001Uh, good evening. Um, I'd like to call the May 6th meeting of the Ashland Board of Health to order. Um, the first thing on our agenda is citizen participation. Do we have any citizen participation? Doesn't seem like we have any. I'm sorry. All right. Um, you'll have to mute. Are you all muted? Turn the volume down. You have to turn your volume. Oh, you know what? [Music] test. Why is it Can you just shut it off? test. Okay, now we're good. All right, let's try that again. Good evening. I'd like to call the May 6th uh meeting of the Ashland Board of Health to order. The first thing on the agenda is citizen participation. Do we have any citizen participation? No. Oh, wait. Mark. Um, can you unmute? Go ahead, Mark. Can you hear me?
002Yes, we can hear you. Mark, go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Okay, good evening. Oxy 119 Main Street. It's been a pretty good uh while since I' I've been partitioning it here, but I would like to um ask through the chair if I can ask the um u what's his name? The health director. a a question. Please go ahead. Okay. Knowing that um Tom Town means coming up tomorrow night and we have a future of people again um graduating from college in the medicine science field. Does the board of health director know any new medical futures that are coming out now within the next year, two years? Mr. Done, are are you asking uh if if if some if some people are graduating? Is is that your question? Well, I know that the the state college
003is well, this is this is uh May, so they'll be graduating soon within the next couple months. I was just wondering if if any of the science, technology, technical, biological stuff that's new in the pipeline that's coming down on the road. Is is there anything new that's on the that is in the office now that can got to be looked at when they graduate they'll be looking for work. So Mr. Don only thing I'm aware right I mean I am not aware about science and technology folks but uh for public health folks right uh they do reach out to us you know uh here and there for asking for internships or guidance you know in in the in in public health field. So those I regularly communicate with you know but not not with science
004and technology people you know. And what about the medical medical science field? U just public health you know because I mean at least our department we are from public health. So I did had an email from somebody in Ashlander resident last week as well you know asking for for information you know or guidance in public health field. So that's what we deal with you know. Okay. Reason why I'm asking that was the uh what came out in the a new Ashland local pages was this book. Okay. And in the book was a page for the po. That is correct. Yes. Mhm. So I was I was just reading it and going through it because other than the has a public a public health nurse Anthony Michelle says and in health education for many years and
005what's what's the educational background that could be for public health services. So that that that's an article that you know we every 3 months or something we we do send out uh articles related to public health you know in in in various social media you know uh both print and online you know so that's what we do and this was the article written by our public health nurse an okay and um I'll try to ask it and end at the same time. What are the experiences that would attract more the health to have more of an experienced cast members to help the town? Yeah. Can you repeat that please one more time? You know the programs of prevention of illness and frail preservation of strength and independence and engagement with the larger community. what experience
006can fill that field if if I'm getting it right you know it's just the experience she she have 40 plus years of nursing experience you know so based on that uh that that's what and she she gives uh you know uh kind of seminars also at that at our senior center you know and uh this was one of the seminars as well you know that that that that she did uh I guess last month uh at the community center and the help of the Asian the Asian uh community citizens, how unique can they help a senior and their health issues through the board of health? So Mark, our public health nurse goes up to the senior center quite often. and she helps with blood pressures, helps with medication. If if if people don't understand some
007of their medication, she sits with them. Um she helps with clinics, flu clinics, different things like that. Anything that's community related is what the community health nurse does. She can even do home visits um if people need that um for a particular reason. Okay. And um what I see after the senior saying they also have the u what I think call the clocker cafe. Yes or no? I'm not aware of it. That's about the um Alzheimer's memory and memory care. No, they do have a program up there but Yeah. U Mark, we need to move on. We have um we have a hearing if you're if that's all you have. Well, I was just saying that small uh office helps have to go to health. Senior citizens population is growing. Let's going to see how
