The meeting was opened at4:00 p.m. by Vice-Chair Mary Ann Gray. Also present were members Edward Sheehan, Ted Whittaker and Health Agent Judith Giorgio, and Director of Health and Environment, Robert Duncanson. Members Ron Broman and Allen Ward were absent.
The minutes of January 4, 2010 were tabled until the next meeting.
The correspondence was reviewed.
Action Items
Potassium Iodide: Distribution in progress.
Chatham Medical Reserve Corps; Public Health Emergency Plan.
Update: Lighthouse Beach;
Mary Ann Gray asked Ted to update those present on the meeting that the Board members attended of the Park and Recreation Commission. This meeting was to update the Board of Health about the status of the Lighthouse Beach. Ron Broman supplied Ted, via email, with his notes from the meeting (attached) and Ted had copies.
Ted felt the meeting with Park and Recreation went well and that they all see eye to eye on plans for Light House Beach next year. Ed agreed. Ed mentioned that the Selectmen had approved an additional ½ person to the staff for next summer. Mary Gray mentioned that the use of the beach could be restricted if the issue of private ownership and property lines is not settled with the abutters. Bob mentioned that this will only be settled through land court, if it gets to that, but he felt that the abutters are mostly concerned about the approval of ORV’s on south beach. They do not want that.
Ted discussed the Boards past vote to close N. Beach Island. This vote was for the area at the cut only. He suggested that they could make this more stringent by closing all of N. Beach Island to swimming, or by being more specific, say within 500 ft. of the cut. The Park and Rec. Commission agree with this, and Ted mentioned that the BOH could revise there vote. Bob suggested that they consider the consequences of closing the whole island. N. Beach Island is no different than the rest of Nauset Beach or South Beach where no such swimming ban is in effect. Also there are so called “rural beaches” in Chatham that are unguarded as well. The Board agreed that banning swimming on the whole island may not be necessary, and that such a ban would be impossible to enforce, and that signs could be put up,
but they probably wouldn’t last long.
Ted suggested that educational pamphlets or liability waivers could be developed that the transport companies could use when they bring beach goers out to the island. Bob said that Park and Rec. had put together a pamphlet that was widely dispersed last summer. The Board requested a copy of this to look at.
Ted brought up the issue of liability for the town. Mary Gray asked what the difference between “swimming prohibited” is and “Swim at your own risk” Bob stated that he would ask Bruce Gilmore to come to discuss this issue with the Board. They should provide Bob with a list of questions to help Bruce prepare. It was decided to put this on the February 22, 2010 staff meeting agenda. The Park and Rec. Commission will be notified of this meeting as well.
Other Business:
Ted asked Bob about the Chatham Concerned Taxpayers, and their campaign to stop the CWMP. Bob said that he is always available to answer questions from the public. He said that all the information that this group is claiming is being withheld is in the CWMP. He also refuted some of the comments in the full page add in last weeks Chronicle, such as, there would be year round construction on the system. Chatham has decided not to work on this during the summer, and he can only work on Rt. 28 12 weeks a year per the State Highway Department. Ted said that he tells people that this plan is well researched, by very reputable Engineers. Mary Gray also has had many questions and she always tells people that these small alternative systems would need leaching systems installed in neighborhoods, and there would be costs associated with
these as well. Bob agreed and stated that in addition each house would still have a septic tank or grinder pump to maintain with neighborhood alternatives. He mentioned the problems Falmouth has had trying to locate a system like this in a neighborhood. He said that the CWMP looked at this alternative and decided not to go that route. Another reason not to go the small system route is the issue of emerging contaminants. Should the State start requiring the removal of other contaminants from sewage in the future, the central plan would be able to handle retrofits, a small IA system could not. Bob asked that the Board send him any questions they get so he can add them to his FAQ on the towns website. He gave the Board copies of this as well.
Ron’s notes: January 5, 2010
Meeting of the Parks & Recreation
The following issues were discussed in reference to Lighthouse Beach and the new cut through.
We stated that the Board of Health felt that the Lighthouse Beach was very well handled this past summer, the only issues that we had was with the porta potties and the failure of other committees and boards to involve the Board of Health in discussions dealing with this issue. We stated that we must be involved in the issues that face the Lighthouse Beach and the new cut through. The Parks and Recreation committee agreed with us.
We informed them that we had taken a vote to close the new cut through to all swimming. Parks and Recreation put forward their own vote. We should review their vote and make ours agree with their vote. We also discussed what all signs should state “NO SWIMMING”. The agreement was to close all of the beaches on North Beach to swimming.
The Board of Health will take on the issue of notifying any group or business who transports people to North Beach and the new cut through, that there is NO SWIMMING anywhere on North Beach or around the cut. There should be some type of sign off log for anyone transporting people to North Beach and the new cut through. The sign must state that they are aware of the fact that there is no swimming. Signs must be signed by Board of Health and Parks and Recreation. No duplication of signs.
Adjourned: 5:15 p.m.
Approved: February 8, 2010
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