There are two ways that the Marion Board of Health could revise its Septic Code: 1. Rewrite to rid the document of “Frankenstein” elements; 2. Write in a statement that if the state sets a different set of criteria for a leaching area besides Marion’s, the state’s criteria will take precedent.
“There are a couple issues. … The goal is not to change anything actually being done but make it match more closely with what we do,” said Health Agent Ana Wimmer during the board’s March 17 public meeting.
Board of Health Chairperson Dot Brown planned to send Wimmer recommended revisions with a plan to discuss them. Changes will require a public hearing, but Brown stressed there will not be a change in meaning, just making the matter clearer going forward.
Board member Dr. Ed Hoffer also met informally with interested entrepreneurs on March 14 to garner input on dumpster regulations with a plan to bring the feedback to Wimmer, who marked up her copy of the proposed regulations based on public comments made at the last public hearing.
In the matter of vegetation management, Wimmer told the board that she looked at all the wells and identified four, notifying Eversource, the state bureau of Herbicide Management and abutters. One had a drinking well and irrigation well, but another just irrigation, need to test for potability.
Noting a recent case of misunderstanding, Wimmer said that any property within a public-water area must connect to the town water supply within three months of service availability, and any well on such a property must be limited in its use to irrigation.
The board sought to clarify who enforces the regulation, noting that it is in the town code but not the sanitary code.
Wimmer and Health Director/Nurse Lori Desmarais both have accounts to access the Barnstable County database. Wimmer said that four of the systems in the database are not nitrogen-removing.
In her Health Agent’s Report, Wimmer told the board she sent letters addressing septic compliance to 664 Mill Street and 570 Front Street. She also received data for sampling from two properties just above the allowable threshold and two properties on Converse Road that are close to the threshold. There were to be resample tests this week.
The board issued a Certificate of Compliance to 91A Allen’s Point Road. Two other addresses, 514 and 464 Front Street, are making progress, the 464 address to be inspected by the end of March.
Desmarais gave her COVID-19 update. Marion has had a total of 1,167 cases, three of which were active as of the March 17 meeting and seven over the prior two weeks. In February, there were 40 cases, and midway through March there were 10.
As of March 17, Old Rochester Regional High School had one person (staff or student) in quarantine but none in isolation (COVID positive) and 215 total cases since the start of the 2021-22 academic year. The same was the case at the junior high (98 cases for the school year,) while Sippican Elementary has two in quarantine, four positive cases in isolations and 148 for the academic year. Tabor Academy was on spring break until March 21.
Beach signage was discussed where it concerns litter violations. The signs, which need to include permit and phone numbers, will be located at Silvershell, Planting Island, Island Wharf and Oakdale Avenue from the third week of June through Labor Day and will cost the town approximately $50 per sign.
The board voted to pay an invoice reimbursing Wimmer $82 for her state Sanitation application fee.
The board is planning to resume in-person public meetings but will wait until June. The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, at 4:00 pm.
Marion Board of Health
By Mick Colageo