008they can keep up if they once they do have to keep up once we get populations with more 40 bees coming in. That's it. Done. All right. Thank you, Mark. Um, so the next thing on our agenda is the lifeguard waiver request from the Asher 100 Chestnut Street. Do we have anybody on for that? You on mute? Hi. Hi. Yes. Good evening. Todd McDow from Based on Development. How are you? Good. How are you? Go ahead. Good. I apologize that I couldn't be there in person. Um, just having four kids, it was a little difficult to get everybody covered for this evening. Um, so I apologize that I'm not there in person. Um we actually uh asked for a waiver regarding the lifeguard requirement. Um we know this is a kind of a city by
009city or town by town regulation. And one of the reasons we're requesting that is due to the kind of the systems and cameras and tracking information we've kind of put in place at the Asher. Um we are just applying for our first pool opening uh permit. Um just to give you a little bit of detail, we're 174 units. Uh we just got a co for the first 86 units and expect the co uh sometime in the near future for the remaining 88 units. The pool is in between the two buildings which is sits in a courtyard. It's surrounded by a six-foot fence. We have a number a house number of uh security cameras around the perimeter of the outside of the site as well as in the courtyard. Um, we have the security fences are
010used to access a system called latch. And on each latch system, there's actually an individual camera. So, it has a video of anyone going in or out. And it also tracks the fob when you put the uh fob or phone to the um the pad to get access. So, there's a variety of security systems and latch system also allows us to restrict access. So, um, it won't open after, say, if the cut off time is 8:00, 8:00 p.m., no, you no pool access or before 7:00 a.m., no access to the pool area. Um, that said, we have on-site staff, uh, leasing staff as well as maintenance, uh, staff. They're not there 24 hours, but they are there for majority of the time the pool area is open. Um, one of the other things is we've
011the courtyard's well lit and it is surrounded by windows. We find actually the best security system typically is other residents as well because if somebody's out there making noise or doing something they shouldn't be. Uh we are very quick to hear from them and our management company's very much on top of handling that situation. Plus you have record video and digitally of anyone who is violating pool rules to uh warn them and then enforce them as that as that happens. Uh we use a third-party uh company High Sierra to manage the pool to keep it uh chemically uh imbalanced and testing. Uh the pool is 4 and 1/2 ft deep. Originally we were planning making it five but we as we got building it we decided to only make it 4 and 1/2 ft deep
012just to make it a little uh safer and less uh there there's no really reason to make it five feet we thought. Um so we have a variety of these security systems, camera systems and management staff on site that we're looking to request a waiver for the full uh lifeguard requirement. So um just a few questions from the board. Um I I have a few I'm sure other board members um is what what's going to be what's going to happen if a resident if it's if you have a lockout you know during like let's say 1000 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. about jumping over the fence. What's So I mean it's a six foot high fence. Um so I mean sure anyone can get over anything if they're determined. Um so the six foot high fence
013is the first deterrent. If somebody does get a ladder or jump the fence somehow, um there will be cameras of that person. Now, getting them out, my guess is we'd have residents calling our management. And we have uh we right now we don't have management that's going to live on site. We do have management uh that lives over just about seven, eight minutes away at the Buckley in Framingham that could uh usually is on call that could get there uh relatively quickly. Um, but usually it's self-reporting and if someone does it, they'll get in in trouble and right, you know, either I'm not sure the whole process for enforcement, whether it's fines and then later if it happens multiple times eviction due to non-compliance with rules, but that's a whole housing matter. Okay. And then
014um one other thing um which I'm going to ask you to do also, could you reach out to um the police and fire chiefs um a lot of the other apartment complexes in town um what they've done is they've given them a list of the police officer and firefighters door access cards. So in the event they have to get into those buildings immediately or have some kind of access code for them to get in. We we we actually have that cuz we have the same system on the entire building. So they went say they they have access to basically every door on the entire site. This latch system works the same as every other front door, back door, every door on the building. Okay. So they'll be able to get in whenever they need to.
