uh less than 20,000 square ft. What we're going to try to do is I want to try to keep the backyard as level as possible. So I have to put a pump in the tank is too deep even with that variance. And um I'm asking for a waiver according to 4051H to reduce the distance to water table by

four. And that still raises the grade by 6 in from what exists now. Uh but that's that's the only wavering need to get this taken care of.

Okay. Thank you.

Uh just can you just you how much you want to reduce by four? You 14 to three.

Okay.

Four to three.

Okay. I just want He did say four, but we knew we we knew we knew what he meant.

I just um Okay. So other than that, everything is good. you're going to get on this lot.

Okay.

Is any concerns from the board?

No.

No.

All right. So, I move that we approve the plan for 100 drive owned by Robin Barabby dated 6226 with a variance of reduction of the SAS to the high groundwater mortar table to 3 ft um with the following conditions.

whole harmless and a three-bedroom deep restriction and concom.

Oh, no. Concom's on there. I saw a stamp.

Oh, yes. Sorry.

Mhm.

Yeah.

It's black and white, so I didn't see the red.

Second. Oh, okay. Motion made and seconded to approve the project at 100 D for with that local upgrade approval with those conditions. All in favor?

I.

Was there a whole homeless and a deed restriction?

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Okay. Yep. That's fine.

Mhm.

I was going to add and you have to stand on your left ear and spit nickels, but I'm kidding you.

No, he's getting towards a fair season, so we don't want to I know. I know.

Um, okay. All set.

All set. I'm all set.

Thank you, Mr. Potter.

Thank you.

Okay.

Have a good evening.

You, too. too.

Hope for rain. Pray for rain. More rain.

We really need it. Yeah, we need a rain. So, 451 in the engineer is not here yet for the 450 hearing.

I don't know how much time I want to go.

Well, uh do we have any other topics for the next we talked about topics? Next regular meeting will be the um uh legislation. Phil, you're going to provide that info. Anything else we want to put on the agenda?

Just to say that um on Friday the 26th, this Friday is the legislative breakfast we're having for the PHE group. I know Don has signed up. Have you signed up for that?

No.

So um the DPH commissioner will be there. Senator Rogers will be there.

Some other I think Steve signed up and some other dignitaries in our PH group and also the Fall River group. So, okay.

So um it's gonna, you know, so it's Friday morning this Friday morning.

Yeah. It's up at Whites if you go on to to um I'll I'll forward you the invitation. Okay. Okay.

Okay.

And then you could sign up if you want to know.

Okay. Yeah.

And I sent a text to our state rep, Steve Bat, to ask about the bond, and he said it's already been voted on.

Oh.

The environmental bond bill.

Oh, wow. Um he said that he um got a million dollars for Westport Culverts and $400,000 for Freetown Long Pong project.

Um also co-sponsored by Rep. Christy Marky's 1 million proposal for Warline to continue to Dartmouth and some more for New Bedford. So our state rep at work.

Okay.

All right. So, um, we don't know. Maybe you could find out if the legislation Yeah.

was included, uh, that mass housing proposal.

Yeah. Mhm.

Okay. Um, um, I thought you indicated that Butter was going to be here for this one as well.

Yeah.

So, okay.

Um this is one that had a um 12 point something nitrate nitr. So definitely some concerns there. Um well and also had uh caulifforming as well as the nitrates had what?

Califform and the nitrates 12.3.

That was the butter.

Yeah. So um I wanted to we'll have to send a letter at least to the butter. Um oh that's P. Yeah she know the letters like that.

Yep. Okay. Um and that the butter has a tiny lot probably cuz it's unknown in the database. Same kind of discussion.

Hello.

Oh the butters.

Okay. Uh well we don't have the Have a seat. The engineer is not here yet. So we're um hoping they'll come very shortly. Otherwise, we're going to have to continue.

Okay.

There he is.

Uhhuh.

You wait for me.

We're waiting for you.

I could caught in that room 24 traffic.

It's my excuse.

Okay. Well, we're still here. So, we'll um I recall the hearing for um uh 11 South Berryman Street, owned by DMG Associates.

No, I'm sorry. Owned by Southeastern Holdings LLC. Um this is a two-bedroom repair with a quick four and the Singular on a 62 345T lot represented by William Gotwald U DMG Associates. Yes.

Okay, you are up. Okay. Well, you you read it there. small lot.

There's wells all around.

Um this there's four wells including the on-site wells that are just 50 ft minimum 50 to 60 ft I think they have the four of them. The uh water quality tests have been submitted. So we there's that and then we need a bunch of a few uh variances for nothing from property lines for the system but uh off the foundation for the tanks 10 feet uh down to 6 ft and the leeching field down to

17 ft.

