The Sanctuary facility’s odor management plan was a point of contention during the meeting. Members of the Board of Health discussed at length the need for a clear and consistent process for residents to report odor concerns. A debate arose regarding the Board of Health’s jurisdiction over the odor management plan and whether the planning board should also be involved in overseeing and ensuring the plan meets the required standards.

One member pointed out that Sanctuary had presented a 66-page odor management plan but it had not undergone review by the board. The conversation underscored a need for an external engineer’s review of both the plan and the facility’s HVAC system to ensure effectiveness in odor mitigation. Additionally, suggestions were made to create a more organized and transparent process for residents to report and track odor complaints.

The board addressed the ambiguity surrounding the odor complaint process, particularly concerning the Sanctuary. There was frustration over the lack of clarity in the reporting authority and the proper use of information from odor surveys. The possibility of revisiting the host agreement was discussed in order to correct any misunderstandings or errors, and there was an acknowledgment of challenges faced by the newly established health department in handling such operational issues.

Another topic was the handling of a tobacco sale violation at Littleton Convenience located on Jennifer Street. The board confirmed a $2,000 fine and a 10-day suspension of the store’s tobacco sales permit. The store had not communicated with the board regarding the violation or requested a hearing for a modification of the order. The board emphasized the need to ensure compliance during the suspension period.

The meeting also covered the need to review and potentially revise Board of Health regulations concerning private wells, with a specific focus on geothermal and pre-existing wells. The board recognized the importance of addressing testing requirements for both new well construction and existing wells and agreed to revisit the regulations in a future meeting.

In discussing board goals and priorities, members expressed the need to concentrate on a community health assessment. They considered this a critical early priority and discussed setting up systems to streamline processes. A board retreat was suggested to focus on prioritizing goals, and there was a consensus on the importance of establishing clear objectives for the future.

Additional discussions involved the review of animal boardings and the potential health risks, such as manure leaking into the water system. The submission of materials for Board of Health meetings was debated, with members having differing opinions on the timeline for material submission and the creation of meeting packets. The need for transparency and timely review of materials was balanced against the workload of the staff and the impact on meeting schedules.

The Board of Health tackled the practicality of organizing meeting materials on OneDrive for easier public access. Concerns were raised about the effort required to reorganize already distributed documents and the need for these documents to be OCR and searchable.