015Yes. Okay. Does any any other board members have any questions? Yeah, I will. Um hi Todd. Um good evening. I have a question about good evening about signage and actually I was I was over there I was um just taking a walk over the weekend. It looked nice just from the you know as far as I could get into to see the pool. Um I was I didn't even know this was on the agenda actually. I just happened to be in the area. So um but what what is the plan for signage? Because as I'm reading the uh state codes if no lifeguards are required by the board of health uh warning or no lifeguards are on duty. I I didn't read that in the waiver or variance request that you had sent. We certainly
016will put that up if uh if we're granted the waiver to meet all signage requirements. Um we've uh we've got a signage company we're utilizing now that they make signage for everything. We've worked with the building department and the fire department has requested additional signage in various locations. That's not been a problem at all. We we're happy to put up uh any additional signage that you might request or require code or beyond code. We're fine with that. Okay. So, I would recommend that you just take another look at the um state regulations because as I'm reading it here, uh warning, no lifeguard on duty is one of them. Um another one that should be visible is children under age 16 should not use the swimming pool without an adult in attendance. Yeah, we have a
017couple other pools that we do this with and we don't have lifeguards and we have all the signage. So, I'll also double check to see if there's additional signage. Um, sometimes insurance also requires us to put stuff beyond the state code as well. So, I think and clear with our insurance as well. Um, and what about emergency phone number posted? Um, we can add a posted. Do we have a phone that has a phone number on the pool side? Um, and we can definitely post like a 911 number you're saying or Yep. Yes, exactly. All right. Okay. Dr. J, just to clarify, that's that's a requirement, you know. So, every pool need to have a number, you know, that Okay. I'm sure that's there then if if it's required. If not, I'll double check. Thanks.
018Anybody else have any questions? Um, I think you kind of answered question. It's just like there there's a time that there's not going to be a lifeguard. It's no time. There'll never be a lifeguard. There'll never be a lifeguard. That's asking for. So, yeah. So, now my question will be is any of your stuff like maybe CPR certified just in case of emergency? Not at all times, but in case somebody while they're there, drowns or you know Yes, I know you got cameras looking at them, but is somebody going to physically go and give them assistance until I don't know the answer to that. I know I am, but um I'm not going to be there every day. Um I will find out if any of our maintenance or uh site staff is CPR satisfied
019and I can let the uh the board know uh via email. Um you mentioned that there was there would be staff on site for most of but not all of the pool hours. Can you elaborate on that? Typically we have uh leasing staff there from 9 to5. Um hours may vary slightly might be 8:30 to 4:30 depending on a certain particular day. Um and then we have management staff but we always have on call uh maintenance staff. So if there is any kind of maintenance emergency, there's always a maintenance person on call that needs to be there within a certain amount of time if there's a lockout or any other kind of issue in a unit. So there would be that kind of on call status as well for maintenance for the pool. So what
020are the what are the pool hours going to be? Uh I think tech I I'm trying to recall exactly what I put in the application. I apologize. Um, I believe it was Sorry. Uh, sorry, I have it right here. Just pulling it up. Usually, it's that the pool closes around sunset time. So, in the summer hours, it might close later around 8:30. Um, in the fall or later summer, it might closeer to 7:38. Um, we typically don't want people out there swimming at night, but the exact hours, I apologize. I don't have if there is a a limit. We may have put it on the application 10:00. I don't anticipate we would actually have those hours just because of resident noise that the pool is literally right in between two of the buildings. So we
021are cautious about having late hours or too early of hours because of pool noise. Um so Raj I have a question for you. Um if we grant this waiver because this is really will be our only um apartment complex like this that we would be granting this waiver to if if we encounter any issues or problems. Is that something we can revoke until for further evaluation? Absolutely chief. you know, so I guess uh if board is going to give them a variance, right, or waiver, if there is any anything, you know, against it, then we can definitely revocate. Yeah. Uh just Todd, this is a new territory for us. Um the only one we've ever granted is an over 55 um development. Um understood. And and I and I assume that if we violate some