Mhm.

Um it's one of those because of the wall set deck we can't ask for a wave for the height.

So we have a 4ft groundwater separation going to be a concrete wall around the whole thing. Yeah, it's investigated.

It's going to be expensive system probably more than the house, but it has a singular a uh dite system.

Mhm.

And I suppose it looks better than the cesspool that's there now. All I can say.

Yes, it will be an improvement. Um let me turn then to Matt for um comments. So you know it's the best you know it's a Dight system such a small lot and um they squeezed everything in as best as they could uh for this two-bedroom house. So um you know there was a few things but we got everything straightened out and um everything looks good the way it is right now.

Okay.

So yeah, when you have a lot this small, there's not a lot of work.

Yeah. I mean, you know, from my point, it's uh it's kind of a challenging thing because everything has to fit exactly.

It looks great on paper. Hopefully, it'll be put in the way it should be, you know.

Okay.

Uh let me open it up to um um board member comments, questions, concerns.

Well, I'm glad we're upgrading from a size pole.

Yes. Um there's a few of the um water testing that's concerning.

Um but as terms of this the system, I don't have any questions about how you have it set up.

Yeah, I don't have an issue with uh exactly with um compliance um you know with title five and the waiverss. Okay.

Okay. Um the on-site wells and um let me see if I got this.

Seven South Berry Men is 4.10 the onsite well four South Balt is the one we want to talk about.

Um that would be me.

Okay, we're going to talk in a second.

Um and the on-site well is 3.45. So those are below the five milligram threshold that we prefer to see. Um so for the those two the um for South Bal Street um and that is the well distances and that's also a tiny lot I believe. Yeah. Um um is where's the well streets for south?

52 ft um for south. So um um so that that's one we want to talk about. Um, but since that's your property, um, you want to, um, you have questions or concerns and comments?

A little bit of both. I'm not familiar with this process, so you have to bear with me.

Could you go to the microphone, so I And state your name for the record.

Yeah. Okay.

Hi, I'm uh, Randy Tri. I own my residence at For South Bros. Mhm.

And um I first got the letter about them testing my well.

Mhm.

My well came back contaminated. So there's already a problem.

Mhm.

From what I understand, both neighbors on both sides are also contaminated. One of them potentially with lead. So I'm a little bit concerned about all of it.

Um, and when I looked at the thing that you guys are looking at, it looks like my well is closer to my house than what it actually is. My well is literally only like a foot or so, maybe 2 ft from my fence or from the fence.

Mhm.

So, I I've never took a tape measure and measured it, but I don't know how it would be at least 50. I think it says 51 ft or 52 feet from my property. So, no, it's 51 ft from the septic system on the neighbors the the Okay, cuz I'm not familiar with reading all this stuff.

So, what we're concerned about is um because the um waste water that goes through a septic system is um not great. you wouldn't want to drink it, right?

And it goes into the um leeching field or if it's a cesspool into just a hole in the ground um and then goes out into the groundwater. And we want to have at least 100 ft from from the leeching field or the the treatment area to the closest well. um that distance allows that um sort of natural um treatment if you will so that hopefully the water uh you know it doesn't affect

negatively affect the well. That's the standard in the state regulation what's called title 5. Um we have a request here in front of us because of the small lot they there's no way they can place a septic system um 100 ft away from all of the wells that are in the neighborhood. Um so he's as he as the engineer described he sort of like a jigsaw puzzle trying to fit it in

the best possible location and um all of the um distances are at least 50 ft from the wells which if it's less than 50 ft it's a whole another world of trouble um you know in terms of getting approval.

Um but at least 50 feet we can approve it at the local level um if you know the best possible um um efforts are made. And in this case because the um engineer is proposing a uh an advanced treatment system that would um reduce the nitrate nitrates level more than a standard title 5. Um that's the best you can do. you can't unless you're on a water, you know, unless you're on public sewer, you know,

there's that's sort of the best you can do. Um, and that's what he's proposing.

um in the case of all of the other wells um are in terms of the nitrates I didn't look I I have to look again at what you were talking about the lead um are below the sort of first level of concern that we raise at the local at the border health level which is 5 milligrams per liter um except for your well um it is I'm suspecting I don't know Um, do you

know what what kind of system do you know what you have on your property? Do you have a cesspool? Do you have a regular title five system? Do you know how the the house was built in 194 kind of what we suspected? So, a cesspool doesn't provide any treatment.

