The Marion Board of Health met on Thursday, September 3, in the police station’s conference room. While waiting for more members to arrive, the board began by approving minutes from their July 23 and August 6 meetings.
Next, the board extended a grant approved at their last meeting for an additional 30 days for a trailer at 842 Point Road, as work continues on the site and the home is not yet ready for occupancy.
Public Health Director Lori Desmarais then offered various updates, including that the town has received a shipment of the flu vaccine and has scheduled a clinic on Thursday, September 24, at the Council on Aging, starting at 9:00 am. Desmarais also noted their desire to schedule something at the library this season. As for diseases, she noted mosquito activity is “still low,” with West Nile virus not yielding any positive mosquitoes locally. The public health director noted that Community EMS is having another successful year, with around 388 visits so far.
The board held a quick public hearing for 18 Cove Circle, with no comments or questions. A variance was granted unanimously by the two members present, Vice-Chair John Howard and Clerk Albin Johnson III.
Next, there was a public hearing for a variance for a home on Front Street for a 330-gallon-a-day sewer flow versus 495 gallons. This hearing was continued to October 1, awaiting approval from the Conservation Commission.
The board then held another public hearing for a variance request at 651 Point Road for multiple variances regarding soil evaluations and other tests relating to the septic system. The variances were granted by a unanimous vote of the two members.
Next, the board discussed two Open Meeting Law complaints filed by Joanne Singleton, as well as plotting the course ahead. The complaints, filed on August 17 and August 27, were read by the town’s attorney and concerned regarding various infractions.
The lawyer stated, “So the first one alleges that the board deliberated or took action outside of open session on July 23, and the second one reportedly alleges a disclosure of an Open Meetings Law complaint.” In response, the board offered comments; for the first, they claimed there had been “no deliberation on action taken outside of open session.”
For the second, they said the complaint “does not describe any actions taken by any public bodies that might fall under this oath and so aside of this discussion here no further response in my opinion is necessary.”
Johnson said, “I was flabbergasted that we were cited for an Open Meeting Law. We really strive to be quite open here, and you might not agree sometimes with our decisions, but we’re open about them. We don’t do anything behind anybody’s back. That’s my take on it.”
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, at 4:30 pm.
Marion Board of Health
By Sam Bishop