022regulations, Yeah. as in anything else, something could be revoked. Um, anybody else have any questions? I have some questions about the the latch. Is it an app? So, there there's a couple ways you can use it. It is an app on a phone which you can just put your phone with Bluetooth and it will unlock it with your code. But it also has a keypad. So if you touch it and you have a sixdigit keypad, you can enter that manually uh for your own as an individual um number that you'd have to memorize. So that number can be given to anybody, not necessarily residents. um you could potentially give it to somebody else, but though they're I mean they would be on camera and you would be liable if you're giving out your access code
023um just as kind of giving out a house key to to somebody, but this would actually track them with a with a camera. And then in terms of you said that there's like posted hours. Is there somebody who's going to be around say let's say the hours end at like 6 pm? What happens at 6 p.m. when somebody has been there for several hours? Are they being picked out by somebody? So I guess technically they wouldn't we wouldn't have anyone there to escort them out of the pool area. If they left they couldn't get back in. But if they were hanging out there till 9 10 o'clock at night or or some other time, that's when we'd see on camera um that they're there. And the next day when our staff is back on site
024in the morning, there would be a conversation saying you're violating our community rules. Um I the state their um their guidelines were also talking about um safety equipment. I'm wondering like what obviously the point of having a lifeguard is to have access to not only someone who can help render aid but has some experience aid kits and is CBR certified. So like what what kind of uh access to safety equipment like ring buoys would there there's a board with a a back stretcher the kind of hard stretcher there's a the buoys a first a kit emergency phone um trying to think of this what else there is I can't think off top my head u it's required all that stuff's required at pools um public pools semi private pools uh so we have all of
025that equipment ready to go. That's all readily accessible by residents and not just like staff. Yes, Mr. Morice. Yes. You know, so those are those are the equipment we see, you know, that it's available uh you know, when we do our inspections. And Mr. Todd, one one thing I want I want to say right before the board takes uh the decision, right? So, we do have a requirement for the pool water tested every four hours. So, I'll recommend, you know, if you if you can get somebody who's going to be testing the waters certified, you know, CPR and all that, you know, that that might be helpful, you know. So, absolutely. And our other buildings, our maintenance staff is all uh tested. I think they test it every two hours on hot summer days, but
026but they uh code regulation to do every four hours. So, we've done it both ways. We've had a third party test here, but we've also had our our staff on site trained so they can make that testing as required. Thank you, Raj. Can I just clarify? So, I I think that we're we're all seem to be in agreement that I mean, I don't want to speak for anybody else that that we're comfortable with this um you know, and if I misspeing, you know, definitely um let me know. But that's what it seems like. So if there is a waiver, can you just be clear on what is the requirement that's being waved? So um as as I read uh read the regulation, right? I mean it does say that it's the board of health discretion,
027right? Like or the board of health of the authority that uh if um that that if you decide you know to have a have the lifeguard or not. So right. So it's so it's really not uh a matter of waving anything since that is not actually written regulation point is that correct we were to wave a requirement then that actually requirement Dr. you know versus just uh decision that we're making that this is right you know reasonable yeah it's it's not clear right but like you know that if we have any anything beyond the state code right uh but u in a typical situation right that there'll be there'll be a lifeguard right like but again it's it says it's the board of health's discretion but you're right you know like it's not like you're
028waving something here because it's not a requirement right I I'm just I'm just wondering if because we want this to be official. If we're if we're, you know, doing this as usual, we're waving a requirement, uh, we're voting on that, is is it necessary to wave something that isn't actually requirement versus just giving our blessings? True. You know, and we might have to look back, right, how how it happened for the lanterns, you know, that because every two years we we give them a waiver as well. So, I this came came to our discussion in the office, right? like how how that happened you know we just have to look back you know like u because we did did give uh waiver to lanterns as well right like and we do it every two years
029would it be better to say that we just make a ruling as to whether or not we're going to fire yes there that'll be a good idea you know so I mean and again I'm I'm for it I mean this this pool is only four and a half ft right uh I I guess the the one at Chestnut Place is is a way deeper pool, you know, and I guess the board should uh look into that, you know, like then we should make it as a requirement, you know, from from Ashland side just if it if it is a deeper pool, you know, then then it's it's it's a bigger bigger threat, you know. Sure. Um that case um I will make a motion uh that the board not require lifeguard property 100 chest 100