So, you have a cesspool on your property that is likely causing the contamination of your well because it's closed.

Well, I know mine's been pumped every year. From what I understand, that property and the one to the right of me have there's no record of pumping on file.

Mhm.

I know my my grandmother did, my mother did, and I do. Mhm.

But so I mean I I I guess I don't know where it actually came from, but if I had to venture a guess, I wouldn't think it would be the one that has been pumped every year.

Um pumping is helpful and it's a good thing that you're doing it every year.

We normally we require for standard title five, you know, sort of functioning systems every 3 years. So you're doing it every year, which is that's a good thing.

Well, because I know it's small because it was built so many years ago. So I I know that my mother and I and my grandmother, we've just started every year.

Do you know if your well is shallow?

Yeah, my well is shallow.

Okay. So a shallow well, a cesspool possibly in the water table. It's probably if it was formally inspected, I'm guessing it would fail. Um, so despite the fact that you're pumping every year, which is a good thing, um, it's probably, um, in an ideal world, you should replace it um because that's probably a major source of problem. I think you're right that other cess septic systems or cess

poolools in the neighborhood are um contributing because they're the lights lots are so tight. In this case, this property is being upgraded to the best possible technology.

We are going to require well testing of all of the wells within that 100 foot radius for at least 3 years. And so we can we'll be able to you'll be able to tell if there's an improvement because of this upgrade. Um um if it's not that much of an improvement u you know if it doesn't get below five let's say then I would be looking at your own system to um

No I mean I know it's a little off topic but town um the water lines are coming through Route Six and they stopped at the plaza literally right at my street.

Is there something in the works to to bring that further down road six because literally I am the next street if they were to continue that water line down from Fall River to tie in.

Yeah, because a new well is a lot of money.

New well is a lot of money and new septic system is even more money. So yes, um um the well hopefully would will show improvements. Um, I believe we were just talking about the environmental bond bill and was there what did you just say that there was um in sponsored rep uh Rep. Christy Marquy's uh they've all there's a 1 million proposal for Warline to continue to Dartmouth. So there's some funding

that's going to be supporting.

We also have to vote to kick in money to help you know to fully fund it. um it didn't the sewer didn't pass so I don't know you know there's no guarantees um but at least there is some advocacy for funds to extend the water line um so I would encourage you to keep on you know sort of encourage your neighbors and everybody to support funding for a water line um

I guess my biggest concern is you know I mean I'm bringing water in I don't use it to cook I but but there's nothing else to shower with, you know, but from what I understand, it's not even healthy for that.

It's not healthy. I can't even feed the water to my dog, you know.

Certainly for any drinking water, cooking, you Yeah, I would not use it. I don't think a water treatment um [clears throat] is going to be enough to make a difference. Um, so this is a big step that your neighbor is taking that will hopefully show a big improvement, but I think there's also issues on your own property that are affecting the well. So um um so I would stay um you know in terms

of the funding for the water line um you know again that's not something that we um have any particular say in but you can um encourage your neighbors and yourself to um you know advocate for that um and support funding for it um because that's the sort of the best long-term you know um solution because the risks there's still other probably other cess pools in the neighborhood that probably haven't been upgraded. So

um but this is a this is a a good first step and likely to help.

So there's a chance my water will get better. there is because this whatever contributions might be coming from this property will um be much improved um because they're putting in an advanced treatment system that will capture that nitrate before it goes into the groundwater and likely goes to your well. But the well water testing that we'll require um um will help Yeah, I got that letter. So, and I had

them do it. So, then I got my results back. So, But once the um this septic system is installed, we'll require 3 years of well testing for those affected wells um to monitor the success of the of this, you know, the impact it will have. Um as I said, um all the other wells are below the threshold of concern. Um but hopefully they'll see improvements as well. Um, but you're well. Um,

again, I don't think this is going to be the magic bullet that solves the entire problem because some of the problem is in your own backyard. Um, but it hopefully will help. Keep our fingers crossed.

Okay. Thank you. Can I just just just say um well one one one thing related to which is that so you have two contaminate two contaminants in the well and one relates to nitrite nitrates and that is definitely coming from your um you know from your from your wastewater and it is the only way um but it's not really it's a it's a threat um if very young children, infants drink

it. Okay. I I don't know. I But the other thing is the caulifform which is a bacterial thing.

Yeah. And that's the thing that and you don't there are ways to um find you know to reduce that or to clean your well. You know, it can be you can use chlorine bleach to kill the um caulifform. And then it could be that um that there are other um structural things you can do to particularly because you're pumping your your ces pool. So one alternative just to look at you know is to you know

is to contact you know one of the well the one of the the people who deal with wells and say I have this caulifform problem. Can you come over and look at it and tell me what you could do to um see if you could fix it without necessarily at least give it a try to see if it would help. So you would at least start off for some period of time.

