A major topic of discussion was the request from Linda Grico regarding the need for a Title Five inspection for a septic system on a property she recently purchased. Linda intended to remove the entire system rather than repair it. Claudia Sarti, the Health Agent, clarified that if the entire septic system, including all components like leaching trenches, was to be removed, an inspection might not be necessary. This led to a board recommendation to waive the inspection requirement on the condition that all elements of the septic system were excavated thoroughly to avoid environmental issues. Alan Weiss, an engineer, was identified as responsible for verifying the system’s removal.

Tom, a community member, raised concerns about the environmental implications of the removal process, particularly regarding jurisdiction over Wetlands. The board acknowledged that any site work within a Wetlands buffer zone would fall under the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction. They decided to inform Linda Grico of this and advised her to ensure compliance with the Conservation Commission. The board also agreed that it would be prudent for the engineer to communicate directly with the Conservation Commission to confirm jurisdictional matters. A motion to proceed with this communication plan was unanimously approved.

In another significant matter, the board discussed the upcoming flu and COVID vaccination clinics. Sarah Fiske, the Public Health Nurse, reported the acquisition of additional COVID tests and her efforts to organize a vaccination clinic at the local elementary school. There was some surprise and concern among board members regarding Sarah’s discussions with Katie about the clinic without prior board consultation. However, it was clarified that formal board approval was not required for Sarah’s actions. The clinic would be managed by a state Department of Public Health team, thereby addressing concerns about staffing the event.

Reflecting on past experiences, board members acknowledged the potential to utilize the elementary school’s setup for their emergency preparedness exercises. However, they noted that these exercises had become routine and less necessary over time. Discussion also touched on state funding for COVID vaccinations, with some uncertainty about continued support for such clinics.

The board then turned to the topic of animal inspections, following a notification about a new health inspector through the Valley Health Regional Collaborative. There was some confusion about the roles and responsibilities of the current animal control personnel, particularly regarding rabies cases. Nancy Long was identified as the town’s designated dog officer, but it was unclear if she also served as the animal inspector. The board emphasized the need to confirm Long’s duties and the potential costs of using the new health inspector from Greenfield.

Opioid funding from settlement funds was another issue discussed. The board was reminded of the requirement to report on any expenditures related to these funds. Previous discussions with the select board had led to an approval to pool the funds with the Valley Health collaborative. However, there were differing opinions among communities about this pooling. Greenfield’s reluctance to join the collaborative highlighted a lack of consensus on how to utilize the funds effectively. Sarah Fiske had been in discussions with Leverett about potential local uses for the funds. A suggestion was made to include this topic on the agenda for the next meeting to explore further possibilities and collaboration with nearby towns.