030chestnut a second. Thank you. I appreciate it. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I I that carries. You are all set. Hopefully hopefully you won't be in front of the board. Yes. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you. Have a good night. Bye. Okay. All right. So, the next thing on the agenda is the health director's report. Thank you, Chief. Uh, so the the first item is the Dollar Tree closer. Uh, as most of the board members know or public know, uh, the the Dollar Tree was closed on uh on April 30th, you know, given given a complaint and and the uh rodent infestation. I was at the store today uh this afternoon uh um and I spoke to Mr. Rocky uh who who was in charge there. Uh it
031seems that they they're doing the repairs and it it'll be probably a couple of weeks before before they'll be ready for reinspection to be reopened, you know. So, uh that's that. Sermarket had had a similar problem, but they they have complied. They have provided with provided us with everything that we needed and they have cleared the inspections since you know so they they are all set. Uh Starbucks uh have applied to us uh what we called as TT TPSC that's uh time as public health control. So what they're trying to do uh they're right they're going to have the car phase right where they can keep half and half and oat milk uh outside right so they'll they they have submitted us uh documentation for that I can forward that to board but I have
032reviewed it you know and I spoke to the team this this afternoon as well you know so I guess we should be good to go on that but we we don't need a variance or anything from the board side uh why why I put it here. I just wanted to bring it to board's attention in case you are in Starbucks and you see that you know so they'll be follow they'll be doing that. Uh Dr. G go ahead. So I'm assuming that that Starbucks has not had cream and that sort of thing out yet. So right now sir they are doing it. So what they do currently that uh that half and half and oat milk that they do it in US stores right the they they take temperature of of the product every 1
033hour and document it now if the temperature goes over 41 they discard it directly so with this DPC what we call as time as public health control they won't be doing that procedure you know so uh that's what it's it's Again this this this was a change in in the most code that we we at the state level adopted in 2018 2019 uh earlier there was a requirement that this need to be under variance right that the board have to grant a variance but it's not anymore you know so but uh how it's written in the merged food court that they still need to get it approved by the regulatory authority in Ashland's case it's the board of health and they have submitted to us you know the procedures for this TPSC and I have
034reviewed it you know so we should be good good to go and I I will forward it to the board as well you know just to look at it and if you have any questions please let me know Raj just before we go any further can I ask can we just go back to Dollar Tree real quick um have they supplied to you the food destruction documentation yet chief there was a call I guess yesterday right Laura uh So they they had a clarifying question, but they are they're going to be providing it to us, you know. So So just so the board knows, when something like this happens and they have to dispose of all of the food that is in the store, they're required to submit to the health director an actual destruction
035report from a company to show that that food was disposed of. Yes. So again, there there was a call, you know, so we we should have it and I'll for it to the board once we have it. You know, uh so with the housing cases, uh these are two uh another not not exactly housing, you know, the these are the uh uh issues at the dumpster at both 28 conquered street as well as 56 conquered street. You know, these both are comp complaint based cases that came to our attention. uh both both was issued uh order to crack letters and 56 conquered street this is an apartment unit they have complied with our order to crack letter 28 conquered street uh u I have one citation of $100 you know issued for non-compliance and I'll
036be following up uh on this again this week you know just to see where where we are but I did meet the owner of the building uh before I before my travel with Boston Marathon we we didn't had any event or issues with with the with the shelters we have set up. Um thanks thanks to the board members Dr. Jade or Barbara was there you know I appreciate that with the open go permitting software uh from from the last time uh we do have our permitting software ready uh the team at open go have also put the inspectional software ready now that we'll be testing and we have some training scheduled for them you know to get going on on on the software I guess we have one uh Laura and myself have one on
037next week right but uh we we have a meeting tomorrow as well but that that's with other departments so u we should be rolling that soon you know may maybe anticipated maybe in a month's time or even before so is that only for uh permitting the open gov or is that for are there other functions that that serves as well so yes both permitting as well as well as inspectional software you know so uh through that uh I guess we we have a good number of permits I guess we we issue different kind of permits like to the count of 15 or 16 permits that we do it from that so we did develop one uh permitting software with them and then some of the other ones you know uh we will we'll get it