I I'm not saying just saying to investigate it with a So you know it has it now, but you also know that your well is going to be tested. So, one thing to consider doing is to clean your well if you can remove the caulifform and then see whether um that would based on the future tests, you know, whether you would get back to a particularly with um a a new clean system coming in whether

um you know that would make your water safe for drinking. drinking.

So, I don't care about drinking it. I'm concerned about even showering in it.

Yeah. Well, that's what I mean. It's not good. You know, it's not because machine water.

I know. But you're like, you know, if you're washing your dishes with it, you know, and this is, you know, it's um plastic everything. Yeah. Paper plates, plastic. I'm trying not to do that.

Yeah. Well, I'm just saying if there's a way that you might be able to modify your lifestyle, if you had someone who who had who has that experience in wells look at and just give you an here's what it would cost to de to decontaminate your well.

Now, not saying that it won't get recontaminated, right?

But but if you continue to pump it and it gets decontaminated and then you you get subsequent wellwater tests, you would know whether that solution works or you know going forward or it it it won't and then you could decide okay well how much does it cost to get decline? You know, I mean you could Yeah. I've looked at the the reverse osmosis systems. I've looked at the Yeah. in the UV light system,

you know, different things like that.

But then I've heard that it's going to even if I cleaned it, it would come back anyway, so I would just be wasting my money.

Yeah, it might. It it might. Yeah. No, I'm not saying it wouldn't. That that's But but um I understand. Yeah, but at least you know that someone else is going to be paying for the well testing so that you'll uh which is an expense you wouldn't have to have and you could do a one-time shock of your well and and see if that um you know did the job after you have an another system

until they're done and then yeah well I mean if you've had it tested now then I you know, would be like a year. Well, you could work that out.

Anyway, I'm just saying there may be a way to deal with the color form which doesn't require replacing the color form, not the not the nitr nitrates. No one address the nitrates, but um the the threshold set for nitrates is is because it affects the hemoglobin in your body and it it prevents um the oxygen from being taken up and so you get what's called blue baby syndrome.

But um it's not a similar threat for adults.

Not that not not that it I'm not saying you know it'd be great to replace your you know replace your ces pool and do all those other things and that that wouldn't remove it. I'm not saying that's great but it's different the risk you face from colorform is different from the risk you're facing with nitrates and maybe there's a way to deal with that that's all. Okay, thank you. Thanks for coming in.

Loan information again, the the loan information mass housing. Um, well, they don't do it just for We have to find out if if actually a bill passed that. There was a bill being considered that would give um would allow um a state agency, Mass Housing, to provide very low interest loans to people, you know, depending on what their income was and to um fix contaminated wells.

Yeah. But we were just have to really be at probably like be Yeah. Well, like so far below the poverty level.

Well, the thing with That's different, right? Well, if you if you so if for very low income people, you can get um this is true for septic systems. I don't can't guarantee it's true for the water loans. You get a 0% loan which you do not have to make any payments until you sell your house.

So, it is not free money, but it's nothing you have to pay for getting your, you know, until until your house would at some point come on the market.

Okay. I think I'm going to bring it back to um I mean I think there are opportunity you know for you to research and figure out some some um what if there are any viable options for you but I'm going to bring it back to the to the um I understand the um proposal we have before us um which I think as we said I think will help your situation

um but it won't solve it probably um and um so Um, I think we've addressed all the concerns with the project. Um, um, can I entertain a motion?

Okay. So, I move that we approve the plan for 11 South Berryman Street um, owned by Southeastern Holdings dated 51526.

[clears throat and cough] Um, with all the variances stated in the plan, there's a lot of variances.

um following conditions. Whole harmless agreement, two-bedroom deed restriction, con uh review, and 3 years of water testing for all property abuing properties and the property. Yeah.

And a whole harmless screen.

I said that you got that obviously the IA requirements.

Yes.

Uh second motion made and seconded for um the approval of the project at 11 South Barman Street. All in favor? I.

That's unanimous. Thank you very much.

Thank you for waiting for me.

Thank you for waiting for us.

Okay. Um that concludes the hearings. Um we've covered uh I believe all the other business. We're canceling the meeting on July 6th. Legislative breakfast.

Anything else? Otherwise, I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

So, I move that we adjourn this meeting at 5:19 p.m.

Second. All in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you very much, everyone. Have a happy fourth holiday.