Chairman Stephanie Wilkie opened the meeting at 8:03 AM. Present were Vice Chairman Edward Sheehan, Clerk Susan Sullivan, and Director of Public Health Thomas Carbone. Recording Secretary Dawn Cathcart was not present.

 

Reorganization

Mr. Sheehan nominated Stephanie Wilkie as Chairman, Mrs. Sullivan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Ms. Wilkie nominated Edward Sheehan as Vice Chairman, Mrs. Sullivan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Ms. Wilkie nominated Susan Sullivan as Clerk, Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Tewksbury Townhouse Condominiums and Roper Estates Condominiums – Request for Variance to Eliminate Life Guards

Donna Swanson of Tewksbury Townhouse Condominiums and Brian Solway of Roper Estates appeared, as well as Marlene LoNigro from Property Management of Andover. Mr. Carbone briefed the Board on the research that he was directed to do. Ms. Swanson reiterated that the “Talk-a-phone” was being used to enhance protection, and that it was not intended to replace a lifeguard. She feels that the condominiums should be exempt from the lifeguard requirement because the pool is used by the unit owners, not by transient persons like those who would use a hotel pool. If the presence of a trained lifeguard made a safety difference, insurance companies would mandate their presence; that does not happen now.

 

Ms. Wilkie stated her concern that the Board is regulating pools that are used by unit owners, and likened it to regulating private backyard pools.

 

Motion: Ms. Wilkie made a motion to continue the matter to the May 16th meeting, and to seek an opinion from Town Counsel as to the legal status of condominium associations as they relate to individual owners, and how they might be different from businesses such as health clubs and hotels. Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Town Meeting Articles

Article 43 – Michelle Walsh, Chairman of the Local Housing Partnership appeared before the Board to discuss the Partnership’s concern with this article. Particularly, the partnership is concerned with how town sewer would be related to the project, as well as Title 5 issues. Mr. Carbone excused himself from the discussion as he was called away to an emergency. The Partnership voted to not support the article because they feel there is a need for further study. Ms. Wilkie is concerned with the impact of the proposal on the schools, as well as the length of time the units remain affordable.

 

Motion: Ms. Wilkie moved to not support the article as written. Mrs. Sullivan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Animal Inspector Salary – The issue was tabled since Mr. Carbone was unavailable for the discussion.

 

New Jersey Road Sewer - The issue was tabled since Mr. Carbone was unavailable for the discussion.

 

Groundwater Protection Article – Ms. Wilkie presented a flyer she had prepared in support of the article; the other members agreed with its content. She then advised the Board that Town Counsel has realized that there was a problem with the makeup of the Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA). The Commissioner of Public Health could not appoint anyone to the SPGA that was not a resident of the Town. Mr. Carbone then arrived back at the meeting.

 

Motion: Ms. Wilkie made a motion to amend the SPGA by removing the appointment by the Commissioner of Public Health, and making one of the resident appointments an alternate. Further, the resident appointments will be made at a selectmen’s Meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sheehan, and it was unanimously approved.

 

Budget: Mr. Carbone advised the Board that the only budget cut at the moment involved some money from the Out of State Travel account. If further cuts were required, the Town Manager was recommending turning the employee vaccine program and household hazardous waste collections into a “pay-as-you-go” program.

 

April is Public Health Month

Ms. Jenny McCarthy reported that she had heard great praise from the seniors who attended the recent exercise class, and that they wanted the instructor back again.

 

Approval of Minutes of April 4, 2002 – The matter was tabled, since the minutes were not yet available.

 

Board Member Reports

Ms. Wilkie stated that she was concerned with communications between the Fire department and Board of Health as they relate to emergency response, based on the problem last week at Raytheon. Ms. Wilkie will draft a letter to the Town Manager asking for a discussion among the Board of Health, Fire and Police Departments, and Emergency Management, to ensure that standard operating procedures are in place to call the Board of Health.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 AM.