038from the other communities right and then me and Laura will work if we have to addit some stuff in they have already had right like in in their database they have software has made it for different permits. So I just want to clarify like you know uh different uh applications right that we need to put it into the software to generate those permits right. So, but so beyond um like permitting or inspections like stuff like accounting and other municipal functions that because I haven't looked into it but I'm curious is it is it more than just inspections and is it a larger thing that you're just using it obviously that's true you know so the whole town whole functioning of the town is going to be going on open golf that yeah it's probably going
039to start with the building department right they're functioning and it'll be board of health and then it'll be everybody else. For right now, I guess it's all town departments who are working with the open go to develop whatever they need. Got it. And once once we get going, it's not going to everybody is not going to get on it at one time, but it'll be like kind of phased approach that few departments going to get and you know once we have success and then the other ones are going to roll out. So it's not going to be one time you know or every everybody's not going to get on it at one time. No. So but we the process is going on with all other departments right and they're developing whatever they need like you
040know the town clerk's department needs uh permitting software for dog licensing right so they have different software not not the different software or you know their stuff they're putting it in. So the the community members, you know, the residents will be able to apply online, you know, once we have it going and they'll be able to make the payments online as well. And so for for health department, what is the goal to be have this working 100% by when um Dr. J, it'll be a little difficult to say that right now, right? Like because the number of permits we issue is a lot, you know, or we have different kind of permits, you know, so we did develop with the with the team's help, right? or they developed for us what we call as our
041main food permit application, right? But then we have different ones, right? We have a plan review application, we have a application for food trucks, residential kitchens, right? Temporary events, right? So farmers market, you know, so we we have lot of different permits that we eventually will get into, you know, everything. But uh I'm not sure on the timeline you know the goal should be like before before our new cycle kicks in right like by end of the year right we we we have our permits expired hopefully by that time we have everything in place or maybe before you know but with the number of permits we issue right uh like we we have not gone to septic permits haulers installers right so we have to work on those together you need to basically incorporate your
042your permitting system into that right program upload stuff we have to bring the applications in so for for the residents to apply online so you've got to just kind of pick away at doing that until they're all in right like another example for animal permits right that we have to put those application in the system so folks can apply online you know so but I guess it's going to be a process you know given the volume of stuff we Right. The number of permits we issue everything need the those physical applications need to be put into the software for that to be functioning. Yeah. But it it'll be slowly but you know the once we launch the first one and see it happening you know so and then we plan to next year like you
043know with end of the this permitting cycle right we we all of our permits expired December 31st right before that couple of months we start our process of you know uh renewing the permit hopefully we'll be able to renew the permits online that would be nice right yes I a very good software. I have worked with it before, you know, but it's just the challenge of getting on it and get going for right now. Thanks. Thank you. And just just with the disease and investigation uh we last time uh in the board meeting we have oneactor case that we have closed since and other than that we have like three to four active TV cases that we are working on. U that's all I have but I'm I'm open to any questions from the board.
044Anybody? All right. So, the next thing on our agenda is the consent agenda. Um to review and approve the fiscical year 25 year-to- date budget report and review and approve the meeting minutes of April 15, 2025. Do I have a motion? I'll second that. Okay. Any discussion on either item? All in favor? I unanimous. Uh the next thing is discuss future agenda items. External grease trap waiver 12 Oak Tree Lane. If both both the items are still pending uh uh again waiting from DPW on the on the grease tape ws and 12 oak tree lane is still pending with conservation you know once we have that we'll we'll bring them on board you know. All right so um anybody have any new business or anything? No. So our next meeting date is going to be
045June 3. Um and if that no one has anything I will look for a motion to adjurnn. Anybody? I so move and I will second it. All in favor? I Good night. Thank you everyone.